Hi A.
I'm sure you are going to get a lot of opinions here but I am a HUGE advocate for Good Start because I saw a tremendous difference in my daughter from the first bottle.
At just 3 weeks old she got colic and it was so difficult to see her so uncomfortable and to listen to her unending screams. I too tried to breast feed...long story...health issues and I had to stop. Anyway she was placed on Similac from the hospital and was pretty good with it until the 3rd week. So the Dr suggested to go on the Soy version from the same manufacturer and that was Isomil. She was good for 3 days and it all started again and even worse than the first time. I had heard that parents were using Good Start but I wasn't sure about how nutricious it was. So I researched A LOT on line and found out it is an awesome formula and they are the only ones with Comfort Proteins.
(My Pediatrician agreed it was a good formula also.)
These Protiens are predigested proteins so that the baby does not have to go through so much as it tries to digest it...it is all done for them.
I will tell you that from the very first bottle there was a huge difference and she Never Ever got gasy again.
She started gaining weight right away with it and just reached all her milestones before she was supposed to.
Good nutrition, proper weight gain and growth so that she could reach her milestones as her body was ready to.
The people at Nestle who make Good Start are wonderful. They have answered so many questions for me over the last 21 months. I can even ask for a particular Registered Dietician (Dana) that I have spoken to in the past. They always ask her to come to the phone if I request her. It gives you a real sense of connection if you are able to connect with the same person on a steady basis. And they do that for you.
I would suggest going to the Good Start web site....and sign up for their newsletter, read their web pages and you can either call a Registerd Dietician on the phone or e-mail them.
Also just type in Good Start in your browser and you will find several posts from parent forums where they praise Good Start over and over. That is what got me to try it in the first place. I listen to parents that have been there!
I am a first time Mom of a baby girl also and I know what you are going through. Every day is a miracle and a new adventure!! ;)
Also Good Start will send you coupons every month that will save you almost $400 in the first year on their formula. And the first can is "free" if your daughter does not do well on it or you don't like it for some reason. The guarantee is on the top of the can.
I am so hooked on it, I am still giving my daughter their 9-24 month version. She now gets 2 bottles of the formula a day along with milk, yogurts juices and water as well as whole foods. I just feel she may lack some key nutrients from the table food no matter how nutricious it is (because with most kids her age they do not eat much some days) so I know she is getting all her missed nutrients, calcium and Iron from the formula.
I can't say enough good things about it.
I think you will be very pleased if you get it for her.
Also, if you call them, they will help you with picking the correct formula for your daughter seeing that her weight is low and that she "may" have lactose intolerance?? Or maybe it is colic also. They can steer you in the right direction. There are so many versions of their formula on the shelf, it may be daunting at first. But they are all desigend for different reasons. Great that they have such a variety for babies!
Good luck with whatever you choose!
And congratulations on your first baby girl.
There is nothing like it...being a Mom.
And girls get all the pretty frilly colthes ;)
you are going to have a blast with her!
Enjoy!!
Take care,
P.