formula milk - which one?

[BellendenBear]

I am going back to work soon so need to start replacing some breast feeds with formula. How did you decide which formula to use?

Obviously each one claims to be full of omega this and that and to be the best breast substitute. I know that Aptamil have recently been in trouble for some of their advertising claims.

Am I making this into a bigger deal than it needs to be? Advice and reassurance please!

[sillywoman]

I used SMA initially, can't remember why (13 years ago), then switched to Hipp organic because it was, well, organic. But I've had loads of friends who use and swear by Aptamil (v good for brain growth someone said(?!)). Sorry I wasn't more scientific about how I made my choices - Looking back It's a bit embarrassing really!

[Ko]

hi there

i'd be interested in replies to this too, although i am looking at formulas from new born (looks like i won't be able to breastfeed because of medication i need to be on!) any advice would be welcome. x

[Moos]

I don't think there's a great deal of difference - most people I know tried a few brands and settled on the one the baby was prepared to drink! I think they are mostly all based on cow's milk and with added vitamins and fish oils.

Aptamil got into trouble for claiming it could support a baby's immune system, for which they had no evidence whatsoever, which is pretty poor.

[Fuschia]

I think there is evidence that babies need Long Chain Fatty acids, recently added to formulas (not sure if all)

http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/LCP-supplement-for-baby-milk http://journals.indexcopernicus.com/abstracted.php?icid=413485

The stuff about aptamil and immunofortis is the copmpany making up a name for something that's not proven to have any effect. http://www.nutraingredients.com/Regulation/Prebiotic-follow-on-formula-ads-censored-in-UK

I'd take all claims with a pinch of salt.

You can't express instead? xx (Much cheaper)

[Moos]

I do know a mum who works full time and expresses - more power to her. I'm not sure whether she does enough for just one or two feeds, or a whole day's-worth.

But I think the energy that goes into making milk plus the energy that goes into being at work is a big requirement and would probably need careful planning.

To be clear, as I would really not like to offend anyone, I really don't mean that staying at home with your children is easier than being at work. But my personal experience is that when you're in a paid job it's less socially acceptable to be relaxed and yawny, and you have to pretend not to be tired, which can be quite hard. Overall, it's probably about the same but the getting-back-into-it phase is tough.

[Fuschia]

I never got on with expressing for child no 1, but managed enough for 3 days p/w for the twins up till just this last week (16m)

I needed to express really to avoid exploding, mind you. It's something to think about... now looking back i wonder why i didn't give it a go for child no 1. Just a thought, it's hard to make sense of the formula ads, I'm very cynical about their marketing and the claims they make.

[Fuschia]

Ko Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> hi there

>

> i'd be interested in replies to this too, although

> i am looking at formulas from new born (looks like

> i won't be able to breastfeed because of

> medication i need to be on!) any advice would be

> welcome. x

You might be surprised, get expert advice as often warnings are given un-necessarily.

x

[helena handbasket]

Okay *takes a deep breath

These women have asked for advice about formula. They have already made a personal decision, and are now asking for information.

Can we please save the breastfeeding rhetoric for another forum?

I'm really starting to lose patience with this.

(edited for silly adreneline induced spelling error)

[Moos]

Helena handbasket (cool name), gently does it. While I accept the validity of your 'this is about formula' point, I don't think Fuschia was being pushy, just offering a view.

[BellendenBear]

Ideally I would express, or better still not go back to work until she is one. I feel really sad to cut down the breastfeeding. Expressing at work would be really difficult. I know employers are supposed to support you but the reality would be that even if they gave me some designated time to express, my workload would be the same meaning that I would have to go in early or finish late so would see even less of my daughter. I also work irregular hours with some early starts which I think would add to the difficulty. And my ability to express is affected by how relaxed I feel so the workplace would be far from ideal.

I hope to continu to BF in the evening and have enough in the freezer for a morning feed for a while. But as HH says, I shouldn't have to justify the decision I have made.

[pommie]

We started our daughter on sma gold which didnt agree with her so went onto Cow and Gate which still didnt agree with her so we finally settled on Aptimal and we have had no problems with it whatsoever. It is apparently the closest to breast milk. Alot of people i have spoken to were told by their doctors to use that formula as it is very good.

[trinity]

Hi BellendenBear - I went back to work full time (left house at 8am and got back at 7pm) when my DD was 8m old. I managed to continue with breastfeeding by feeding her in morning before I left for work, expressing during my lunch hour (in the first aid room whilst I had my lunch - very easy and meant I always took a proper lunch break) and feeding DD as soon as I got home in the evening. Despite my reservations about whether it would work it was actually very straightforward and meant that I had the pleasure of feeding her up to 18m which I'm very glad I experienced.

[EmmaCC]

This person was asking advice on formula - I think you're insulting her intelligence to think she wouldn't have considered expressing and needs you to point it out for her!There is an unhealthy (for the mother) obsession with breastfeeding on this forum sometimes! It is so unfair to add more pressure on a mother returning to work, who has made a decision to stop breastfeeding, by suggesting she should try to fit in expressing ... good on those of you who have managed to do it, but in some work places it's just not possible..and yes, I know legally you can ask for a room/privacy in which to express but the reality of trying to do this whilst getting back into work is very tricky!

[EmmaCC]

Should have also answered the question myself ... I used Aptamil - I based this decision on the fact that this was the formula recommended to me whilst my baby was in the special care baby unit at Kings so I figured it must be the one to use ... have since spoken to friends whose babies were also in special care and they were told to give SMA, so that blows that theory... I'd go with what your baby likes - think they're all pretty much the same...

