What if exclusive breastfeeding is not possible?

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What if exclusive breastfeeding is not possible

While exclusive breastfeeding remains the ideal approach to your child’s quite fragile nutritional requirements, there may be instances it is not possible–for medical and other compelling reasons. In such a case, use of milk formula becomes necessary.

But case must be exercised in the use of formulas as most formulas can trigger allergies. Thus, it is important to consult your baby’s pediatrician about formulas that greatly reduce the risk of allergies.

The myths of soy and goat’s milk

Soy and goat’s milk are currently the most popular alternatives in the mistaken notion that they can protect against the development of milk allergy.

The European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), however, warn that soy-based formulas:

  • Have no proven value in milk allergy prevention;
  • Have not been proven effective in the prevention or management of colic, regurgitation, or prolonged crying in infants;
  • Contain high concentrations of phytate and aluminum that interfere with calcium and iron absorption;
  • Have more phytoestrogens that may have potential negative side effects on sexual development; and
  • Should not be used in infants with food allergy during the first six months of life.

Goat’s milk, on the other hand, can trigger allergic reaction similar to regular cow’s milk. This is because as much as 80 percent of those with cow’s milk allergies are also as likely to manifest a similar allergic reaction to goat’s milk. In the same manner, 50 percent of infants who have cow’s milk allergies will also have soy milk allergy.

Lactose-free is not allergy-free

Lactose-free formula may be popular for diarrhea associated with lactose-intolerance, but there are no clinical studies to prove their efficacy in the preventing allergies. In fact, these formulas contain intact proteins with an increased potential to trigger allergy.

The practical approach to milk allergy

The development of hydrolyzed milk formulas provides a clinically effective way to deal with formula-milk allergies. But not all hydrolyzed formulas are the same.

Completely hydrolyzed milk formulas (high hydrolysates) taste bitterer, which may prove tricky for babies to accept especially if they have previously tasted mother’s milk.

As a more practicable approach to babies at risk for developing allergies, experts now strongly recommend partial protein hydrolysates–to better maintain nutritional content and flavor as well as to lower cost, while still effectively reducing the potential for allergy.

Partially hydrolyzed whey is the only clinically proven formula to reduce the risk of milk allergy by 50 percent compared to regular cow’s milk formula. This has been shown in a clinical trial published in Nutrition Researh. And it has been shown to offer protection for up to six years just as extensively hydrolyzed and casein formulas do.

It laboratory tests, partially hydrolyzed why has been shown to be up to 1,000 times less allergenic than standard cow’s milk formula. These studies maintain that hydrolyzed whey formula is the only effective approach to milk food allergies, and disprove the earlier notion that extensively hydrolyzed protein is necessarily better. In fact, partially hydrolyzed milk formula is just as effective at preventing allergies if not better, with superior nutritional value and better flavor.

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