Although to some this may be controversial, I’m going to post about it anyways.
As EVERYONE knows human milk is the best milk and is ‘force fed’ to BREAST FEED, BREAST FEED, BREAST FEED, for some of us its an unfortunate thing that we CANT breast feed our babies.
For whatever it is that a women chooses to or can not successfully breast feed, comes the “which formula should I feed my baby.” I did little research back when I had to accept the fact I would be feeding Pella Formula, I was starving her with my lack of milk expression (mind you it wasn’t my production that there was a lack there of, it was getting it out) I had a breast augmentation when I was 18 and it was a procedure that was done through the nipple, causing some of my ducts to be severed. It is a risk you take when getting a boob job through your nipples. So fast forward here I have an infant that is starving, but yet me not really “knowing” this because I would see milk around her mouth, and I would get let downs… but it just wasn’t enough. Pella had a HORRID latch problem, my nipples looked like hamburger after about 2 weeks of diligently trying to get her to latch. Come to find out her tongue was tied. Then we had another set back about about 3-4 weeks old, she developed acid reflux. Lets just say the whole breast feeding thing was kicking my ass and my kids ass. I stuck with it as long as I could, using a shield and pumping but I threw in the towel at 8 weeks, having to have supplement my baby with formula, she had no interest in my breast milk. When I looked into formula, I obviously was shopping for a brand and kind that was geared toward Acid Reflux. I first tried, Nestle’s Good Start Gentle Ease, that didn’t help, then I tried Targets Brand of Similac’s A/R (acid reflux) formula, that didn’t help, then tried going to the “Organic route” I opted to try Natures One “Baby’s Only Soy” formula.
That was the worst reaction yet! Having gone back and forth between all these formulas and to her dr. it boiled down to Enfami’s Nutramigen formula. That seemed to work just fine and dandy, regardless that it was EXPENSIVE formula, I started to see a happy baby! We stuck with Nutramigen.
So here I am on the verge of having baby #2 hoping and praying that she’s nothing like Pella was as an infant, Tongue tied, colic, acid reflux, and constipated!!!! I’ve been able to research into Formula a little better. As long as I am not “limited too” a certain formula like I was with Pella, it is important to me to be giving this an “organic” option, and not just any organic option but a formula that is also free of GMO’s. Having used Nature One’s ‘organic’ formula, as seeing it sold in both Wholefoods and our other local health food store, I figured I’d start there. I had a hunch it was going to be one of safer choices, and from what I’ve been reading it is.
Ill share with you the formulas currently sold on the market that contain GMO’s which are for the following:
1. Similac
2. Enfamil known formulas to contain GMO’s
3. Gerber Good Start
To learn more about GMO’S in Formula this is a good article
And heres a little factual information in regards to “Organic Formulas.
This is a GREAT SITE that better explains what Organic Formula contains what.
Having read all these different sites and knowing Pella had all these issues that I feel like could have been avoided had I really educated myself on Formulas, she may have been a happier baby! I’ve boiled down my choice to start off with a European Formula made by HOLLE baby foods.
They’ve been in the baby food business for 75 years !
- Highest European Organic standards (99% organic – small local farms production)
- Unmatched quality of ingredients compared to other leading brands
- Free from : added sugar – color – gluten – wheat – preservatives
- Contains NO: Brown rice syrup / DHA – ARA / harmful GMO or Fluoride!
- Imported from Europe – Oldest organic baby formula company
I’d Love to hear your opinions or choices as far as formula goes! 🙂
Although I haven’t yet given birth to my baby (I’m due Dec 29); I have decided a long time ago not to breast feed my baby. I have my own opinions and reasons for not wanting to. I think its awful, the pressure that is put on women to breast feed, or the guilt that results when one can’t or chooses not to. We all know its best (as ‘they preach”), its plastered over everything. But whether you can’t, don’t want to, etc I think we as woman shouldn’t judge what other women decide to do with their own babies. Thank you Marcella for posting this about formulas, I now have more options to mull over as to what formula I will eventually choose.
We also had acid reflux and milk allergy and Nutramigen it was. What is the price difference between the formula you chose and the Nutramigen? Just wondering. I love this article! Great advice for us mama’s who just can’t breastfeed even though we tried or want too!