help please

[Bellamoon]

After ds appt yesterday with the GI they want me to start switching him over to the elemental formula. He is not gaining weight at all and hasn't since 9 months. My issues he wont take it at all. DD has three flavors, tropical, unflavored and Chocolate and they gave us a can of Vanilla. He refuses all of them and only wants to nurse. BUT it seems my milk isn't helping him grow either. He eats a ton of food and they want us to add extra fat to his foods. They said olive oil but I think I will do coconut oil tons of avocado. I don't want to load him up on junk food.

Is there anyway i can make my milk have more fat in it? Neither he nor I can eat dairy and I cant have soy since he is allergic also. (I am lactose intolerant) We don't have our appt with the nutritionist (RD) until April 26. As long as he isn't consuming those allergens he SHOULD be able to grow,

HELP please.

[lilmomma83]

Not sure if it works yet, but, I just today started pumping off my foremilk into one bottle and pumping my hindmilk into another to feed DD first...she also refuses formula (I think due to allergies/reflux). I'm not sure if that would be hard with an older baby though (mine is 3mos) because I know pumping can get more dificult the older baby is..

[lilmomma83]

Not sure if it works yet, but, I just today started pumping off my foremilk into one bottle and pumping my hindmilk into another to feed DD first...she also refuses formula (I think due to allergies/reflux). I'm not sure if that would be hard with an older baby though (mine is 3mos) because I know pumping can get more dificult the older baby is..

[lilmomma83]

If your little one doesn't take bottle or cup, you could add the fatty milk to food or make it into popsicles...

[Bellamoon]

I cant pump, when I do I get less then an ounce out of both sides in 20 min. My body has never really responded to the pump. I know he is getting milk when he nurses though as i see it dripping out his mouth when he is done and he seems satisfied.

[tibeca]

Upping your own fatty food intake (good fats of course), will increase the fats in your milk. That said, there are no more nutritionally dense foods than breastmilk. AND, some babies simply stop gaining weight around 9 months or so, and begin to use up their fat stores to grow taller. How is your son doing in other ways?

I have a friend whose baby didn't gain not one ounce between 9 months and 2 years. He became tall and thin (as should be expected if a baby is very chubby) as he became more mobile.

And if dairy is part of the problem, what about almond, coconut or hemp milks? Getting enough calcium can make a big difference in growth.

[Bellamoon]

He hasn't grown at all. He is 30 inches and has been since 9 months as well. He is starting to walk and crawled at 8months. He can sign a few words as well as babble up a storm.

[tibeca]

And for the record, I find it humorous that "elemental" formula's first ingredients are always corn syrup solids. What a great way to make "high allergic" kids sick, since so many are allergic to corn!

[Bellamoon]

actually my dd is highly allergic to corn and she tolerates the elemental formula quite well. they break it down so there is no corn protein in it. Its the protein that kids are allergic to. She has been on elemental formula for 4 years and has thrived on it!

[momof3boys1girl]

breast milk has more calories per ounce then formula if your lo is nursing i doubt they would just take it the taste is im sure no where near comparable. Looks like your lo is over a year? I would keep nursing and try pushing more full fat foods like full fat yogurt with whole milk ect. Def wouldnt take on the investment in formula when there other options.