Baby Formula for Foster Baby

Hi everyone,

I am a foster parent and we go a 2 month old baby on Friday evening. She was born 4.5 weeks premature, so she is small like a newborn and she acts like a newborn, too. She was pretty weak when we got her but she is starting to improve some.

I am pretty new to the 80/10/10 and eating raw in general. What is the best option for formula? I'd ask the mom about giving me breastmilk, but to be honest, considering the circumstances, I'm not sure how safe it would be and I'm not allowed to provide my own breastmilk, which would've been my first option.

According to my info, the mother breast fed (sometimes) on demand, but the baby is very small and weak and I have to wake her to feed her. I'm getting her on a schedule of eating every 3 hours and she is adapting well. I'm currently feeding her Similac Neosure (which is what the mother supplemented with).

So, my question is what is the best recommendation for formula?

Thanks so much for your help!

Tags: breastfeeding, formula, foster

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Permalink Reply by Georgia on April 16, 2012 at 3:35pm

Is be super cautious about giving a child any sort of nut milk at that age. Her gut is so immature. Even banana milk would worry me as I'm not sure it would provide all that she needs at such a young age...and even really watered down and using super ripe bananas, they can be really constipating and painful for a babies gut to digest and eliminate.

And I know the laws re fostering and no breastmilk, so you either have to break the law and lie or feed her formula. I'd get a dairy and soy free one like Neocate...you get it from chemists here in Australia.

Good luck

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Permalink Reply by Freshtival on April 16, 2012 at 5:29pm

Fresh young coconut "water" & fresh young coconut "meat" blended together tastes really good.

I wonder if fresh coconut would be OK for a baby ?

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Permalink Reply by Karmyn on April 16, 2012 at 6:52pm

It's really too bad that you aren't allowed to give your foster baby your breast milk. Is there anyway your foster daughter's pediatrician can write a prescription for donor breast milk? It sounds like your foster baby is a great candidate for it. Even though it's pasteurized she will do a lot better on it.

Other than that I don't know what to tell you. I don't think making homemade formulas with banana or coconut water or almonds (or whatever) is a good idea. It's too risky and what if someone found out and reported you? It could jeopardize any child(ren) in your care as well as your biological ones (it's not worth losing your children over).

It's really hard for me to "recommend" formula (I am SUPER pro-breastfeeding--I nursed my son for 3 years and I'm nursing my daughter right now) BUT if you can't get the donor breast milk prescription then this is your only legal option. How is the baby doing on the Neosure?

At least once she's ready for solid foods you can start her on a more optimal diet. In the meantime just do what you have to in order for her to survive.

I wish you the BEST!

Karmyn

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Permalink Reply by Adam on April 16, 2012 at 7:19pm

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Permalink Reply by Randy Raw on April 16, 2012 at 8:13pm

Try coconutmilk, its the nearest thing to mothers milk. Do it with fresh coconut or dried coconutflakes, you can sweaten it with little bit dates. But dont try coconutflesh, its nearly indigestable. Also i would add just fresh ripe organic bananas and other creamy ripe organic fruit. Avocado moderatly is good too.

Sometimes you can try adding juice from sweet legumes and tender greens to make sure for all minerals and vitamins.

Dont try to feed low fat!!! Babys need it and mothers milk naturally contains a high amount of it...

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Permalink Reply by Adam on April 16, 2012 at 8:33pm

Randy

These might be ok guidelines for an older infant, but for a 3 month old premature baby, these would be highly problematic. The types of proteins in these foods would be too irritating to an undeveloped digestive tract.

Take care

Adam x

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Permalink Reply by Karmyn on April 17, 2012 at 5:43am

+1!

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Permalink Reply by Joyful on April 17, 2012 at 11:28am

Thanks for your input everyone. It's been a VERY busy weekend. So much for getting the rest and sleep I need, but it comes with the territory.

For those concerned about consulting with my pediatrician, I most definitely will. But I always do research before I go and I want to come prepared and present what I believe to be the best. As mandated by the state, I have to follow her protocols, but she's usually for helpful and understanding. She was my husband's pediatrician, so she's been doing this for quite awhile.

I will ask about a waiver for breastfeeding or a breastmilk bank, but I doubt if that will happen. I found a company that makes formula with all organic ingredients and brown rice syrup instead of corn syrup. They use Non-GMO soybeans, so I've ordered one to see how she adapts to that. I just found out the baby hasn't been to the doctor since released from her initial stay in the hospital! I'll be getting her in this week, hopefully....

Here is the link for the above formula if anyone is interested... http://www.naturesone.com/soy/

Thanks again for all your suggestions and help. I am still researching this and will be looking into some of the links you sent me when I get done. I just finished taxes today (Ugh!), so that is now off my plate, too (except for coming up with the money to pay).