Julie, what a horrible ordeal to go through.  I'm so sorry for all that you
and your son endured, but I'm also happy for your positive outcomes.

I also wanted to add my two cents to this subject.  What I present is
anecdotal and I cannot provide any research based evidence, but I can share
what I have witnessed.  I have worked with premature infants in a level II
nursery for four years and anecdotally speaking, I can tell you for certain
that there is most definitely a link between NEC and Similac use.  Infants
who are fed Similac throw up more, have much more GI upset, and get NEC more
often.  To those of us who work with these infants, it's beyond obvious.
What we don't understand is why so many practitioners fail to see the
correlation.  There are many that will swear there is no connection and yet
those of us "in the trenches" know that this is wrong, we just have no
"evidence" to back up our opinions.

I don't remember who the original poster was on this subject, but I believe
she is from Israel and was wondering about this issue in the States.  I
believe that it is mainly a financial issue.  (Again, I am clearly stating
here this is my opinion only.)  Things such as highly processed and packaged
foods, some prescription drugs, and chemical cleaners are also deemed
"safe", and yet we know they are not, but there is a clear financial
interest in making sure that the general public believes otherwise.  Formula
use is no different.  As long as Similac and other formula companies
continue to make the millions they are making, I have little doubt that we
will ever see much in the way of hard, true, evidence of the correlation
that exists between its use and NEC.  Until then, this nurse will continue
to wince, say a prayer and cross her fingers each time she is forced to put
a bottle of Similac into an infant's mouth.

Christina Harris, RN
Aspiring IBCLC
Federal Way, WA


On 9/22/07, Julie Johnson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> I couldn't help add my .02 to this. Those who know me are probably waiting
> for me to say something on this subject. 10 and 1/2 years ago my then 34
> weeker would not suck at the breast or the bottle was tubed fed Similac. I
> had not at that time absolutely no lactation education or knowledge. To make
> a long story short, I believe the forced feedings with Similac started his
> NEC.  I was told other babies were being diagnosised as well at the same
> time.  After 9 weeks in the NICU, 6 weeks of 3 antibiotics, 2 spinal taps, 1
> blood infection, 2 surgeries and 2/3 of his bowels removed, I walked him out
> of the hospital in pretty good shape. Still not knowing too much I
> researched at a medical library and there found the correlation between
> formula and NEC. This is one of my personal reasons for becoming an IBCLC.
> My son was also given by ME at 3 weeks after discharged an ounce of Similac
> because I wasn't pumping enough milk at that time and he threw up non stop
> for 2 hours.  He was then rehospitalized with a possible intestinal
> obstruction. I think it was just a reaction to the Similac myself and he
> never received anything else except 85% breastmilk and %15 progestamil. By
> the way, my now over sized, stalky 10 year is on a undefeated football team,
> so I had a happy ending.
>
> Julie; IBCLC, LCCE
>
> ____________________________________________________________
> ONE-CLICK WEBMAIL ACCESS - Easily monitor & access your email accounts!
> Visit http://www.inbox.com/notifier and check it out!
>
>              ***********************************************
>
> Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
> Mail all commands to [log in to unmask]
> To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
> To start it again: set lactnet mail (or
> [log in to unmask])
> To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet or (
> [log in to unmask])
> To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
>

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
Mail all commands to [log in to unmask]
To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or [log in to unmask])
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet or ([log in to unmask])
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]