Feeding LJ - My Formula Journey
- Jul 8, 2017
- 3 min read
Breastfeeding vs. Formula feeding is a classic unresolved debate that is forever ongoing. I personally respect everyone’s decision to feed their baby however they see fit, as long as baby is fed. I recently experienced some scrutiny while switching from breastmilk to formula. A woman continuously inquired why I was switching to formula and did not feel any of my explanations were sufficient. She could not understand why I would not continue breastfeeding. I smiled politely at her and asked her if she was attempting to shame me? She denied that she was and told me it was my decision. I replied “exactly! It IS my decision, thank you”. Anyhow, this post is NOT about that. This is merely my own experience that I have had feeding LJ.
I breast fed LJ during my maternity 6 week leave and chose to stop when I decided to return to work. I first tried Soy Goodstart. I thought perhaps this would be easiest on his stomach to transition to. I was wrong.
Soy Goodstart made him very constipated and gassy. He would go days without making a bowel movement and his stomach would be bloated. When he finally would go he’d be so backed up that we’d have to hold the diaper open for him to complete his bowel movement. I felt sympathy towards him and guilty because I felt like I was putting him through this.
I then switched him to Similac Advance. I made this transition because I read that the soy may be making him constipated. I figured maybe he needed regular milk proteins. He began to poop every other day but was still gassy and very uncomfortable. He would cry as if he was in extreme pain and would not sleep very much at night. He would kick his feet when he cried and he would spit up a lot. Mommy and Daddy Rector weren’t getting much sleep either and after nights of exhaustion, agreed to take him to his pediatrician.
His pediatrician conducted an evaluation and she said either the proteins in the Similac Advance are too strong or he is overeating. She suggested that we decreased his milk intake to 4 ounces a feeding and try Similac Total Comfort.
LJ immediately began making daily bowel movements and seemed very relieved. His spitting up decreased and he was getting more sleep at night. So were we for that matter. We were supplied with 3 cans and when we ran out I gave him the Similac Advance again. Let me explain.
I did this to eliminate the possibility that it was the overeating that was causing him to have those symptoms. LJ immediately regressed to the same symptoms he had previously with the Similac Advance. Now we knew it was the formula. We immediately switched him back to Similac Total Comfort and he is back to his happy self. This formula is what worked for LJ.
This is not to say that this is what will work for your baby as every baby is different and has different needs. This isn’t even to say that your baby will suffer the same symptoms with Soy Goodstart or Similac Advance. This is just another option to consider if you baby is facing similar symptoms. I did not know that Similac Total Comfort existed so if you are going through something similar, maybe you can request this from your pediatrician.
Sweet dreams,
Mommy Rector, Daddy Rector and Baby LJ
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