Anyone's LO on neocate?

[Jazzy-NICU]

After the worst month of my life my LO has been started on neocate, the docs think he has a cows milk intolerance which is causing severe wind, resulting in some silent reflux too he's also been started on ranitidine, does anyone else have experience of this?
How have you found the neocate? Did your LO improve? How quick? Did your LO feed less/more? How did your LO sleep? Any info experience would be greatly appreciated, it's all a bit daunting!!

 

[prgirl_cesca]

Hello! My LO is on neocate and has been since he was 5 weeks old. We saw an improvement in his skin within a few days and his symptoms took a couple of weeks. He wasn't overly better until they put him on ranitidine so good job you're on both!!

His sleep improved quickly although he always slept fairly well. Neocate has lots more calories than other formulas but to start offer the same amount but don't worry if his feeds seem reduced because its more calories.

Be prepared for really dark coloured poos at first - this is normal. Oh and he may be constipated for a while so look up baby massage and rub his tummy and bicycle his legs until he's used to it - i have never had to resort to prune juice or laxatives etc.

Good luck it's a real lifesaver!!!

 

[Jazzy-NICU]

Thanks so much, how do you make up your feeds? I was premaking before, do you think it's still ok to do this? Xx

 

[prgirl_cesca]

I never premade feeds to start with. I do find with neocate it smells 'off' quite quickly so id fill bottles with boiled water about an oz short put in fridge and just add freshly boiled water to make it up to temperature and add powder. Just as quick as premaking i think.

 

[happilyhappy]

our lo is on neocate and has been since about 5 weeks. like the other poster said his skin improved straight away but it takes a few more weeks for everything to settle down. His sleep did improve a little but he has never been a great sleeper and has only settled in the last month but he still wakes twice a night. we demand feed and our lo would sometimes only take a few ounces at a time even with neocate so we just offered it when he wanted and let him eat as much as he could, although at times it does feel like you are feeding all the time but we found this was the best way for us. the biggest improvement we had was when we also switched to dr brown bottles suddenly lo could drink alot more in one go. as the other poster says neocate can make their poo dark green or black so don't panic if that happens. we premake and have no problems doing that. it does cause our lo constipation and we have to give lactulose everyday on the advice of our dietician as nothing else works for him but hopefully your lo will be fine and not need this. neocate has been a life saver for us, hope it works for you too xx

 

[prgirl_cesca]

Oh yes Dr Browns are amazing!!!!!

 

[Jazzy-NICU]

Thanks, I've been using dr browns bottles for weeks so I'll stick with them then! Premaking is so much easier so I'll do that for now, how have your LOs weight gain been? I just hope this works for my boy x

 

[happilyhappy]

his weight gain has been good even when he wasn't eating much - there are more calories in neocate to help with this. it seems fairly common that they may take less than other babies at the same age especially with reflux as well so try not to get too worried about how much he is drinking. My lo is now 6.5 months and will only drink 4-5 ounces in one go x

 

[Jazzy-NICU]

That makes me feel alot better, initially my LO was having up to 30ozs a day but it has gradually come down, he should take about 18ozs today but hopefully that will be up tomorrow, it's just so worrying isn't it, I have cried so much today, the hospital were really good though, with the dr browns what teats do you use? I was using size 3s as LO was on comfort milk before but I've tried him with the size 2 for the neocate x

 

[happilyhappy]

we use the size two teats which seem to work fine as neocate is thinner than normal formula, which can also mean they are a bit more sick at times as it's easier to get up so don't worry to much if that happens.

I know how worrying it is though and at times I haven't known what to do for the best but really he will improve on the neocate and things do get better in the beginning I never thought I would have a content happy smiling baby that wasn't crying all the time but it has happened

It will be fine hun and you are doing an amazing job for your lo, sending

 

[Jazzy-NICU]

Thanks so much, another question! Sorry I keep thinking of them! Do you warm it or give it straight from the fridge? I don't suppose it really matters but just wondered xx

 

[happilyhappy]

I don't think it matters but our lo likes his milk at room temperature so we microwaved it for 20 seconds (although over time this has gone up to 40 seconds as the volume of milk increased) and give it a stir to get rid of any hot spots and this seems to make it room temperature although it may vary with other microwaves. It's the quickest way and we haven't had any issues doing this.

 

[sapphire1]

Holly is on Nutramigen AA (which is very similar to neocate, and is an amino acid based formula). She had silent reflux and has CMPI. She was on ranitidine too, but we were able to take her off it once she was on Nutramigen. I found that it took around a month for her to be fully settled - she had some constipation issues at first. It's amazing stuff, was like having a different baby. I wish she'd been prescribed it sooner (she was 5 months when she started on it). I premake and heat bottles as required, madam won't take them cold! Hope it works for you. x x

 

[prgirl_cesca]

Luca's weight gain is slower than I'd like, however he is following his little teeny (9th) centile line perfectly so he's obviously getting all he needs. I can't say it's easy though, i've cried far too many times over how much he has or hasn't eaten - particularly now he's having some solids so dramatically cutting out his milk feeds -but I try to just chill out and think as long as he's happy, reaching his milestones and gaining weight there can't be much wrong.

 

[Jemma_x]

My LO was on neocate because of a cmpa but he stopped taking it so is now on a different milk. He was put on it at 4 months and within a few days we could see a difference but to see a big difference it was a couple of weeks

 

[Jazzy-NICU]

Well he took 5ozs of neocate last night but he was asleep and has always fed better like this, he only took 2ozs this morning though, still screaming but not as much, I know it will take a while to work and his amount go up but I'm just so worried he's not going to take enough and I'll have to take him to hospital again he's such a content baby between feeds but is just obviously in so much pain whilst feeding it breaks my heart

 

[prgirl_cesca]

Keep perservering it will get better! And you'll find as he is more comfortable he'll take more and more each feed. Luca only dropped off his weight line once which was the week before the prescribed the ranitidine.