Comments | bottlefeeding: Considering Formula

pandoraparadox in bottlefeeding

Considering Formula

Feb 11, 2005 20:00

My medication and medical considerations lead me to decide I could not risk breast feeding, but now I have no idea where to look for information on formula. All I can find is sites telling me how bad it is, or comercials from particular brand names. Where is a good place to get info on formula?

Comments 22

kibbles February 12 2005, 02:21:40 UTC

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/0/T000100.asp That's a start. And I like Dr. Sears. He 'started' the whole attachment parenting thing, but he is realistic and gives info on bottlefeeding. Formula is regulated by the government which is probably why there isn't too much out there comparing them, I guess the differences are small, they all have certain standards to conform to.

Having said that, the Sears site has a formula comparison.

Like it says, try to get a DHA/AA enriched formula. Info at that link as well.

rawness February 14 2005, 03:38:20 UTC

Just a fun little tidbit, did you know Dr Sears is actually fiscally involved with a formula company?

kibbles February 14 2005, 03:44:52 UTC

Yes I do. He wasn't always, iirc, and still mentioned bottlefeeding in his books.

Can I ask you a question? Are you a bottlefeeder? You always seem very critical of things that seem even a tiny bit pro bottle and was wondering why.

zoe_bat February 14 2005, 04:27:55 UTC

she is our resident lurker militant breastfeeder. page down where she blows off an entire discussion between me and the orginal poster on the "joys" of switching meds.... and pushes switching meds.

kibbles February 12 2005, 02:23:31 UTC

Also, if you are just considering it, I am guessing your baby isn't born yet? Did you see if you could switch medications, or check for sure which medications are not compatable with breastfeeding? A suprising number ARE. Your doctor should know, or the pediatrician, or a breastfeeding community (maybe even LaLeche League) could point you towards more information. I was suprised at how many medications ARE ok with breastfeeding, and figured I should tell you, in case you weren't aware.

just an example but.... zoe_bat February 12 2005, 04:09:13 UTC

in the epilepsy community people pull info out of books.... and totally miss recent studies. so there are risk groups it's hard to get good info on. turns out my meds are great for a pregnancy, but the baby is dependent on my liver for processing. An immature liver can't handle it. So my sister in law.... she was tring to talk a woman into switching meds.

Lamictal isn't something you tinker with late in a pregnancy.

so her profile mentions bi-polar stuff. I don't know about the brain candy she is on, but fair amount of the meds for that is like epilepsy meds.

Re: just an example but.... kibbles February 12 2005, 04:28:51 UTC

Well I wouldn't tinker with anything in apregnancy or breastfeeding, but just want to make sure that people do actually ask. It's too easy to figure you have to be completely med free during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and I'm glad that isn't the case because I know I had the flu, and bronchitis, and asthma, and UTIs during pregnancy. If I couldn't have meds for that stuff -- I can't imagine how much more miserable I would have been.

And some things can be changed, like with diabetes often you go off the metformin and go onto insulin, and I know someone who was able to change antidepressants. She had thought she'd have to go off them completely.

It's like the disclaimer I almost always add in any sort of community like this blahblah check with your health care provider. I swear, I should make it a shortcut on a function key. ;)

Re: just an example but.... zoe_bat February 12 2005, 04:37:53 UTC

that's great she was able to change anti-depressants. With all the sleep dep and stress.... the horomonal equivalent to menopause....not to mention PPD.... it's about the worst time to go off them I would suspect.

Thread 16

maylea_moon February 12 2005, 03:51:01 UTC

make sure its iron fortified and has DHA and ARA. most do. :)

zoe_bat February 12 2005, 04:11:57 UTC

Ours was a last minute "OH NO!" as we had been planning to breastfeed and it came as a horrible shock. I looked at some stuff on Webmd and ended up on Enfamil Lipil with Dr. Browns bottles.

If you have problems you can hear from all the members who ended up with the exotic lactose and allergen free stuff.

What to Expect the First Year manic_geisha February 12 2005, 19:06:57 UTC

That book has the most info about ff that I've ever been able to find, the part I was most interested in was ff with love. Then it talks alot about water, temp, storage, contamination, sterilization, etc. I find it hard to find anything about ff, most things say things like sterilize your bottles and follow your formula instructions for mixing exactly and you are set.

What kind of info are you looking for?