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How to make 22 calorie formula with breast milk?

Understanding High-Calorie Breast Milk Formulas
For parents whose infants require additional calories for healthy growth, creating a high-calorie formula using breast milk can be a practical solution. This process typically aims to achieve a caloric density of 22 calories per ounce, which is slightly higher than the average caloric content of breast milk, estimated at around 20 calories per ounce. Here’s a detailed guide on how to prepare this enriched formula safely and effectively.
Why Fortify Breast Milk?
Infants who are smaller than expected or not gaining weight adequately may benefit from a higher-calorie diet. Pediatricians often recommend fortifying breast milk to meet these nutritional needs. The goal is to provide more calories without significantly increasing the volume of milk consumed, which can be crucial for babies with feeding difficulties or those who tire easily during feeds.
Steps to Create a 22-Calorie Formula
1. Consult Your Pediatrician: Before making any modifications to your baby’s diet, it is essential to consult with a healthcare provider. They can provide personalized recommendations based on your baby’s specific needs.
2. Choose the Right Formula: To achieve the desired caloric density, you can mix a small amount of infant formula with breast milk. Typically, this involves using a standard infant formula that is designed to provide 20 calories per ounce. By adding this formula to breast milk, you can increase the overall caloric content.
3. Mixing Ratios: The exact ratio of breast milk to formula will depend on the specific caloric needs of your baby. For instance, to reach 22 calories per ounce, you might start with a mixture of approximately 1 ounce of formula to 3 ounces of breast milk. This combination can help you achieve the desired caloric density while maintaining the benefits of breast milk.
4. Preparation:
– Measure the breast milk and formula accurately.
– Combine them in a clean bottle, ensuring that the mixture is well-blended.
– Warm the bottle if necessary, but avoid overheating, as this can destroy some of the beneficial properties of breast milk.
5. Feeding: Once prepared, feed the mixture to your baby as you would with regular breast milk. Monitor your baby’s response to the fortified milk, and keep track of their weight gain and overall health.
Monitoring and Adjustments
After introducing the fortified formula, it’s crucial to monitor your baby’s growth and feeding patterns. Regular check-ups with your pediatrician will help assess whether the caloric adjustments are effective. If your baby continues to struggle with weight gain, further adjustments may be necessary, which could include increasing the ratio of formula to breast milk or exploring other nutritional options.
Conclusion
Creating a 22-calorie formula from breast milk can be a beneficial strategy for parents looking to support their baby’s growth. By carefully mixing breast milk with infant formula and consulting healthcare professionals, you can ensure that your baby receives the necessary nutrients for healthy development. Always prioritize safety and health by following professional guidance throughout this process.

How to make 22 calorie breast milk?

I just checked our instruction sheet (still stuck to our fridge). It’s 1/2 teaspoon 22 calorie formula to 100 mL of breast milk or 1/2 teaspoon of 20 calorie formula to 3 oz of breast milk, to make 22 cal/oz.

How do I fortify my breastmilk to 24 calories?

For 22-Calorie-per-Ounce Human Milk: Add ½ teaspoon of regular formula powder to 2.5 ounces of pumped human milk. For 24-Calorie-per-Ounce Human Milk: Add 1 teaspoon of regular formula powder to 2.5 ounces of pumped human milk.

How do you mix formula to 22 kcal?

To prepare a 22-calorie/ounce formula:
If you are using concentrated liquid formula, mix 5.5 ounces (163 mL) of formula with every 4.5 ounces (133 mL) of water. If you are using powder formula, mix 3 scoops of powder with every 5.5 ounces (163 mL) of water.

How do you convert breast milk to formula?

One method is to start by replacing one breastfeeding session with a bottle of breastmilk, gradually introducing the best formula for your baby, whether that’s a different formula based on cow’s milk, a special type of formula for allergies, or a brand like Bobbie infant formula.

How do you fortify breast milk to 22 calories with NeoSure?

The milk fortifiers we currently use are HMF 1:25 or 1:50, Prolacta in several different concentrations-the mixing instructions vary according to the guidelines given to us from Prolacta, and powdered Similac Neosure 1 tsp to 90 mL of breastmilk for 24 cals and 1/2 tsp to 90 mL for 22 cals.

Can you make formula with breast milk?

Once you’ve properly mixed the formula and water, you can add your breast milk. Note that you should never use breast milk in place of water during formula prep. Maintaining the right ratio of water-to-formula and then adding breast milk separately ensures you won’t change the nutritional content of the formula.

How to fortify ready to feed formula to 22 calories?

To prepare a 22-calorie/ounce formula:
If you are using concentrated liquid formula, mix 5.5 ounces (163 mL) of formula with every 4.5 ounces (133 mL) of water. If you are using powder formula, mix 3 scoops of powder with every 5.5 ounces (163 mL) of water.

How do you fortify breast milk to 22 calories with EnfaCare?

❒ To make 22 calorie/ounce breast milk:

  1. Add ½ teaspoon (1.1 grams) of level, unpacked Enfamil EnfaCare powder to 60 mL or 2 fluid ounces of breast.
  2. Add ¾ teaspoon (1.7 grams) of level, unpacked Enfamil EnfaCare powder to 60 mL or 2 fluid ounces of breast milk.

Can you fatten up breast milk?

Nevertheless, if your diet is rich in healthy fats, it can influence the type of fats present in your breastmilk. Milk fat may be more effectively increased through natural means (i.e. longer & more frequent feeding, massage, breast compression, expressing foremilk before nursing) than by changing mom’s diet.

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.

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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