[BittyBabyRN]

(First post under new name... previously MUOStudentNurse)
Hey Everyone!

I was wondering if anyone has heard of, or better yet, USED this eXpresso milk warming machine. I think that from the information I have received it sounds like a GREAT idea! I was just wondering if anyone had any first hand advice or pros/cons of this machine! Thanks a lot in advance!

Here's a link to the site:
http://www.neonatalproductgroup.com/

[elizabells]

I hadn't heard of it. Honestly, it sort of seems like a waste of money. We use pitchers filled with warm water, put the bottle inside a glove to keep the water out, and plop it in the water.

[dawngloves]

Yeah, I don't see how it's any different from a cup of warm water. My hospital would never pay for that.

[Sweeper933]

Originally Posted by dawngloves

Yeah, I don't see how it's any different from a cup of warm water. My hospital would never pay for that.

Same here

[SteveRN21]

Yeah, no kidding... we can't even get enough baby wipes around here....

[BittyBabyRN]

In the literature I have received, it says that somewhere around 22% of milk is heated to the correct temperature using methods other than this warmer. The remaining 78% is either too hot, or too cold. With this warmer, the accuracy is 98% within the correct temperature, and 2% too cold.

I understand your skepticism, but our neonates are proven to digest and PO feed better with a correct temperature delivered. They definately don't need to use extra calories to warm up their food, or heaven forbid the would get burned! Also, something interesting I have found, is that NEC is suspected to increase, with the decrease in temperature for feedings. Just a thought... and some extra info!

[SteveRN21]

just a thought, pretty much everyone is fed at the same time.... can it accommodate all those bottles?

[BittyBabyRN]

They offer one bottle units and four bottle units.

We have a "breastmilk room" on our unit, and there are usually about 2 people in the room at a given time, just depending on the schedules and nurse's preference. The website suggests to have the single units even at the bedside. This would obviously be more expensive but maybe a couple of the 4 tub units at central places?

As with everything, this idea obviously wouldn't be for every unit.

[dawngloves]

Do you have any references stating the correct temp for feeds? Also, it is difficult to maintain the temp of the feed during a gavage, since the milk will cool down as it goes through the tubing.

[BittyBabyRN]

They didn't give a range for the temperatures.

Optimal temperature is stated as "close to body temperature".

The amount that were cold were only stated to "go as low as 52.7 degrees F", and the hotter ones "went as high as 118.2 degrees F".

They state that there are many studies going on to connect cold feedings with cold stress and NEC incidence. And only saying that "there are multiple negative side effects on the GI tract when feeding an infant at that high of temperatures".