Prescription and/or High Energy Formulas Thread

[Marleysgirl]

This thread is to discuss feeding of prescription formulas such as NutriPrem2 & Infatrini (are there others? not sure) - Also over-the-counter high energy formula, and prescription formula issued for other reasons such as allergies. Basically anything a little "specialised".

We did have an NP2 thread running, but it started turning into a wider discussion and it was felt that we'd be better with a more general "prescription formulas" thread.

I'll start with my introduction

Andrew was 3m premature and has been on EBM with fortifier since birth (I'm expressing). We've used NP2 occasionally when my supply has been low but I've been reluctant to do so ("breast pride" LoL) - I now have two unopened tubs sat in the cupboard. As his growth is still not sufficient to keep the Paediatrician happy (100g/wk), I am to stop the EBM and switch him entirely onto Infatrini once the prescription comes through.

Now that I've got over the pride element ("What do you mean my milk isn't good enough?") and the sadness ("I'm having to give up breastfeeding") I'm slightly anxious about the switch as I've heard some tales of babies vomiting on Infatrini, which I'd like to avoid - Andrew has been one of the most "unsicky" babies I've come across.

I've also just discovered that Infatrini doesn't come as powder (aaaargh) so I have to find somewhere to store a month's worth of small plastic bottles in our tiny house.

Although I'd like Andrew to grow faster, it means he'll get even less wear out of his clothes before he's too big for them!

 

[sleeping bubs]

My introduction lol Well Mckenzie wasn't prem but LBW 4lb 7oz at birth (Full term) now 28weeks and weighs 11lb 14oz been on NP2 since he was 3days old but now gradually switching to SMA high Energy now 2oz NP2 and 4oz SMA. will be on full SMA by Friday!

Like Infatrini SMA high energy is only in liquid form 250ml cartons in packs of 12 so one pack will last around 2-3days!! so at moment I have 6packs on the freezer and 1 pack in my kitchen!! But however no need to boil the kettle for a bottle!! He had got so much energy now (not that he needed anymore) and he is drinking so much more think the SMA is thiner than the NP2 he is now taking between 5 and 6oz each bottle and started him on 3meals today still 5bottles a day lol. So hopfully this will mean he puts some more weight on.

I know wot you mean Marleysgirl don't want him to sick a size in clothes still in 0-3months and hhe has loads of 3-6months clothes which I want him to wear!

I hope you get Andrews prescription soon

 

[AP]

I didnt know they didnt come as powder!!!!! I expected us to be moved onto it yesterday , but Alex is 13lb 7oz at 6 months corrected, they just told us to move our butts with the weaning now.

We do however, get SMA Staydown on presciption, for her really bad reflux.

 

[mummy_mi]

Hello all!

A nice new thread to get comfy in!! Well Chloe was born nearly 2 months early and was 2lb 8oz, she spent a month in SCBU and was on EBM and during the last week of her stay in SCBU fortifer was added to her EBM. They decided to send her home on NP2, she had that every other feed, with the other feeds being EBM. After 3 months I was having a tough time keeping up with expressing, milk supply was getting low and she wasnt gaining huge amounts of weight, so on she went to NP2 full time.

Chloe was keeping her own little line below the 0.4th pecentile line but gradually she starting to gain weight slower, rather then 6oz a weeks it was 7oz in 3 weeks, 2oz in a week etc so last weds she was put onto SMA High Energy. She seems to really like it and is taking slightly more at a feed (would love for her to finish a full 100ml bottle!). She is also on gaviscon for reflux which does thinken her feed slightly and she has some issues with making a good seal around teats etc but we're working on that.

She is nearly 4months and was 7lb 14oz as of last week, hoping for a nice gain this week! She hasnt been sick on the new stuff at all and I do think it has increased her appetite! I cant wait till she can start taking more then 70-80mls a feed, it's worrying hearing about some newborn babies taking 200ml odd bottles within a few weeks!! But still, as long as she's happy that's fine, its hard not to compare other babies like for like but each one is different!

As Chloe doesnt take much, a 12 pack of cartons is going to last us about 4 days and I've managed to squeeze them all into the cupboard where her spare NP2 tubs were. It's lovely not having loose powder all over the work top, or having to boil the kettle and trying to distract Chloe whilst it cools. She doesnt mind room temp either, so when we first open a carton she's fine with it as is. A shame the cartons arent bigger maybe as I hate to think of all the waste the used cartons are going to make in the bin!

Hugs to all xx

 

[Marleysgirl]

I simply cannot believe the palaver I'm having getting this Infatrini for Andrew.

The Paediatrician recommended it on Friday. She said she'd fax the surgery. I asked the surgery yesterday - no fax. I phoned the surgery today - no fax. I phoned the Paediatrician's secretary, who said she'd chase it and send the fax, which she did. I phoned the surgery to check the details and ....