[lorraineliyanage]

I use Nannycare goat's milk formula for my daughter when I am working. This is not for any particular reason, but we don't drink any milk products at home, and goat's milk formula seems less heavy than cow's milk. That's not based on any scientific research, though, just personal opinion!

[ludoscotts]

hi try your baby on the type you decide on and see how he/she doee but be prepared that you might have to change brands. I started my baby on sma gold( no research went into it, I found all of a sudden one day I couldnt feed her due to another issue and thats all my husband could get late at night!) we gave her that for a few weeks and she would happily drink it but she got cronic wind and was in pain most nights went through a horrible time, never occurred to us it was the milk. We couldnt get our normal milk one day throughout the whole of dulwich so had to buy cow and gate. Within a couple of days wind problems had gone. Again didnt associate it with the milk(shows how much lack of sleep affects you when you dont notice the glaringly obvious!) but the next tub of formular she needed I got the sma again and within one night the wind was back.

im not saying dont use sma as Ive got friends who use it and are fine with it but just keep an eye out as some really dont work with some babies( and one friend of mine had the same with sma and cow and gate so she uses aptimil)

it might be worth buying a few of the pre-mixed cartons in each type and see which one works best for you. good luck,

[Fuschia]

helena handbasket Wrote:

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> Okay *takes a deep breath

> These women have asked for advice about formula.

> They have already made a personal decision, and

> are now asking for information.

> Can we please save the breastfeeding rhetoric for

> another forum?

> I'm really starting to lose patience with this.

>

Hey, chill! No need for you to "lose your patience" at all! All I said was "You can't express instead?" I wouldn't call that rhetoric! As i said, I didn't express for no 1, I was surprised with the twins it was a lot easier than I'd thought. Just sharing my experience!

[nicolemodesti]

Gosh, remember this decision well!! Went back to work when my boy was 6 months and decided to use Aptamil First after discussions with other mothers at playgroups.My health advisors wouldn't recommend one or the other. Actually ran into one of them in the supermarket the very first time I was buying it!! We have been very happy with Aptamil over the last few months. Like you, Bellenden Bear, I felt really sad to cut down the breastfeeding but managed a feed every morning and occassionally in the evening. Would take my breastpump with me every day to school but never managed to express any more than 20ml, so gave up on it, plus didn't have the time either. My boy decided that he didn't want the breast when he turned 10 months old so was happy that he at least had formula to have. You certainly do not have to justify your decision as it is an entirely personal one and at the end of the day you were brave enough to ask for advice on a forum! Oh by the way we tried SMA when in Australia as we had come to the end of our Aptamil and it didn't seem to agree with our boy as he would bring alot of it back up and he had never done that before, on either breast or Aptamil.

You could always try one of the Aptamil cartons for a first time. Good luck

[madmum]

hi there,,,,bottle feed both of mine,,the stress and pressure to breast feed was to great it nearly sent me to a very darkm place, so as a working mum bottle all the way,,,1st child cow and gate no problems child was never poorly he only started getting colds and the like when he started nursery at 2 and 3/4!!! 2nd son 7 months started on cow and gate started to have a bit of colic or reflux we are still not sure but anyhooo swapped him to aptimill and touch wood all is well,,,happy healthy and now on big boy lump food with only 1 bottle a day...think the best thing to do is go with your 1st choice baby will soon tell you if its not to his liking!

I have soooo many friends who have felt like they HAD to breast feed mainly they are forced by midwives, or lead to belive they will loose weight quicker hahahaha...but all that happened is that that never went out for 2 months till they swapped baby to bottle...

soory about poor grammer and spelling but baby thinks he is the next bill gstes and wont stop touching the key pad arghhhhhhhh

good luck

mad mum xxx

[fmay]

Talk about the guilt....I am being made to feel dreadful for not wanting to be breastfeeding for a whole two years. Any advice on weaning a baby off the breast when they absolutely will not take a bottle, and never have? We are trying for more success with the cup but I worry that as a cup isn't exactly soothing,so when it comes to weaning him off breastfeeding, how can I get my little one off the boob properly without completely traumatising him!?!

[Fuschia]

fmay Wrote:

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> Talk about the guilt....I am being made to feel

> dreadful for not wanting to be breastfeeding for a

> whole two years. Any advice on weaning a baby off

> the breast when they absolutely will not take a

> bottle, and never have? We are trying for more

> success with the cup but I worry that as a cup

> isn't exactly soothing,so when it comes to weaning

> him off breastfeeding, how can I get my little one

> off the boob properly without completely

> traumatising him!?!

How old is he?

[fmay]

He's only 5 months now but I want to ideally get him off breastfeeding by around 8 months, later this year

[fmay]

...by the end of the year at least...I'd love to keep breastfeeding longer but can't for personal reasons

[Fuschia]

Well, it will be easier once he is on solids. The avent cups with the white spout are quite good for smaller babies.. though it's true that a cup doesn't have the same comfort factor. Mine have had milk from a bottle from time to time till well over a year (nap times) when not breastfed so I don't have personal experience.. you could introduce a soft blanket or toy to hold close while you bf from now on, to act as a source of comfort later.

Have you tried a nuk bottle with newborn latex teat? I have had most success with that and so have some other mums I know with bottle refuseniks. Use expressed milk at least at first, for a familiar taste. THings is, milk is a big source of nutrition till a year or more.. though you can include yoghurt, cheese etc for the calcium.