Feeding patterns differ between babies and vary from day to day. Before discharge from your NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), the nurses can give you an idea of your baby's feeding pattern. Most preemies feed every 2 1/2 - 4 hours.
Look for cues that your baby is hungry. Premature babies do not always cry, but may move around and become restless if it has been 2-3 hours since they last ate.
Often the doctor will want you to awaken your baby if it has been longer than 4 or 5 hours since the last feed. Discuss this with your doctor.
A baby who weighs about 4 1/2 lbs. usually needs 12-15 ounces of formula or milk per day. A good way to see if your baby is getting enough to eat is to observe how many wet diapers he/she has in a 24 hour period. Your baby should have 6-8 wet diapers every day.
Most formula fed baby's will be taking 2-3 ounces every 3-4 hours when discharged from the hospital. If your baby is finishing the feeding in a shorter time and still acting hungry offer an extra ounce or two.
A breast feeding baby will usually increase its feeding time by sucking longer or wanting to eat more often. This builds up the mothers milk supply. Sometimes this means that your baby will want to eat every 2 hours until your supply will meet his/her demands.
Your doctor will check your baby's weight at each visit and let you know if the weight gain is appropriate.
Most nurseries encourage the mothers to pump their breasts while their baby is in the hospital. The nurses will work with you and your baby once your baby is able to begin the process of sucking, swallowing and breathing.
Premature babies may take days or weeks to learn how to nurse. It is important to remember to be patient and try not to become discouraged if you have chosen to breast feed. There are times when this transition is not entirely successful; it is important to not feel guilty.
There are three forms of formula: powdered, concentrate, and ready to feed.
The nutritional content of the three preparations of formula are the same.
Most formula found in stores has 20 calories per ounce. Your doctor will want you to use 20 calorie, unless she/he has specifically told you to use a higher calorie. It is very important to use only what the doctor has ordered.
Higher calorie formulas containing 24 or 27 calories per ounce, need to be ordered and can be very expensive. Here are recipes for mixing formula from powder or concentrate.
Powdered formula:
least expensive to buy.
try using warm water and mixing it in a blender to help dissolve formula.
with measuring scoop in the can:
to make 20-calorie-per-ounce formula: 1 scoop powder + 2 ounces of water.
to make 24-calorie-per-ounce formula: 3 scoops powder + 5 ounces of water
once the can is opened the powder must be used within 1 month.
Concentrated formula:
most convenient to use.
to make 20-calorie-per-ounce formula: 1 ounce concentrate + 1 ounce water.
to make 24-calorie-per-ounce formula: 3 ounces concentrate + 2 ounces water.
to make 27-calorie-per-ounce formula: 13 1/2 ounces concentrate + 6 1/2 ounces of water.
should be sealed and kept in the refrigerator, once the can is opened.
should be used within 48 hours.
Never add more water than what is called for in the preparation. Follow the directions correctly.
Bottles, nipples, measuring cups, containers, brushes and any other equipment used for feeding should be washed in hot, soapy water and then rinsed in hot, running water. Glass or metal pieces can be washed in the dishwasher.
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