She's gone and flippin' written that he's on 150ml x 4 feeds, so that is all they'll prescribe! He's gone up to 175ml now, and occasionally (like Monday) he wants a feed in the middle of the night. If they only prescribe 600ml a day, then we're going to run short. But the surgery cannot increase the quantity ...

So I've had to phone the Paediatrician's secretary again, explain all this, and ask if they can re-fax the surgery with an higher amount to cover his increased appetite and occasional fifth feed. I've suggested prescribing 1000ml/day, as I'd rather have a stockpile of surplus than be running short.

My OH thinks I should put him back onto pure EBM - no fortifier, no switch to formula - and I'm bloody well inclined to agree. I shouldn't have to deal with all this. Andrew's growing, just not fast.

 

[Marleysgirl]

Well, the Infatrini finally arrived today!

Andrew has just had his first meal, 60ml Infatrini with 100ml EBM as we're moving over slowly (having read tales of babies sicking it up). It went down okay, fingers crossed it doesn't make a reappearance!

 

[sleeping bubs]

thats good you have the milk now, its good to introduce slowly Mckenzie is now having SMA high energy only and he seems to really like it, has he is having between 150-180mls per bottle and he even had 200mls at 3pm!! He seems to be a different boy now as he is having around 22oz plus of milk and 3 meals a day and some water! I think it must be the new milk as it is much thinner and creamy than NP2!! He has had already 22oz (680mls) of milk and he still has another bottle!!

What do you all do with the extra amount of milk left over from the carton at the moment I am pouring 200mls of milk into his bottle then the rest into another bottle and put in fridge then top it up during the day (or in a cool bag with a ice block in when I am out) Don't know whether I should put the whole of the 250ml carton into the bottle and let him drink what he wants then throw the rest away that would mean using 5+ cartons a day rather than 4!! I have enough spares!

 

[Marleysgirl]

I noticed that the Infatrini says it can be refrigerated once open (up to 12 hours) so I generally portion out 25ml more than i think he'll take, and i'll fridge the rest for later in the day; but i'll have to discard after the 7pm feed as it's 12 hours till his next anticipated feed at 7am.

When we're out, I'll prob just accept I have to throw the surplus.

 

[sleeping bubs]

SMA can be refrigerated for 24hrs but I am only putting 50mls back in the fridge sometimes!! Mckenzie seems to like the milk as he had 27oz plus 3meals yesterday can't believe it!!

 

[Jemma_x]

Can i join in? Connor wasnt prem but hes on a perscription milk, hes on neocate which is for babies with a cows milk protein allergy. Connor was born weighing 4lb 8oz and he started on sma gold but when he was 15/16 weeks old was diagnosed with a cows milk protein allergy and has been on neocate ever since. It only comes in powder so its a pain when were going out for day but we manage.

Hope im ok to reply to this

 

[Marleysgirl]

No problem Gemma - although so far we've concentrated on "high energy" formulas, there's room for others in here! You might encourage others on Neocate to join in once they've seen your post.

I don't know much about cow protein allergy, is it similar to a lactose intolerance in adults or is it a "scarey might need adrenaline" style allergy? How was Connor diagnosed, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Marleysgirl]

We have post-Infatrini poop ...... it stinks Is formula poop always this bad?

 

[willow77]

Hi ladies,

A nice shiny new thread

Ok lovely Poppy's history, she was born 4 weeks early and was 3lbs 7oz and spent 2 weeks in SCBU, she was originally on EBM and normal formula but they changed her to Nutriprem2 &EBM whilst in SCBU, kept being asked to reduce the EBM until finally this month to nothing.

She is now 24 weeks old and 10lbs 5oz (yay finally in her 0-3 month old clothes), recently changed to Infatrini because the consultant is concerned with her growth (she is setting her own little wobbly line below the 0.4th centile). The bottles of Infatrini have taken over the kitchen, but am enjoying the lazyness of getting her milk ready!

Consultant thinks development wise she is doing well and is very bright and alert due to the slow growth though she is having tests to check for any infections, also chromosome and genetic testing to see if there are any underlying reasons for her dinkyness. Not weaning until 14th April when we have an appointment with the dietician who is putting a diet plan together for her. She currently takes 500-600mls a day and is such a happy little girl, can't wait to start the weaning.


Hope your little ones are all doing well & you had a lovely mothers day

 

[Jemma_x]

Connor was really sick after every bottle and had really bad runs constantly and was screaming all the time, we were already under a consultant due to connor having IUGR and having slow growth, at first he put us on lactose free which seemed to help abit but not totally so they took a poo sample and blood test and started us on neocate then as the blood tests took a couple of weeks to come back and after 3-4 days i noticed a massive difference in connor, he wasnt being sick with feeds, he was only pooing 1 or 2 times a day and was a happy baby. When we went back to the consultant he confirmed he had a cows milk protein allergy and we see a diatician every few months to see how weanings going.

