HA Formula - any opinions?

[watermelon]

Hi everyone,

I have just weaned DD from BM to formula after weeks of terrible BF issues and a steady decline in her weight. It seems that at 5 months old she just refused to take the breast anymore and nothing could entice her back, so I had to quickly swap to formula. I tried a couple of samples and settled on the Nan1 HA Gold cause it seemed to dissolve more easily and bub just seemed to like it. She started putting on weight again at about 100grams per week so I was pretty happy.

I went to the CHN last Friday for our monthly visit and she was a fill in nurse due to the Xmas holidays so she had no idea of what I had been going through trying to get DD to feed. I told her that we were back on track and I was using the Nan1 HA Gold now. The CHN told me that this formula is basically "no good" because the proteins are hydrolyzed (chopped up smaller) and that babies need the complete proteins for growth and development. I said that I thought that gold formulas were supposed to be superior due to the fatty acids and that is why I chose it. In addition this formula is marketed as "easy to digest" because it is hydrolyzed. I thought that would be beneficial seeing I had just swapped from BM. We have had no problems on this formula, no constipation or vomiting so I am reluctant to change. We are due to swap to a follow on formula in a couple of weeks and I was going to go to the Nan 2 HA gold but now I'm a bit confused.

Has anyone else heard negative things about HA formula? I've read a few posts that say this formula was recommended by Dr's and CHNs???

Another thing this CNH told me was that I must feed my baby Farex in addition to veggies and fruits. (We started solids at 4 months due to the BF issues). Apparently, only Farex can provide the recommeded daily intake of iron.
DD is not too keen on it even when I mix it in with her other food so do I persist in offering it to her and have her reject most of her solids?
:confused:
Any opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Sam
Mum to Sophie 20/7/05

[reAllytee]

Ok well i dont really know this formula but if bubs is doing well as in thriving & not being sick i too would be reluctant to change as doing so can actually cause more harm than good so maybe seek another CHN opinion as well as seeing what other mums have to say on here.
Seems a little odd about the farex as usually formula has all the good stuff same with breastmilk but yeah its usually what you start on as its the lightest & easiest way for bubs to start solids. If anything i would just add say a spoon full to her vegies so at least she is getting something but i wouldnt stress too much as my bubs has always gone through changes with his foods wanting something for all meals to rejecting it full stop the following week.
Also did you know you dont actually have to swap bubs to the follow on ? If she is thriving & quite happy with all that she gets from this formual then there is no need to change again it can be more problematic due to their digestive systems being immature etc. I only changed bubs to follow on formula at 7.5mths due to him not getting his fill etc so swapped to make sure he got all his requirements but again i wasnt going to originally as we had no dramas !
As i said id speak to another nurse or doctor as it seems this one wasnt quite up to scratch IMO.

[Caitlin's Mum]

Sounds like she is just anti-formula altogether. I have heard good things about the NAN HA formula from a few of my friends. I don't use it myself because my bub is lactose intolerant. I'd stick with it if your bub is happy.

As for the farex, my bub doesn't much like it either so I give him fruit, vegies and the apple and banana cereal and he's a very happy healthy baby.


Hey I just realised our babies have the same birthday!!!:D

[watermelon]

Thanks guys, I feel a bit more confident now. After seeing that CHN I just felt that I must be doing everything wrong. Hopefully she won't return to my baby clinic!

I think I'll just continue what we are doing for a while before I make any changes. Sophie is teething too, so I don't want to upset her with changing her formula in addition to the teething grizzles.

Caitlin's Mum what's the brand of cereal you are using? I might give it a go. Hugs to your little 20 th July birthday boy!

Sam
Mum to Sophie 20/7/05

[Refresh]

Argh CHNs:mad:

YOU know your baby, do what you feel is right for her.:D

[xkwzit]

Hey Ffrenchie

We should start a club for all of us who have negative experiences with CHN :mad: . Oh, hang on, we do its "Bubhub" :D

Altogether ... CHN? GRRR :mad:

ps I know that a very small percentage of hubbers have never had a -ve CHN experiences, you are the few excections that prove the rule. :D

Cheers

[Refresh]

LOL X......hearing some of the stories makes me craaaaaazy sometimes:rolleyes:

CHNs grrrr

[maddysmama]

Hi,

I originally had bubs on s26 Gold and she had continual problems with constipation. I was recommended Nan 1ha Gold by quite a few people, including a CHN, my lactation consultant and a pharmacist and since making the switch a month ago, bubs has not been constipated.

Have never heard about what she told you, but I am visiting child health tomorrow and will ask the nurse what she thinks! I've found they all tell you something different anyway which is frustrating:(. I think if bubs seems settled on it, don't change.

[Caitlin's Mum]

Caitlin's Mum what's the brand of cereal you are using? I might give it a go. Hugs to your little 20 th July birthday boy!

Sam
Mum to Sophie 20/7/05

Hi Sam, I use the Heinz Apple and Banana Cereal. It comes in a little jar and he loves it. I think the Farex looks like cement and I certainly wouldn't want to eat it either.

Hugs too to your 20th July birthday girl!

[Bella-Archie]

Hi

I have always used the Nan HA gold .... mainly because my husband is a diabetic and they have done some researh that suggests that the protiens found in cow's milk can be a trigger for type one diabeties ...... we have had both our children genetically tested at birth and both have come back with very low chance of inheriting the disease .... but to be on the safe side I have decided to follow their advice and go for the formula that has the least amounts of these protiens !!! I have never had any problems with it .... and have been using it for around 15mths !!!

Hope that helps ..... :o

[Mum2Lucas]

I wouldnt wory about feeding your baby farex my son hasnt had it in about 2 months i used to mix it in with his fruit and he liked that but now he just has plain fruit. and im not too sure on formulas I only use organic formula because he doesnt like any others..

[annsam]

Hi Sam,

I have ALWAYS used the NAN HA Gold formula. In fact, its what the maternity ward used when I was in there with DS as a newborn. I have not heard anything such as what your ECHN said. DS is now 15 months and has recently been moved off it becaue the NAN HA 2 was causing him constipation. I tried the S26 when I came out of hospital and it gave him terrible wind. The NAN worked for us and our Paed and GP and ECHN (not that we went to them much) were both happy with it.

[Heids]

Hi,

I to have used Nan HA1 Gold since 3 months old and was recommended it from my Ped and the Maternity ward. I find it fabulous as it is a little lighter and easier to digest for my bubs tummy as he was 3 weeks early and very tiny with an immature digestive system.

After the first and last bottle of S26 gold, bub didn't poo for 3 days,and he wasn't a very happy boy !!

Personally I don't think the brand of fomula is the prob.

Hugs Heids