RICE CEREAL ANYONE?

[season]

caitlynsmama - I have heard that he best way to wean from formula to milk is to start by mixing the two. 1/3 milk 2/3 formula at first and then slowly adjust from there, until she's on all milk.

As for the original question from samarasmom. I think that if it's siggested by the docotr to help with reflux it's probably OK. I knwo formula and cereal can both lead to constipation. I have heard it recomended to give soem prune juice to counteract this.

Hope that helps. :)

SueAnn
dh Kwame
ds Ezekiel 1/2/02 (34wks due to pre-e)
dd Naomi 6/25/04 (38 1/2 wks PIH)

[caitlynsmama]

I have been putting an ounce or less in Caitlyns bottles all along to help her with the spitting up and to maintain her weight gain. She does have some constipation but the older she gets, the better it seems since I also give her some calcium like yogurt, or some other form of milk. Her doc wants her off of formula but I am waiting until she is ready (another month or so) since when I tried regular milk, she refused to drink it. Hang in there, listen to the docs, it helped Caitlyn. Has your child been checked for hernias? Caitlyn had three -two bilateral and her belly button.

Shannon Mommy to Caitlyn Elizabeth 30 weeks, 3 days born (8/26/2003) early due to PE, IUGR, HELLP syndrome, premature rupture of membranes

[nicoleharrison]

Hi Sandra!

I had a very similar problem. My son Noah has severe Reflux/GERD and had swallowing studies done when he was only 6 pounds. They put him on a couple meds (one of which he is still on) and also had us thicken his formula (when I was breast feeding I thickened it with a gel I got in the NICU that was safe to thicken breast milk with). We started with rice cereal and ran into the same problem. Our neonatologist and pediatrician both suggested switching to oatmeal or barley cereal as they have more fiber. It really helped. Sometimes we would also add a little prune juice to his bottle as well. He's almost 20 months now and still has it, but I am hopeful he will get better without requiring surgery.

Good luck and hope she continues not vomiting! :)

Nicole


Nicole Harrison

Ohio Coordinator
Mom to Noah 2/17/03 (born at 26 weeks, severe PE)

[pugmommy7]

oh yeah, and it did constipate her from time to time.



Jennifer, 30
DH, Chris, 33
Mama & Daddy to:
Isabella Sofia,1/02/03 born @ 33.5 weeks at 3 lbs,6oz., 16". GD,
Pre-E,& borderline HELLP.

Catalina Amelia,5/29/04 born @ 36.2 weeks,4 lbs.,12oz.,16"
GD,PIH,& Pre-e

[pugmommy7]

we did it w/ bella due to the gerd. it helps weigh the stomach contents down.
from the 2nd month i think.
we just added about 1 teasoon dry to the 4-6 oz bottle and used a nipple designed for thickened liquids(i think avent)
hth,
j

Jennifer, 30
DH, Chris, 33
Mama & Daddy to:
Isabella Sofia,1/02/03 born @ 33.5 weeks at 3 lbs,6oz., 16". GD,
Pre-E,& borderline HELLP.

Catalina Amelia,5/29/04 born @ 36.2 weeks,4 lbs.,12oz.,16"
GD,PIH,& Pre-e

[raindrop]

Sandra,
We too were told by ped and GI doc to add cereal to Wyatts formula. I think we were adding 2TBSP per oz for a while then reduced it some as he got a little bigger and we started that at around 6-8wks. But it really helped out alot too, so I didnt mind doing it. As for the stool, I think I added apple juice to his formula, about 2oz per 8oz bottle to help with that.

Good Luck and glad Samara is doing better.

Donna - 32
Richard - 33
Whitney Lynn Rochelle- 6-27-99 - (36 wks due to severe PE) 5lbs 2oz 18in long
Wyatt Elijah Lawrence- 7-3-03 (34wks 6days due to severe PIH/PE) 4lbs 6.8oz 17in long
Expecting #3 EDD March 3, 2005 - gallstones

http://www.geocities.com/raindropzplace ... 7812569412

http://www.imagestation.com/member/?name=raindrop1971

[raetay]

Hi,
My son's GI doc also recommended a little rice cereal to help with the vomiting (and it did). He did get constipated and the doctor recommended 1-2 cc's of Milk of Magnesium a day. That helped and so did adding a little prune juice to his formula. When he was one, we switched him from NeoSure to Carnation Instant Breakfast (per doctors orders) and that completely took care of the constipation. It must have more fiber in it or something.
Hope that helps!
-Rachel

Mom to Isabelle and Isaac, Ethan (28 weeks, severe pre-e) and now Amelia (34 weeks, pre-e)

[deerhart]

We started both boys on ceral at around 3-4 months of age. We used rice and oats but nothing mixed because it seriously constipated both of them.

Erin

Moderator - Parents of Preemies
Missouri State Coordinator
Mommy to Alex (4)and Mason (1 1/2)
Law Student - 1 year done, 2 to go

[jenn]

Sandra,
Hey sweetie.
I forgot if you ever took Samara to a specialist (gastrointerologist)?
Jai has has one since she was born, and thank goodness for that!
One of them had us making Jai's bottles as thick as milkshakes with cereal.
It was weird to mix her formula in the blender and have it *plop* into the bottles...but all in all it got us through some though times with her.
Having a specialist like that on my side and being able to help us with suggestions like this really helped us along.
If you don't have one, I hope you concider getting one.
The less stress the better. :o)
Lots of love! Jenn

Jennie (25)
Shad (29)
Jaidyn (3) @30 wks
Severe PE/HELLP
2lb. 12oz.
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/j/jaid/

Natalia Rosse
Due: 11.25.04
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/n/nataliarosse/

http://www.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?U ... 2798555105

[kylesmom]

I did some research on it when my ped told us to add some rice cereal to Kyle's bottle for his GERD. Some studies suggested that solid food before 6 months might increase the risk of food allergies in the future or predispose the child to obesity. However, if it stops her from projectile vomiting, then maybe its doing a good thing for her. What does your ped say about the change in stools?

Jennifer 33
Kyle born 8-13-03 @ 38 weeks (PE and Class I HELLP)
Connecticut Coordinator