The main things we have to avoid are anything with milk or lactose in, butter, cheese, yogurt so anything with milk in really. Its hard at times though as even some breads and sauces have milk in but they dont actually say milk and it says whey instead so we tend to keep our milk free weaning booklet with us as it tells us all the different names milk products can be called on packaging so thats easiest thing for us to do.

I dont actually know anyone who elses baby is on neocate, my HV only has one other baby under her thats on neocate so i dont think its commonly used

 

[sleeping bubs]

HI Jemma my little one Mckenzie was also IUGR 4lb 7oz at 39weeks but haven't really seen the doctors much was on nurtiprem from 3days old but recently changed to SMA high energy milk. Currently taking between 500-700mls a day weaning not to good at moment refusing most of his food but taking some milk so far he has had 550mls one more bottle to go (6bottles today lol) He lost weight a couple of weeks agao (4oz) cos he was ill but but 9oz on in 11days (Think he had a growth spert) so now 12lb 8oz at 29weeks. He is so active lol. Has anyone tried finger food?? I want to try some but sometimes he still gags of smooth food

How are everyone little ones doing??

 

[willow77]

Hi Ladies,

Hope all your little ones are doing well

Jemma - I can't imagine how hard it must be to feed Connor and trying to work out what has milk in, they should put it clearly on the label really especially baby things!

Sleeping Bubs - Yay to McKenzie putting on 9oz, you must be really pleased Hope the weaning starts improving soon.

Poppy has just got over a cold and I think she is teething now and very grotty bless her. Currently having problems getting her Infatrini, it runs out on Sunday and Boots have been waiting for it to be delivered since Thursday today they said there was no guarantee it would be there on Tuesday either and that I should 'try' and buy some SMA high energy from somewhere (thought this was prescription only though & pharmacist wasn't very helpful tbh) thankfully still have the Nutriprem2 at home so will give her a couple today, couple tomorrow to get her tummy used to it again. If the Infatrini still hasn't arrived by Tuesday though will speak to scbu nurse and see what they suggest.

Have a lovely easter and enjoy all your easter eggs xx

 

[Mumof42009]

Hi

Hope you dont mind me joining you my little man is on Nutramigen due to severe allergys to almost everything i am having a right game with weaning at the minute as everything seems to bring him out in hives. I have had to push for a referal to see a dietian to finally get something sorted as his consultant is now concerned about his weight gain!
Im hopeing he will eventually grow out of it he will have more tests when he is one as they say thats when the immune system is more developed.

 

[sleeping bubs]

HI Willow77 did you get Chloe's formula?? Yer SMA high energy only on prescription!! Having a nightmare with Mckenzie weaning and milk this week refusing bottles and crying like mad (eventually taking some water) refusing most foods will only eat Sweet potato (some times gagging on it) and things with banana in!! Now only having between 400 and 500mls of milk!! Driving me mad so fustrating!! Might try some finger food like steamed carrot sticks ect!

HI Mumof42009 sounds like you will have a bit of trouble with weaning but hopfully they will help you out

 

[Jemma_x]

Its horrible trying to work out what has milk in, we are doing traditional weaning so as weve been doing it quite a few months now we know what jars connor likes what dont have milk in. 1 problem we have though is that all the desserts in stage 2 jars have milk in so he either has a mashed up banana or a stage 1 dessert

 

[willow77]

Hi Ladies,

I hope you & your little ones are all well.

SleepingBubs - Yes, we managed to get Poppy's formula thanks. Boots were very helpful on Tuesday and chased it up with the suppliers for me. Is McKenzie eating a little better now? Must be so frustrating when he won't eat and he isn't having as much milk either! Has he been weighed recently?

Mum of 42009 - Hello, your poor little one with all his allergies must be really hard for both of you. I hope your appointment with the dietician is soon so they can help with the weaning.

Jemmax - Sounds like you are doing well with the weaning, wonder why all the stage 2 deserts have milk in? good job he likes banana then

Poppy is doing well and it seems that the Infatrini is like Miracle grow for her, she put on a pound in 2 weeks she had her cardiology appointment on Friday and her heart is fine, she still has a murmur which is nothing to worry about and they also found that surrounding her heart is more fatty than expected, they don't think it is anything to be concerned about but need to have another scan in August just to check it hasn't changed. Have appointment with the dietician on Wednesday, am really looking forward to weaning her and have the blender all ready I think Poppy is ready too as she is extremely interested in us eating.

Well ladies enough ramblings from me, have a lovely weekend and hope all your little ones have a happy smiley weekend