Formula! Just the word can sometimes give me a headache. Now that I have found which baby formula works for my youngest son I can look back at my experience and see how overwhelmed and stressed I was. I will say that with my first son it seemed to be an easy fix.
Grayson’s Baby Formula Struggle
Where it all began.
Grayson was very colicky, had blood in his stool, gas, coughing, and all the standard signs of a milk protein allergy. Once we switched him to Similac Alimentum he was like a new baby.
Don’t get me wrong he still cried, had gas, wanted to be held constantly, and all the fun things. But it was nothing compared to what he was like before we switched his formula.
Our Other Issue With Baby Formula
One that I never even read about. let alone thought about.
The only other issue I experienced formula wise with Grayson was when he was taking the powdered Similac Pro Advanced.
Which is what he was given at the hospital and continued until we switched his formula to Similac Alimentum.
One day I made him a bottle and was feeding him in his room. We were rocking in his rocker and I was looking out the window at the neighborhood.
I glanced over to see how much he had eaten when I noticed a solid speck that seemed to be moving on the side of his bottle.
Related: Baby Bottles: Dr. Brown Bottles Once Again For The Win
Horror Movies Consist Of More Than Just Sleepless Nights
Because all things that have bugs associated with them are considered horror movies to me.
To my horror, I realized it was a bug in his bottle. Not only a bug but a LIVE bug that was amongst the formula I was feeding him. I was horrified. I felt absolutely sick to my stomach.
It blended into the formula so well that at first, I wanted to convince myself that it was just a clump of formula stuck to the bottle. Once I got a grip I realized it was indeed a BUG!
I called my husband, who was at work at the time, and informed him that he needed to pick up the ready-to-feed version of Grayson’s formula.
I explained what had happened and I told him I would NEVER ever use the powder again.
After looking it up online it seemed like this could happen with powdered formula because it was not sterile. And I was not the only person who this had happened to.
I was not alone in this horrendous experience which I wish I could say was a comforting notion but really nothing made me feel better about it.
Formula Feeding Shame Is A Real Thing
Even though at the end of the day, we all want the best for our babies the best way we can provide it. Whether that be breast or bottle.
The sheer thought that my baby was drinking heavens knows what in this powder made me feel like a horrible mother. The experience was burned into my mind and still is to this day.
As long as Grayson was on the formula we bought the ready-to-feed version. Even if it did cost an arm and a leg on top of an elbow for the Alimentum ready-to-feed.
I kept this experience to myself for a long time, well other than Kevin of course. I think it has to do with the mentality that formula feeding was not the best.
Since, there is this stigma that, oh your formula feeding. Some people believe this somehow makes you lazy or that you don’t do what’s best for your baby.
I even had family members who had this mentality. They insisted I should have breastfed even though I physically couldn’t.
In my mind that feeling of shame of not being able to breastfeed led to the thinking that this is just what I get because I had to formula feed.
Sharing My Secret
Or More Like My Shame!
The first time I shared what happened with the bug in the formula was when I was talking with my Dad and Step-Mom about how they were limiting how much formula you could buy at a time due to the coronavirus.
They asked me why I bought the ready-to-feed version of the formula instead of the powder. I told them what had happened with Grayson’s formula.
They were just as horrified as I was when it happened. They of course asked me what I did about it.
Which I explained that’s why we only buy the ready-to-feed now. My Dad couldn’t believe that I didn’t call the company when it happened to complain.
Looking back I should have called even just to inform them that there was an issue with the batch of formula I received.
Maybe someone else could have been saved from the experience if they could have pulled the rest of the packages of formula from that batch.
I know in hindsight it’s easier to say what if and I would have if. But I know that moving forward I will take this experience as one in which I learn that my voice matters and by saying something others may be helped in the end.
Getting Something Out Of The Traumatic Experience
At least through this experience, we were able to get Grayson on the correct formula that worked best for him!
The significance of this whole experience was that it led to us using Similac Pro Advance ready-to-feed.
When he started to have the ready-to-feed version of the formula is when I noticed that Grayson had blood in his stool.
Something about the ready-to-feed version made him have more of a reaction. Whether that be it was richer or more concentrated I’m not sure. But this led to us changing his formula to Similac Alimentum.
