[juliekrn]

how is formula mixed in your facilities? we use rtf where appropriate but often need to fortify formula or ebm. What do you use to measure, how often do you change measuring devices, etc. Do you have a sink identified just for formula prep? Any answers would help.

[bergren]

The forumulas are almost always mixed by the dietary department for the next 24 hours.

If, in a unusual case, they ar not, sterile or clean & packaged measuring devices are used and sterile water.

I do not know what your abbreviations stand for.

[Jolie]

I agree that any formula which is not available in a ready to feed form should be mixed by pharmacy or dietary, where the conditions are a lot more sanitary than a countertop in the NICU. But for the situations where it is unavoidable, we have a dedicated countertop, sink and refrig for breastmilk and formula preparation. Breastmilk fortifier is added immediately prior to use. Formula is measured with the scoops provided in the cans, and sterile water is measured with Volu-feeders. Once mixed, formula is labeled with date and time prepared, and baby's name, and is tossed after 24 hours.

[karenelizabeth]

On NICU most of our milks are comertially packed readily mixed bottles, occasionally we use a special formular prescribed by a dietition and then we have to make it up but we have a dedicared milk kitchen. Scoops are kept in sterile pots rather than in the formular milk or breastmilk milk fortifier tin.

On the paediatric ward on which I recently worked we had a deducated milk kitchen, and all milk was made up in there, just using the precortions you would at home.

Both areas have a fridge dedicated to baby milk.

Having this done by pharmacy would be impractical as babies can be admitted day and night, and sometimes are eating or not depending on weather they are pre-post surgery.