Premature baby is having pasty stools. Is it advisable to give Neogain?

Question

Hello doctor,

My son is 5 months old. His weight is now 11.68 Ibs. He is premature with birthweight 5.07 Ibs. I could not breastfeed him. He was on Silmilac. After every feed he used to poop. On his second vaccination, he started getting loose motions. He had almost for 2 weeks. He was then shifted to Isomil and Neogain. After that his motion frequency reduced but it was pasty. In between he had blood in motions, they looked like pepper and 2 episodes of spots of blood.

From next month, he became constipated. Using Neopeptine drops three times a day and Colic aid, he went motion once a day. Last week he did not go motion at all for 2 days and had to use Enema to remove. The doctor suggested to use Nan lo lac. Very next day he got high fever, white watery stools and dehydrated and was admitted to hospital. He was given Neusobee in the hospital. He started going green watery motions, flushed face and rash all over body. FM was stopped and Nestum was given. He started going pasty yellow stools. Can Neogain be given? How will he have enough calcium since he does not take milk? Amino acid FM is not available in market here. The doctor advised him to give rice and bread. I am afraid to give him any feed since his gut is damaged. What to be given?

He is also anemic and he came out of hospital with a sore throat. He was on antibiotics Montox, Zn 20 for 5 days and Probiotics and Z and D drops to be continued for 10 days.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through the elaborate history you have given. You did not mention how you were feeding the baby meaning whether it was bottle feeding or spoon feeding, generally if a baby is bottle fed there are high chances of infection due to contamination, good hygiene should be maintained. It is very unfortunate that the baby did not have breastfeeding, the reason for frequent GI infection could be contamination and lactose intolerance, you have changed formula feeds very frequently which should not have been done, either you should go with a lactose formula like Nan or Lactogen or a Lactose-free formula like Nusobee or Zero lac. Continue the one which the baby is compatible with, as far as complimentary feeding is concerned that is rice, you need to start it once the baby is 6 months old, do not worry that the baby's gut is damaged, it repairs itself and adapts to the food or diet we give. But takes some time, start with liquids or soups, and later increase the consistency.