Neocate – screaming infant

[Anonymous]

Just switched my 4 week old daughter Sally to Neocate from Similac Alimentum. There have been positives to report – almost immediately she started feeding more normal amounts – 4 oz per feeding vs. 2 max that we’d get with the Alimentum.

But after every bottle, she screams for about 45-60m – clearly in pain. So, two questions:

1. Is this anyone else’s experience? Does it go away?

2. What’s causing this? Gas pain?

Thanks in advance!

Damian

[hellbennt]

hi & welcome!

give the new formula a good two weeks!

it might just be an adjustment?

it might be that she needs meds, too?

you’ll have to see…

it can sometimes feel like a big experiment!

hang in there!

MSPI ‘Main’ page:

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2697

best EXPLANATION OF FOOD ALLERGIES/INTOERANCES and their RELATION TO REFLUX that I have found, to date: 2nd post: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2697&PN=2

how Neocate & Elecare work: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6013

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the response. I’m having trouble convincing my wife to stick it out. Sally was on Soy formula prior and she didn’t scream like this – she did have more audible acid reflux, but we’ve now gotten her on medication for that.

My wife feels that she’d rather deal with that and the constipation that she also seemed to get from the Soy.

Sally also seemed to spit up less with the Soy than with the Neocate – is that another typical issue?

[hellbennt]

mspi is Milk Soy Protien Intolerance

it might be that the soy is an issue too. how long was Sally on Soy?

if it was under a month then there was still the chance that the proteins would ‘build’ up and affect her as much as a month or more into that formula…please read the links, especially how the formulas work and the explanation b/t reflux and intolerances…

hang in there!

[Anonymous]

Sally was on soy for approximately 3 weeks – she was ok on it but had strong constipation as I mentioned above. Thanks for the encouragement!

[hellbennt]

constipation can be a sign of intolerance…

best EXPLANATION OF FOOD ALLERGIES/INTOERANCES and their RELATION TO REFLUX that I have found, to date: 2nd post: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2697&PN=2

[Anonymous]

I didn’t know that – thanks for the reference.

[Anonymous]

New symptoms:

– She hasn’t pooped in days – she did a little bowel movement – it was dark green and a trickle. Very, very small.

– Her skin has now broken out – and it only seems to breakout when she is given a bottle of the Neocate.

Thoughts?

[hellbennt]

I don’t have any thoughts…can you call neocate?

[Anonymous]

You can definitely call the office and talk to one of the nutrition specialists, they’re fantastic!

A change in bowel movements is to be expected when transitioning to a new formula. Typically Neocate can cause a decrease in bowel movements. Since Neocate is a low residue formula, the amount of time required to build up enough stool to produce a bowel movement is longer than normal.

Also, the color (dark green) is normal because Neocate is an amino-acid based formula. Bile acids in our bodies break and emulsify fat in proteins and since Neocate is an amino-acid based formula there are no peptide bonds to break. With no bonds to break the bile acids do not have anything to act on, the bile (which is green in color) works its way through the system and into the stool. The more bile in the stool causes the dark green color.

I’m not sure about her skin breaking out? Is it like a rash? You said it is only when she has Neocate, but are you currently feeding anything else or just formula? Are you using any new soaps, lotions, or detergents?

With all of that said, if you feel like your LO isn’t tolerating Neocate well I would put a call into your doctor. Generally though, the rule of thumb with any formula change is to give it about two weeks so your LO has time to adjust.

Good luck 🙂 I hope she starts feeling better soon.

[Anonymous]

It does take up to 2 weeks (sometimes longer, I’ve heard!) for Baby to get used to the Neocate. However, my son was on it for a month and the only thing that improved was his acid reflux; his tummy troubles got infinitely worse. 🙁 He’s on soy, now, too.

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