Side effects of nutramigen

About Infant Formulas

Infant formulas are designed to provide all the nutrients necessary for the normal growth and development of an infant. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) controls the quality, type, and quantity of nutrients in these infant formulas.

Infant formulas can be found in the following forms:

• Hypoallergenic infant formulas (for infants allergic to cow's milk). These come in the form of an oral concentrate, oral solution and powder for oral solutions.
• Milk-based infant formulas (for infants not allergic to cow's milk). These most common formulas come in oral concentrates, oral solutions, and powders for oral solutions.
• Soy-based infant formulas (for infants allergic to cow's milk but not to soy). Again, these specialized formulas come as oral concentrates, oral solution, and powders for oral solutions.

Before you start feeding your infant an infant formula, you should always read the instructions that come with the product carefully and be aware of precautions raised. Infants may have allergic reactions to infant formulas.

If the infant formula isn’t correctly blended, some problems may occur as well. In case that the baby suffers from certain medical problems, it can affect formula-feeding. These medical problems include breathing problems, dehydration, type 2 diabetes mellitus, diarrhea, heart problems, high blood sugar level, liver, pancreas, intestines, kidney, and/or stomach problems, low birth weight, preterm infant or phenylketonuria.

Parents who choose or need to formula feed but who aren't sure which formula is the right choice can always consult their baby's pediatrician for advice.

Nutramigen Infant Formula

Nutramigen formula is made by Enfamil. It is a hypoallergenic formula especially formulated for infants who have colic due to cow milk allergies, and the manufacturers of Nutramigen claim that it reduces the symptoms of gas and colic within 48 hours.

Nutramigen can provide a single and complete source of nutrition for infants aged 4 to 6 months, and the largest portion of an infant's diet for babies through 12 months. Babies allergic to the cow’s milk protein, which can be found in other infant formulas, may more easily digest Nutramigen.

The main ingredients in Nutramigen are corn syrup solids, vegetable oil, casein hydrolisate and modified corn starch. This formula is iron-fortified and sucrose-free. It contains 48% fat, 41% carbohydrates and 11% protein. The fat found in Nutramigen instant formula consists of 44% palm Olein oil, 19.5% soy oil, 19.5% coconut oil, 14.5% sunflower oil and 2.5% singe-cell oil.

Side Effects of Nutramigen infant formula

Commonly seen side effects of Nutramigen infant formula include, as a baby adjusts to this new product:

• Diarrhea. It can often occur due to incorrect preparation of the formula. Diarrhea can result in serious dehydration in very short period of time in a baby. Stool changes are also quite normal as a baby just starts on a formula and their digestive system adjusts, however, and looser stools and slightly green tinted stools (due to the iron content) are common. These changes will pass with time.
• Excess gas, bloating, stomach cramps and vomiting are also possible. If a baby suffers from some medical conditions, Nutramigen may worsen the condition or the symptoms of the condition, if the formula was not chosen correctly. This applies to type 2 diabetes, pancreas or liver problems and phenylketonuria.

Because Nutramigen is hypoallergenic, most babies will not experience allergic reactions to this formula. Babies who are allergic to any of the formula's ingredients can, however, have such reactions. This is why it is important to discuss your choice of formula with your baby's doctor. 

Another "side effect" of introducing Nutramigen might be a fussy baby, since the baby won't be used to this formula and will take some time to adjust. The manufacturers recommend feeding your baby when they are properly hungry to help them accept their new formula more easily. They also note that older infants may even prefer the formula cold.