[traceylouise]

I need some advice if anyone can offer it.

My 8 week old baby is formula fed. He was breastfed up until 4-5 weeks exclusively, and then we changed to bottle formula fed. He is taking about 150mls of mixed formula every 3-4 hours (and 5 hourly at night).

The problem is, I have tried several formula's now, and we are on our third try and he seems to vomit a small amount after each feed when he is being burped. We have tried S26 (Gold), S26 Refux, and are now on Karicare (birth onwards). We thought the reflux one would be fine, but he wasnt drinking half the amount he normally did and would cry because he was continually hungry. He may have thought he was full and stopped feeding, but really he was still hungry. So we had to change to a normal based one, just a different brand.

Any suggestions??

[HoneyMurcott]

Hi Traceylouise,

Other than a small vomit after the feed the main thing to ask yourself is if he seems otherwise satisfied and comfortable? If so - I wouldn't be concerned about the vomit. 150mls 6 to 8 times per day is great for an 8 week old.

Our DS vomited profusely (we called him the "happy puker") after each feed but was otherwise a wonderfully happy kid and made good weight gains. Because FF babies drink so much more liquid that BF babies they often 'overfill' their little tums and then it just comes back up as a vomit. However it's nothing to worry about unless they are unhappy, uncomfortable or not gaining weight.

If he's comfortable and gaining weight I wouldn't bother changing formula again - particularly as the reflux (ie. thicker) formula didn't agree with him. Just stick with the one you've got. Vomity kids can be messy (I lived with a cloth nappy over my shoulder for 12 months) but they grow out of it eventually.

Check with your clinic or GP if you're worried.

All the best with your little bub.

This post has been edited by mft2of3: 14/04/2008, 05:11 PM

[traceylouise]

mft2of3 - thanks for the advice.

He is gaining weight, and is happy after his feed. And I think your right, maybe he is "overfeeding" himself. I just get worried about the vomiting after every feed. The vomit is not projectile, but like an overflow out of the mouth and alot out onto my shoulder or hand (depending on burp position).

[lsolaBella]

What I would give for a little 'overflow'.

DS1 & DS2 (now) are/were both happy chuckers and OMG the AMOUNT which can/is chucked up even up to 3hrs after a feed (which makes holding them dangerous ).

DS2 SOAKED my top the other day, front and back and that is using a Thickener (like an AR formula) in his normal feed. If we don't add the thickener he projectile vomits and you need a BUCKET to catch it.

Like PP said if bubs is happy & gaining weight it is perfectly normal.

We would average 20-30 chucking sessions a day

This post has been edited by claire~with~two~DS: 14/04/2008, 05:30 PM

[Phascogale]

Could be overfeeding like PP's have suggested.

Did your baby bring up this amount of milk when he was breastfed? If you not you may want to consider a food intolerance and may require a soy formula.

But if there are no other symptoms ie constipation, lots of crying, then he's probably fine and it may just be a matter of living with it.

[paris-stella]

DD is a happy chucker. She brings up her milk all the time. She has only been changed over to being FF from BF a few weeks ago.

I noticed that you said that you are using Karicare formula. I started DD on Karicare Gold, and her vomiting got worse. I noticed that when I mixed a bottle the milk frothed like a milkshake. DD went from the milk spilling out of her mouth to projectile vomiting every where. Take a look at the formula and whether it has a lot of bubbles in it. I changed Ella over to Heinz Nuture. She still vomits, but not as much and it is not projectile.

[bebebumblebee]

I noticed that when I mixed a bottle the milk frothed like a milkshake.

kerricare change their formula about 12 months ago and in my opion it wasnt for the better. we breast fed for about 48 weeks until i got sick then we had to go on to fully fourmla feds.i had a reflux baby and we started using Heinz Nuture gold and it helped a little. the health nurse told me that as long as she was happy and gaining weight then there was no problem.
dd has been on s26 gold then kerricare gold then onto the heinz, unfourtnaly not all baby react the same with formula and you have to find the one thats right for your baby.if you are worried talk to the health nurse but as pp said it could just be overflow.

[traceylouise]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I will keep going and maybe try another formula in a couple of days. Will keep seeing how this one goes, and then check with M&CHN when I see her next.

Thanks heaps...

[rubesmummy]

hey there

my DD vomits etc all the time, but nowhere near as much since ive had her on the AR formula (s26), just a question what teat are you using? you do need to use a different teat due to the thickness of it. which is why bubs may be not drinking as much as it wont come out fast enough?

i use the avent teat for thicker liquids, which is what it says on the pack, i tried heaps of different ones and none worked except the avent. Just a suggestion anyways

saying that it can be quite normal for bubs to bring up a bit after a feed, my doc says as long as they are gaining weight, happy and its not projectile then they are fine

[twotofour]

you can also try feeding less more frequently to avoid the overfull tummy