Switching formula without speaking with dr?

My dd is so gassy. I've tried gas drops, gripe water, and switched from reg similar to sensitive. She still seems so uncomfortable and cries a lot. Has anyone ever switched formula on their own? Which formula works best?
Tia

Switching formula without speaking with dr?

Yes - I switched from Similac Advance to Enfamil Gentlease. My ped mentioned something during our phone interview that it was the formula she recommended for gassiness so I just switched on my own. I switched DS 2 as well as soon as I ran out of the Similac Advance from the hospital.

I saw a big difference on it. The proteins are broken down farther so it's easier to digest where the Similac Sensitive for fussiness is lactose free. We eventually had to switch DS 1 to Sim Sensitive (he was having issues keeping down products with lactose and it was all he would drink) and it made him horribly gassy.

Message edited 2/21/2013 1:21:10 PM.

Re: Switching formula without speaking with dr?

We switched, our Ped said just keep trying different ones and see what works best.

The only one that worked for DS was Nutramigen and I tried them all!! It was a life saver and DS was 100% a different baby after.

Switching formula without speaking with dr?

I did. My dd had all those issues and then some. My ped was hesitant about switching to Similac Alimentum because it was thinner and would make her spit up more, but I had a feeling she was spitting up so much because of her allergy so I switched without him telling me to do so.
I actually weaned her as well. I spoke with a few friends who had similar issues as my dd and their peds recommended weaning when changing formula so its not a shock to the baby and they go on protest.
I did half reg formula (gerber good start) and half Alimentum for 2 days, then 75-25 then 90-10 then 100% and I have never looked back! My dd was a whole new happy baby! No more gas no more fussiness no more discomfort and a major decrease in spit up. Took about a week all in all.
Sometimes being a mother includes following your instinct. I would suggest as well trying something like Alimentum which is hypoallegenic because maybe your dd has a milk intolerance or allergy. That can make them terribly gassy and fussy.

Re: Switching formula without speaking with dr?

Thanks to everyone for your responses. I know this is a silly question but how do u know its the formula and not just their temperament or colic?

Re: Switching formula without speaking with dr?

Switching formula without speaking with dr?

I have always switched DS without talking to my Ped. He started on Similac regular, then sensitive then gentlease. I would only speak to him if I was going to switch to a soy one.

I also was havign issues when I switched him to whole milk so I put him on Lactaid without talking to the Dr.

Switching formula without speaking with dr?

I have. Follow your instinct. I went from similac advance to enfamil to enfamil ar (ped rec) then to alimentum bc dh's brothers baby used it and we suspected milk allergy. Ins covered nutramigen so we then switched to that. She was then on neocate and hated it and hardly drank anything so we made the decision to try nutramigen rtf. I told the ped after but they didn't care either way.

Re: Switching formula without speaking with dr?

yup, just did but this is baby #2 and we've been through this before.

DD was on Similac Advance for 10 days and she was so gassy, so miserable so we went to Sensitive. Gas got worse, she was constipated and even more miserable so we made the decision to go to Alimentum. Made a HUGE difference within a few days. I did speak with the Ped right after I made the change and he agreed, said he would have recommended Gentlease or Alimentum. Since insurance covers Alimentum, we went that route and I am glad we did

Re: Switching formula without speaking with dr?

Thanks everyone.
I'm going to try Alimentum and pray it works. I feel so bad for her, she always looks so miserable but she does sleep well so it's hard to figure out what could be wrong. Whenever she's awake 90% of the time she's crying.

One last question, would you continue to use the gas drops with each bottle of Alimentum? TIA

Switching formula without speaking with dr?

I switched without asking - albeit very nervous to do so. Afterwards I did speak with the dr and he/she thought it was the best decision.

I was debating doing it again because DS has been spitting up a lot lately... but Im going to hold off.

Re: Switching formula without speaking with dr?

I did. Ped had recommended switching to a different type of formula due to DS acid reflux so we kept switching until we found one that worked for DS

Re: Switching formula without speaking with dr?

I wouldn't switch to similac sensative without the ok from the ped. It is a lactose free product (unlike gent lease)

Re: Switching formula without speaking with dr?

Yeah we switchedwithout telling the ped. Just keep trying different ones till you d what works.

The only benefit we found in asking the ped about it that the ped gave us samples of a bunch of different formulas to see which worked best for our DD.

Re: Switching formula without speaking with dr?

Is there a reason why you are not working with your peds with the formula? I found mine to be eager to listen to my feelings, and they were appropriately aggressive in guiding me through the switching process. I was on the phine with them or in the office like once/week at their recommendstion. They were the ones that encouraged me eventually to go see a pediatric GI doctor after even nutramigen left dd with tummy problems. Turns out the GI doctor found microscopic blood in her stool, she was dx with a milk protein allergy, is now on rx formula (which insurance is paying for, but all othe formula attempts were well-documented by her doctors, a requirement of the insurance company!), and is like a different baby. I'm glad they were so aggressive and months didn't go by with my dd in distress.

So yes, trust your instinct about the formula, but I would be worried about your pick of doctor if you feel your pediatricians are not on the same page and supporting you...