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How to fortify breast milk with Similac NeoSure?

Fortifying Breast Milk with Similac NeoSure: A Comprehensive Guide
For parents of premature infants, ensuring optimal nutrition is crucial for healthy growth and development. One effective method to enhance breast milk is by fortifying it with Similac NeoSure, a specialized formula designed specifically for babies born prematurely. This nutrient-enriched formula not only supports catch-up growth but also provides essential calories and nutrients that preterm infants may lack.
Understanding Similac NeoSure
Similac NeoSure is a 22 Cal/fl oz formula that is particularly beneficial for preterm infants transitioning from hospital care to home. It is designed to be used under medical supervision, ensuring that parents receive guidance tailored to their baby’s specific needs. The formula is rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, making it an excellent choice for fortifying breast milk.
How to Fortify Breast Milk
Fortifying breast milk with Similac NeoSure involves a straightforward process. The goal is to increase the caloric density of breast milk, which is essential for the growth of premature infants. Here’s how to do it:
1. Determine the Desired Caloric Density: Depending on your baby’s needs, you may want to fortify breast milk to different caloric levels. Common targets are 22 calories per ounce or 24 calories per ounce.
2. Mixing Instructions:
– To achieve 22 calories per ounce, add 1 teaspoon of Similac NeoSure powder to 130 mL (approximately 4.4 ounces) of breast milk.
– For 24 calories per ounce, mix 1 teaspoon of Similac NeoSure powder with 70 mL (approximately 2.4 ounces) of breast milk .
3. Preparation Tips:
– Ensure that the breast milk is expressed and stored properly before fortification.
– Mix the NeoSure powder thoroughly with the breast milk to ensure even distribution of nutrients.
– It is advisable to prepare the fortified milk fresh for each feeding to maintain its nutritional quality.
Monitoring and Consultation
While fortifying breast milk can significantly benefit premature infants, it is essential to do so under the guidance of a healthcare professional. Regular consultations with a pediatrician or a nutritionist can help monitor your baby’s growth and adjust the fortification process as needed. They can provide personalized recommendations based on your baby’s weight, growth patterns, and overall health.
Conclusion
Fortifying breast milk with Similac NeoSure is a practical approach to ensuring that premature infants receive the necessary nutrients for healthy development. By following the correct mixing instructions and consulting with healthcare providers, parents can effectively support their baby’s nutritional needs during this critical growth phase.

Can I fortify my breast milk with formula?

Totally fine to mix! My son was a NICU baby and they had me fortify my milk with formula.

What do they fortify breast milk with in the NICU?

Human milk should be supplemented (fortified) with the nutrients in short supply, particularly with protein, calcium, and phosphate to meet high requirements of this group of tiny preterm infants as discussed in the next sections.

When a baby is bottle fed the formula should be fortified with?

iron-fortified formula
Bottle-fed babies need an iron-fortified formula for the first year of life. The American Academy of Pediatrics asserts that iron-fortified formula prevents anemia (low red blood cell count and low hemoglobin).

What are the side effects of fortifying breast milk?

Since all the commonly used commercially prepared fortifiers are made from cow’s milk proteins (like regular formulas), some babies may have difficulty initially when the fortifier is added. They may have delayed emptying from the stomach, abdominal distention or even gas. The stools may change somewhat in color.

What foods make breastmilk more fatty?

Incorporate More Healthy Fats into Your Diet
They are typically found in nuts, salmon, avocados, seeds, eggs, and olive oil. These types of fats are important for both you and your baby’s diet. What you eat, your baby will also eat in some form.

Is it OK to supplement breast milk with formula?

Exclusive breastfeeding is the recommended way to feed your newborn baby. However, this is not always possible, so you may need to seek other sources of nutrition for your baby. A good way to supplement breast milk is with formula to aid your baby’s growth and development.

How long to fortify breast milk for preemie?

Preterm infants should remain on fortified maternal breastmilk or preterm formula regimen for a minimum of 6 months corrected age and high-risk infants (e.g., h/o extreme prematurity, poor growth) may likely need to continue post discharge diet until 12month of corrected age to support adequate growth.

How do you make breast milk fortified with NeoSure?

Add 1 teaspoon of level, unpacked Neosure powder to 70 ml or 2 1/3 ounces of breast milk. Mix well. Refrigerate unused portion. Use within 24 hours of preparation.

How long do you use NeoSure?

Similac NeoSure* premature post-discharge baby formula promotes excellent catch-up growth1 during a premature baby’s first 12 months of life.

How to fortify breast milk to 22 calories with formula?

“To fortify to 22 calories per ounce, mix 1 teaspoon Neosure per every 5oz (150ml) breastmilk – or 1/2 teaspoon per 2.5oz (75ml). Refrigerate immediately after mixing and use fortified milk within 24 hours of mixing.”

Natasha Lunn

Tash is an IBCLC and Business Coach helping fellow IBCLCs create fun, profitable businesses that are more than just an expensive hobby. Before becoming an IBCLC and starting her private practice - The Boobala, Tash graduated as an Osteopath in 2008 and has been in Private Practice in South West Sydney. She was also a volunteer Breastfeeding Counsellor and Community Educator with the Australian Breastfeeding Association for 6 years. Through her business, Your Lactation Biz, Tash coaches and creates products to help new and seasoned IBCLCs build businesses that suit their personality and lifestyle.

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