I have a five month old little girl who is only 12 lbs, 6 ozs. She has always been very slow to gain weight, and her disinterest in more frequent feedings led to suspicion and eventual diagnosis of DGE. Because of her slow weight gain, we have been giving her Similac Special Care Advance 24 calorie premature infant formula. WIC keeps me from paying the $700 per month the formula would cost, but also limits where I can purchase it by excluding online retailers. I have been having it special ordered by Wal-Greens, but after waiting a week for it to come in and running very low on formula, they informed me that there are some difficulties procuring it at this time and I would just have to keep checking back in. I am curious if anybody can recomend any other drug store or pharmacy that might accept WIC vouchers and be willing to order formula. Her vouchers also allow for the purchase of Neosure 22 calorie formula, but I then face the challenge of either trying to fortify it to 24 calories or face the frequent spitting up that would come from bigger feedings to try and make up the caloric difference. If anyone knows how to convert a 22 calorie formula to a 24 calorie, or another place where I might try, it would be greatly appreciated. Otherwise, I'm going to have one very hungry baby on my hands soon :-)

If WIC is the one that supplies the fund to buy the formula, maybe they can check it out for you. I don't know anything about WIC. Or check on-line directly with the supplier (even though you cannot purchase on line) I am sure they will give you a location close to you.

By the way, welcome to the site.

Best wishes
Jean

I know here in IN CVS will order formula and it only took 2-3 days to get it in. The local grocery store said they could order it. First time would take 1 week then after taht 2-3 days. Call you WIC office they will be able to tell you who can order it. If not tell them Walgreens is having trouble & your daughter can not starve due to delivery issues.

My son was premature, so we fortified my breastmilk with formula powder to make it higher in calories. The dietician gave us the "recipe." We've spoken to dieticians/nutritionists at all of our hospitals as well as one from the state's Family/Infant/Toddler program. Hopefully you can find one to give you further advice.

I order my Neocate through a privately owned pharmacy (not a chain), so I don't know much about the different chains.

However, if you are having difficulty getting the formula and you are running low, I'd first give WIC a call and let them know what's going on to see if they can intervene. I would also call your ped or your GI and explain the situation to see if they can be of assistance (perhaps they have a sample or two they can give you to tide you over until your order comes in).

I do hope you're able to get it more easily in the future! Did the pharmacy say why they're having difficulty getting the formula right now? Is it a problem on their end or is it a glitch with the manufacturer?

I get Sam's food from Target and they are able to get it next day for me. They have been great. I am not sure if they accept WIC.

I am on WIC in TN. I use Enfamil Enfacare and our local Food Lion keeps it on hand for me. Since they know I'll be there every month they accomadate my need. I'd call the health dept. get my vouchers from and ask for help.

Hi. My little one is a slow grower too. We use Neocate, and then mix it to 26 cals/oz. If you call your GI and discuss your situation, maybe they could change her to a more readily available formula, but give you instructions on how to mix it to a higher calorie concentration. We get ours through a family owned pharmacy and it is usually there the next day, two at the most. I would check into a smaller pharmacy and see if they can't get it faster for you. Walgreens being such a big chain is more than likely contracted to a specific wholesaler, where as a smaller locally owned pharamcy can work with you more about where they order it from. I hope that helps.

Hi. My little one is a slow grower too. We use Neocate, and then mix it to 26 cals/oz. If you call your GI and discuss your situation, maybe they could change her to a more readily available formula, but give you instructions on how to mix it to a higher calorie concentration. We get ours through a family owned pharmacy and it is usually there the next day, two at the most. I would check into a smaller pharmacy and see if they can't get it faster for you. Walgreens being such a big chain is more than likely contracted to a specific wholesaler, where as a smaller locally owned pharamcy can work with you more about where they order it from. I hope that helps.

That's a good idea--I never thought about it that way, but perhaps that's why we have such good luck getting Neocate when we need it. :-)

Thanks for all the great ideas. After a two week wait, Wal-Greens finally got in the formula. Although they swore they were "the only place in East Tennessee" to purchase it, and that there was "no way to get it faster than a week and a half after it's ordered", the local CVS said they would gladly take care of me next month, and that I could expect to have it at most 2 days after it is ordered. So nice to talk to a pharmacist with people skills as well for once.

Glad that you were able to find someone that could help you!