Transitioning Jack from breast milk to formula was nothing short of a nightmare. We started with the inexpensive milk-based formula we could buy in bulk at Costco. Though we tried to move slowly, before long Jack was a gassy mess. No amount of gas drops or gripe water could make a dent in his discomfort. Some family members had had success with a hypoallergenic (milk-based) formula. It breaks down the milk proteins to make them easier for young tummies to digest. Within a few days on this formula, his mood had improved greatly but within a week he had terrible diarrhea and a sore bottom to boot. Off to the doctor for some answers. She recommended soy. I cringed. I'd heard horror stories about soy and its effect on hormones. Still, we weren't left with many alternatives so we gave it a shot. Miracle cure-no gas, no diarrhea, no reflux, colic significantly reduced...it was like magic.
But still, all my reading got into my head and I tried to talk myself into thinking that maybe he needed a bit more time to adjust to the other formulas; perhaps the gas could be mitigated.
Nope. His body did not want anything to do with milk-based formulas, even when the proteins are broken down. Soy it would have to be. I trusted that because I was praying and seeking to do what was best for Jack, I would not be led astray.
The other day I started doing a little digging, wondering if I was poisoning my son. I contemplated the possibility that perhaps soy is exactly what Jack's body needs, otherwise why would it have so vehemently rejected other "sensitive" formulas.
As it turns out, a decent number of studies have shown that soy, in fact increases bone density and reduces fractures in post-menopausal women. If bisphosphonates(the drugs Jack will take) have been reported to do the exact same thing, it appears that soy IS what he needs. Pretty awesome. And not a bit coincidental, methinks.
See, look how happy he is!