The Beginning Of The Baby Formula Struggle Once Again
You would think that having one struggle would set you up to be better prepared to handle the next. Which I found is not always the case!
So when Mason was born and started having issues on the Similac Pro Sensitive that they started him on at the hospital.
I felt very prepared to tackle the formula issue because of what we had experienced with Grayson. Because honestly could it be worse?
Well, that was like God having a nice jovial laugh saying, “Well, not really Stephanie”.
It had been enough time since the whole bug incident in the formula that I was okay with trying powder formula once again.
Though I still preferred the ready-to-feed option when possible. Time sometimes heals some wounds!
The Start Of Formula Roulette
A game that feels like there are no winners, no matter how many rounds are played.
We tried what felt like every formula on the market. At the doctor’s recommendation, we started with Similac Total Comfort and were told if that didn’t help to then switch to Similac Alimentum. We were hoping that the Similac Total Comfort would solve the problems.
We knew all too well how extremely expensive the Similac Alimentum was. Though if that was what we had to do we were definitely prepared to do so.
Well, Total Comfort caused even more gas and discomfort. Along with the fact that TMI, it made him have horrendous dark green poop. The formula also smelled like powdered cheese, if that’s even a thing.
Trying What We Knew
We really like to stick with our tried and tested choices!
So off we went to get the Similac Alimentum. Our old friend was back. I will say Mason never seemed to mind the taste of any of the formulas we gave him. He took them all well in small amounts.
Though he had lots of discomforts he never seemed to mind the tastes. The Alimentum did not help at all. It actually just caused his constipation to become worse on top of everything else.
Doctors Perception
When you realize that sometimes, you truly know best. Especially when the answer you are given doesn’t solve the problem you have.
After many phone calls to the doctor’s office and a sick visit where I was told if the Alimentum didn’t “solve” the issues than it could just be his temperament.
It pretty much felt like they were telling me I had a bad baby. Like it was just his bad attitude that was causing him to only drink 2 oz at a time, get up every 2 hrs throughout the night, not nap, cry all day AND night, and arch his back in pain during every feeding.
Taking Things Into My Own Hands
Because something had to change and I had to do something.
I was beyond frustrated and at my wit’s end, to say the least. Living with a screaming baby is something I don’t wish on my worst enemy.
So I decided to take things into my own hands because I knew that Mason was in pain and it was not just his personality.
I switched him to Similac Sensitive, not the Pro version that he was initially on. I read a lot of people seemed to have luck on the non-Pro version. While he seemed a little better it still wasn’t the fix we were looking for.
As A Participant In Amazon Associates Program, An Affiliated Marketing Program, I Make Commissions On Purchases Made Through The Following Links.
Why Not Give Gerber A Try
Trying a new brand of baby formula with hopes of better results.
So next we tried Gerber Soothe which also seemed to help for a short period of time. But then we were back to the same place.
When you are sleep deprived and your nerves are shot from the sheer fact that your baby screams all day AND night, add to the fact that you have a two-year-old who is adjusting to a new brother, you will try anything.
I’m sure so many people can relate. I am here to tell you it feels like it will never end but it does and things do get better. But in the thick of it all, all you want to do is cry! And hope that there is a formula out there that your baby can tolerate.
As A Participant In Amazon Associates Program, An Affiliated Marketing Program, I Make Commissions On Purchases Made Through The Following Links.
I Suppose There Is Enfamil Too
Sometimes you should never suppose anything!
So on to the next formula in my formula roulette I went. I tried Enfamil Gentlease.
Then I moved on to Enfamil Reguline because it seemed like all of the other ones were causing him to be constipated, on top of all his other issues.
Well, that was a big fat, NO! He started spitting up along with all the other issues.
So as I scoured the internet I decided maybe Alimentum didn’t work but Enfamil Nutramigen would.
Well, what I learned from that try was is it seemed like all of the Enfamil formulas we tried made poor Mason spit up like a fountain. No, thank you!
As A Participant In Amazon Associates Program, An Affiliated Marketing Program, I Make Commissions On Purchases Made Through The Following Links.
