Thursday, 21 April 2011

• Formula-Feeding Life Saver

  

  When my son was first born, I was so ready to breast feed.  I was skeptical because...well... I am pretty small up top, so I figured a lot of milk couldn't fit in there anyway, but everyone insisted that it's not the size of the breasts that matters.  Needless to say, I was right.

  By my six week appointment, I had completely dried up. So we had to exclusively formula feed. Sigh.

  I wasn't expecting to be up all night while he has colic, screaming like a banshee at three in the morning for no reason, for hours, and I couldn't do anything about it.  Thanks to my boyfriend's overbearing mother, she insisted on taking my son to the ER twice in a week -for colic.

  They poked him, took x-rays, and every other test under the sun because she insisted his cry wasn't a normal cry, and he was in a lot of pain.  They told her that at two months old, babies get colic, and some babies just cry louder than others. The second visit, she had me go at around two in the morning.  Ugh!

  It was frustrating and exhausting.  On the second visit, the nurse asked me if I was breastfeeding, and I told her no, I was formula feeding.  She asked me if I shake the bottle.  I said yes.  The next thing she told me literally saved my sleep and sanity:

  STIR THE FORMULA!

  At first, I thought she was crazy. I was feeding my son Similac Sensitive already, and it was supposed to help with gas, fussiness, and his lactose intolerance. WIC only gives Similac, so we got the powder.  If anyone is familiar with Similac, you know that shaking the bottle (like everyone does) creates about a foot of foam on the top of the bottle.  I thought, "What's the difference?  He's not drinking the foam anyway?"  But I figured I would try it when I got home.

  I swear to you, the next day, I had a completely different child.  It took a little bit more time to make the bottles, but the five minutes I spent stirring, saved me HOURS of sleep that night. His gas disappeared, and amazingly, so did his colic. I am not vouching that this is a cure for colic, so don't get upset if it doesn't work, I am just speaking from my own experience.

  It's a habit to shake the bottles because it's quick and that's how everyone does it.  So far, I have told my cousin, a co-worker, and my boyfriend's co-worker this, and all three of them have thanked me and said it did wonders.

  Then, about a month ago, my boyfriend's sister told me to start trying the concentrated formula.  She said it's the exact same thing as the powder, but a lot easier to mix.  I mean, she has three kids. She should know. And boy, was she right!

  I went out, bought a carafe, and a punch-style can opener. I called WIC, had them change the type of formula, and the next day, it took me two minutes to make his bottles. 

  I'm very particular, and a little paranoid, so I not only boil the water, but I have a particular style of opening the can. I get nervous about tiny shavings from the regular can opener, so I punch it open first.  Then, after I pour the liquid formula into the carafe, I open the can with the regular can opener, wash the can out and then measure the water into the can.  One can of formula, one can of water.  Kind of like making chicken noodle soup.

  The other plus to the concentrated formula - NO FOAM!  I can shake, stir, rattle that bottle all the way from here to China and I will get zero bubbles.  It's amazing!

  I am a working mom, and I don't get off of work until about 6:00, 6:30 at night.  By the time I get everything and everyone settled, cook dinner, and all that, I really don't want the hassle of having to measure out how much formula for every bottle, so my discovery of the concentrated formula is like a miracle! I actually have time to sit down and relax before going to bed! 

  I know it sounds kind of silly to write an entire blog about formula feeding my child, but have you ever heard something so awesome that you just felt the need to share?  This is one of those things for me.  As a first time working mother, these were my sanity-savers.

  Did switching formulas or feeding methods ever help you with your child's colic? What other great suggestions have been life savers for you?

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