Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Is Switching From Farex To Dexolac Advisable For A Premature Baby?
Question: Hello Doctor,
I had undergone an emergency LSCS due to very low AFI at 36.5 weeks and my baby weighed only 2.4 kgs. She was bottle fed for 2 days as I could not produce milk soon after delivery. Hence she got used to it and didn't accept breast milk due to poor latching or my milk was not sufficient to her. So I started feeding Nan pro 1 for first 2 months but she had lot of gastric problem and always vomited. Then I switched to lactogen 1. aa She gained good weight and reached 4kg but had lot of difficulty in passing stool. Even the color of the stool used to be grey. Finally after going through some info on internet and after consulting few parents I started giving Farex 1 to her as it is easily digestable. Now it has been 3 months since I switched to farex, she is very active, sleeps well, passes stool well, has very less gas but could not gain more than 2kgs in last 3 months. I have been giving her Woodwards gripe water daily twice. Now she got cough so I stopped using it. I also started giving her vitamin D3 once a day. Her dob is 17. 04. 16 weight 2.4.. now 6kgs.
please suggest should I Continue farex or switch to dexolac or some other brand which has less sugar. She looks very lean and I do not see any physical growth since Last 2 months though she is growing mentally . Is the current weight and growth fine? She has also achieved social smile started babbling, giggling and turns around well.
I had undergone an emergency LSCS due to very low AFI at 36.5 weeks and my baby weighed only 2.4 kgs. She was bottle fed for 2 days as I could not produce milk soon after delivery. Hence she got used to it and didn't accept breast milk due to poor latching or my milk was not sufficient to her. So I started feeding Nan pro 1 for first 2 months but she had lot of gastric problem and always vomited. Then I switched to lactogen 1. aa She gained good weight and reached 4kg but had lot of difficulty in passing stool. Even the color of the stool used to be grey. Finally after going through some info on internet and after consulting few parents I started giving Farex 1 to her as it is easily digestable. Now it has been 3 months since I switched to farex, she is very active, sleeps well, passes stool well, has very less gas but could not gain more than 2kgs in last 3 months. I have been giving her Woodwards gripe water daily twice. Now she got cough so I stopped using it. I also started giving her vitamin D3 once a day. Her dob is 17. 04. 16 weight 2.4.. now 6kgs.
please suggest should I Continue farex or switch to dexolac or some other brand which has less sugar. She looks very lean and I do not see any physical growth since Last 2 months though she is growing mentally . Is the current weight and growth fine? She has also achieved social smile started babbling, giggling and turns around well.
Brief Answer:
No need to worry.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. The birth weight of a baby should double in 5 months and she has achieved more than that. So, the weight gain is proper and you need not worry about the same. You need not change the formula. After she is 6 months old you need to change over to Farex Stage 2 Follow Up formula. After 6 months of age you also need to introduce semi solids. Introduce one new item a week and stick to it at least for the week. Then you can start giving mashed boiled potatoes, mashed bananas, rice porridge etc.
For children of this age it is normal to pass stool once in a few days. It is not a cause for concern. You need not worry about the color of stool as undigested matter in stool could lead to the whitish color.
It is good to know the child is able to babble. By 4 months the child should be able to hold head steady. By 8 months the baby should be able to sit on her own.
You can give the child steam inhalation for cough. Just sit with the child on your lap and place the source of steam before you. Water in form of vapor will automatically be breathed in by her and as it enters deep inside it will help in diluting the cough.
Let me know if I have missed anything or if I could help further.
Regards
No need to worry.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. The birth weight of a baby should double in 5 months and she has achieved more than that. So, the weight gain is proper and you need not worry about the same. You need not change the formula. After she is 6 months old you need to change over to Farex Stage 2 Follow Up formula. After 6 months of age you also need to introduce semi solids. Introduce one new item a week and stick to it at least for the week. Then you can start giving mashed boiled potatoes, mashed bananas, rice porridge etc.
For children of this age it is normal to pass stool once in a few days. It is not a cause for concern. You need not worry about the color of stool as undigested matter in stool could lead to the whitish color.
It is good to know the child is able to babble. By 4 months the child should be able to hold head steady. By 8 months the baby should be able to sit on her own.
You can give the child steam inhalation for cough. Just sit with the child on your lap and place the source of steam before you. Water in form of vapor will automatically be breathed in by her and as it enters deep inside it will help in diluting the cough.
Let me know if I have missed anything or if I could help further.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your detailed explanation sir. Please let me know if it is safe to use Woodwards, does it cause cough and whether it is required on a daily basis to control gastric in babies as formula milk is not easily digestable. I have heard that now a days it is not advisable.
Brief Answer:
Glad to be of service
Detailed Answer:
Glad to know that you appreciated the answer. Woodwards would not cause cough and would not be harmful. It is not required on daily basis. It needs to be given only in case of excessive unexplained crying possibly due to colic. It will not help in digestion. It will simply help the gas to escape.
Regards
Glad to be of service
Detailed Answer:
Glad to know that you appreciated the answer. Woodwards would not cause cough and would not be harmful. It is not required on daily basis. It needs to be given only in case of excessive unexplained crying possibly due to colic. It will not help in digestion. It will simply help the gas to escape.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Appreciate your patience sir. Had one more question regarding feeding milk. When is it safe to go for cow or XXXXXXX milk instead of formula feeding and how far is it true that breastfed children tend to be more intelligent and physically active or have greater resistance power than formula fed children. Please clarify.
Brief Answer:
Breast milk is the best option.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking back once again. Formula milks are cow milk based but with certain things added and removed to make it more like human breast milk. It is better than cow milk but far worse than mother's milk. Mother's breast milk provides a lot of additional benefits like better immunity, protection from diseases like asthma, diabetes, obesity, heart disease etc. Studies have shown breast fed babies to have higher intelligence points as compared to formula fed babies. If the overall health is better, physical activity is likely to be better as well.
If possible you can still try breast feeding the baby. At 5 months it is ok to start semisolids although it should not be the primary feed. Gradually you can shift entirely to semisolids with milk just an accessory and optional element (not talking about breast milk).
Regards
Breast milk is the best option.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking back once again. Formula milks are cow milk based but with certain things added and removed to make it more like human breast milk. It is better than cow milk but far worse than mother's milk. Mother's breast milk provides a lot of additional benefits like better immunity, protection from diseases like asthma, diabetes, obesity, heart disease etc. Studies have shown breast fed babies to have higher intelligence points as compared to formula fed babies. If the overall health is better, physical activity is likely to be better as well.
If possible you can still try breast feeding the baby. At 5 months it is ok to start semisolids although it should not be the primary feed. Gradually you can shift entirely to semisolids with milk just an accessory and optional element (not talking about breast milk).
Regards
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