Trying Hypoallergenic Baby Formula Again
Why not try all the brands of hypoallergenic. When your baby is struggling, you are desperate and will try anything to help.
I then read a post where someone had no luck with any of the other hypoallergenic formulas but they found Gerber Extensive HA and it was their saving grace. Well, it must taste absolutely awful because poor little Mason wouldn’t drink it.
As A Participant In Amazon Associates Program, An Affiliated Marketing Program, I Make Commissions On Purchases Made Through The Following Links.
Back To The Beginning Of Our Baby Formula Journey
It felt like there was nowhere else to go.
From here the only thing I could do was go back to where we began because out of all the others the Similac Sensitive was better than the rest.
It seemed like it would help for a couple of weeks and then worsen. I then switched him to Gerber Soothe again. The other formula that he was somewhat “better” on.
Feeling Defeated
I never imagined I could feel this way in regards to baby formula.
I would say it was at this point where I thought I might just have to accept the fact that maybe it was his disposition. Maybe this was just who Mason was. Those were probably the moments of complete defeat in our formula struggle.
Then God gave me these glimpses of Mason’s smile and giggles. I knew it was the hope I needed. My reassurance that it was not just his disposition. There was actually something causing him pain and discomfort.
My Last Hope
At least there was still hope to be had.
What felt like my last hope was soy formula. My brother had been on soy formula as a baby. I thought maybe Mason had inherited some issues with milk similar to what my brother had experienced.
Though his pediatrician reiterated that if the hypoallergenic formula didn’t help then the soy definitely would not. He told me that most babies who have a milk protein allergy also have allergies to soy.
I will say I didn’t feel like I was dealing with a milk protein allergy. It seemed like a completely different issue than what we dealt with when Grayson was having formula issues.
My Soy Research
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, And All The Opinions Inbetween.
I again went to the trusty old internet looking for people who were struggling with the same issues.
Let me tell you if you look up soy formula’s there is such a wide array of opinions on whether soy is a good option for babies.
Some people and studies state that it should only be used in the last case scenarios.
This is because of the type of estrogen-mimicking element that is found in soy. I found this to be more pointed to girls, not boys.
But still, it makes you somewhat cautious about using it. It was literally my last hope and of course, I was willing to try anything at this point.
Time To Give Soy Baby Formula A Go
Because sometimes you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
So I sent my husband to the store to get yet another new formula. I initially started him on Gerber Soy because at the time we switched he was on Gerber Soothe.
The first night he took the soy he slept for 6 hours straight, didn’t arch his back in pain while eating, and drank 8 oz at one time.
All these things were a first for Mason. It was like a gift from heaven. It felts like the greatest weight was being lifted off my shoulders. This was what he had needed all along.
I will say the Gerber Soy solved all the feeding issues because he obviously had lactose intolerance. But the poor thing was still struggling with constipation.
The fact that the only thing that remained to solve was his constipation seemed much more manageable. Especially compared to where we were before the soy formula.
There were times when I would worry that maybe we were going to have to try another formula because he was still constipation.
Just the sheer thought of starting over triggered nightmares about how horrible it was before we got to this place!
My Final Baby Formula Try
Similac Soy Isomil
I decided to try Similac Soy Isomil because that was what my brother was on as a baby. Though there were no new issues or problems it still didn’t help his constipation.
Luckily, we were able to solve the constipation problem with other means. (More on that issue in another post because I feel like it needs more explanation, though I’m sure some would disagree!)
My Lesson Learned Through Out My Baby Formula Experiences
Never Ever Settle!
Looking back at the whole experience I will say it was painful for both my husband and me, as well as Mason.
I have no magical answers and I hope that if you get anything from my experience it’s that it’s okay to follow your instincts and never give up!
I think that we are our children’s advocates and we should never settle for someone’s perception when we know there is something obviously wrong.
With each of my boys, we struggled to find the best formula for them and I will say it has been a blessing once we do finally find what works.
My last take away from all of the fun formula moments would be to not allow someone else’s judgment of what is “best” to allow you to feel less than in any way.
Just because you may formula feed your baby, for whatever reason you have, we all have the same goal at heart. To care, nurture, love, and support our child the best we can.
Looking past the “how” we do this to the why is what should matter most!
