Maybe I Just Worry Too Much....

Hi. My name is S. and I have a 5 month old granddaughter that does the same thing. She started at 2 weeks old,but is now getting better. She is on Good Start as well. we thought she had an allergy to it,but the physician thought it was nothing to worry about. She is coming out of it and isn't so congested & wheezy. Unless the baby is running fever or the congestion gets worse I'd give it some time.

It's probably a milk intolerence more than a milk allergy. I would try switching to the lactose-free formula for a few days first before trying soy. If it is a milk allergy, most babies are also allergic to soy that are allergic to milk. You can also try the hypoallergenic formulas, but Good Start is partially broken down already, so I would go straight to the lactose-free. Good luck!

How old is your baby? Sometimes babies that are drinking too fast do this. What position are you holding him in when he feeds? How much is he drinking at a time? Is he getting fussy after feedings? Is he wheezing with both types of formula? I found that sometimes it is the bottle and the rate that they drink it and the position that they feed. Try the playtex bottles with liners. They have a "slow feed " nipple. It worked for me. Also trying keeping his head up slightly about a 45 degrees. Let me know if I can help with anything.

B.

Both of our children were VERY sensitive to formula and one had to be put on a soy formula and the other ended up on Alimentum which is expensive but worked for us. Like your child, our son would get respiratory problems and our daughter would get BAD stomach cramps and scream. Keep trying a new formula until you find something that works. I think it is just natural for moms to worry when the kids are having any symptoms!! Ugh ... but it's what makes us good moms!

My 2-month-old does the same thing, and when I mentioned that it sounds like she is having trouble breathing after eating, the doctor said it was no big deal, that babies' breathing changes all the time and if you listen to it you will drive yourself crazy worrying because of all the sounds and wheezing. I'm not sure about that though! I (in my non-expert opinion)think it is related to a milk allergy. She has been on every formula there is due to horrid spitting up and screaming, an apparent acid reflux problem and/or lactose intolerance and/or milk protein allergy and she is now on Nutramigen hypoallergenic formula. The doctor said she had reflux and prescribed Prevacid and suggested the different formulas. (And the hypoallergenic formula seems to be helping). The funny thing is, I get the same way after I eat certain foods like pasta, so I wonder if I have a food allergy too! So my two cents are maybe you should ask the doctor if she could have a possible milk allergy. I hope not, though, because the hypoallergenic formula is verrrrry expensive. Although the doctor wasn't concerned about the wheezing, (I also have asthma, I hope my baby doesn't get it too!) my opinion is that it is related to a milk allergy, based on my personal experience and what I've read.

Sounds to me like an allergy. My daughter was allergic to milk and milk products - even when breast fed. Change to a soy based product and see if this helps.
M.

Does he get weezy and congested while drinking or right after? And for how long? I would talk to your doctor about this. It could be an allergy thing or just extra mucous from the milk, or something I'm not aware of. But the best thing to do would be have your baby checked out at the doctor's office, because it could be nothing or it could be something that needs to be addressed but you'll never know unless you ask. I breastfed so I never had formula issues.

Hi! Congratulations on your new family!

Good eye. You're being an attentive mom. Dairy products (and eggs, too, by the way) tend to cause a lot of congestion. Most of us are just used to it and don't know the difference, especially if we have it all the time. Soy can cause some mucus, too, but to a much lesser extent for most people. If Enfamil Gentleease is milk-based, you might want to try a soy-based formula. The cultures you mention are probably dairy-based. I'm not familiar with these cultures, but if they're for beneficial bacteria, there's a great soy-based acidophilus at Ozark Natural Foods, in the fridge by the bulk teas. You'll want to check with the staff to make sure it's appropriate for a 2-month old, though.

This is actually a stroke of luck for you and your baby. Dairy products - animal products of any kind, probably - can also spark immune system disorders such as juvenile diabetes, esp. when fed to infants, because the proteins are so similar to human protein, but just different enough that they prompt an immune system response. The antibodies we produce when these foreign proteins are introduced to our bodies are shaped to latch on to the proteins to render them ineffective against getting deeper into our bodies to do any damage that our immune systems think they might cause. Here's where the problem comes in: the antibodies we form are also shaped closely enough to proteins that we naturally produce, ourselves, that they can attack and effectively latch on to our own proteins. This is an immune system disorder. It just depends on which system of the body comes under attack. Consuming dairy can cause diabetes because it effects the digestive system.

So, in short, it's better, especially for vulnerable babies and young children, whose immune systems are still sorting things out, to avoid animal products! It's just one of those things, like honey, peanuts and processed sugar.

Good luck, and again, congratulations!

L.

I have a 5 month old and he is on the Gentleease Formula and he is weezy too. Our doctor told us that it is normal and some babies do it more than others. He said is he not sick but it is the baby using his vocal cords. Now that he is 5 months, I do not hear it that much because he is cooing and making other noises.

Jeff could not drink milk base forumla but he would shout it across the room. The Dr put him on soy beam base forumla, he did wonderful with it. Maybe you would want to try that and see what happens.

Hi M.,

You mentioned two different formulas in a span of two months. Did your little one react the same way to the first one?
The following question may not make any sense, but I'm wondering if you wash your little one's laundry separately using a different detergent?
Not that it matters, I'm just curious - is your 2-mo-old a boy or a girl?

No you don't. My now 8 month old son stayed wheezy and congested, especially when he ate, for the first few months of his life. He ended up being lactose intolerant and has food allergies. I would just start with switching to a soy formula, or lactose free, and see if he does any better. And, of course, always discuss it with your doctor first. Good Luck!!!

M.,

I would definitely mention your baby's symptoms to your pediatrician. I may be reflux or that you need to change formula. Make sure your baby is in an upright position during feeding time and with head elevated for a little bit afterwards. My son had some spitup problems at 2mo and was unable to take goodstart. Just incase you didn't know, you can get coupons and samples if you signup on Enfamil web site.

A. G

My son had that same problem when he was born. I had to sit him up on pillows when he slept at night to keep him from getting choked. I found out later, he had allergies to alot of things. I know that sounds funny but, that is what caused his coughing and wheezing after he ate. It wouldn't hurt to consult an allergy specialist.

I would say you have a right to worry. I am not a DR but when my nephew, that I am raising was doing that around about the same age they diagnosed him with Bronchial Reflux (Spelling??) He was pushing small amounts of his formula into his sinuses. It would stop after 10-30 minutes when he was done eating. They are now going to have a swallow study done on him (He is 7.5mon now) because he does this with his baby food as well. They say it is not a big deal but it can be because if they are Aspirating the foods including formula and drinks they want to know where it goes when it clears. If it is going into the lungs you can present a situation to get more frequent respritory problems. Don't get alarmed just tell your DR and have it checked out it can be resolved easily enough from what they tell me.
Good Luck and let me know how it turns out.

SOunds like the baby has an allery to something in the formula. I'd defintely check with the peditricitan! My son had to go to soy milk formula & was great after that. With my daughter....second family....she was on Nuetrimagen....but got help w/it through a church program...it's expensive & you can get it at Walmart...cleared her right up....good luck!

I would mention it to the dr. My son has reflux and as an infant he would get wheezy and congested from eating because of aspiration.

that doesn't sound normal...if he doesn't have a cold but just gets congested after feeding, i'd have him checked to make sure he's not aspirating somehow (fluid going to his lungs) good luck, hope this helps!

I nursed and formula fed my daughter and never had this type of reach. Except for me and dealing with the nipples of her bottles, that contained unknown latex to me. I would talk with your doctor but also check and see what nipples you have on your bottles some babies are sensitive to various materials.
J.