Formula Prep

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Specializes in Level 3 NICU 17 yrs, Neo transport 13 yr.

What is everyone's policy on formula prep and storage? Ex: If you open a bottle of formula and only use a partial amount then how long do you consider the rest of it good for?

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

I go by what it says on the formula bottle. "Good for one hour after opening at room temp."

I always throw away what I don't use with each feed. The formula's free.

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Specializes in NICU.
I go by what it says on the formula bottle. "Good for one hour after opening at room temp."

I always throw away what I don't use with each feed. The formula's free.

Same here... with the only exception maybe for when we have twins who eat an hour apart from each other - sometimes we'll save the bottle from the first feeding and use it again for the twin's feeding and hour later.

As far as special formulas go (27cal... neocate... stuff like that ) we'll usually make up enough for 24 hours, and keep it in the fridge along with the breast milk for the babies in that room. Then we just warm it up for each feeding just like breast milk. Once it's been there for 24hours - we throw it out.

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Specializes in NICU.

I go by what the formula reps have told us ..... which is throw away whatever is left, it's only good for one use.

As far as special formulas with higher caloric count, all of that stuff is sent up from the formula room. Enough is sent up for 24 hours and it's kept in the fridge.

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Specializes in Level 3 NICU 17 yrs, Neo transport 13 yr.

What about babies that are on continuous feedings? How long do you set a syringe up for---1, 2, 4 hours?

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

The unit where I work once you open a formula bottle you may pour from it for 4 hours, once a baby's mouth touches the bottle it's good just for that feed. If you draw formula up in a syringe and it's just straight from the bottle with no changes to it, then we allow it to "hang" for 8 hrs. Any changes to the formula (add NaCl, microlipids, protein, extra formula powder to pump up the calories) then it hangs the same length as EBM which is 4 hrs.

If you open a bottle of formula, pour from it, you may use it for 24 hrs if it is then refrigerated. Especially useful if you have trophic feeds or those starting Pedialyte feeds after gut surgery.

And within a year or two our hospital will no longer accept free formula, we will be buying it as part of our initiative to become "baby friendly".

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What is everyone's policy on formula prep and storage? Ex: If you open a bottle of formula and only use a partial amount then how long do you consider the rest of it good for?

If we open a bottle and use a partial amount it is good for 4 hours at the bedside (as long as the amt left in the original bottle isn't contaminated). When we have continuous feeds of forumla on a pump, we are allowed to put 4 hours worth in a syringe, I believe this is where the 4 hour limit comes from. If we put the opened bottle in the fridge, it is good for 24 hours, we label with the date and time we opened it.

I usually get what I need and throw what is left away.

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).
What about babies that are on continuous feedings? How long do you set a syringe up for---1, 2, 4 hours?

4 hours regardless of EBM, fortifier, formula, etc...

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What about babies that are on continuous feedings? How long do you set a syringe up for---1, 2, 4 hours?

4 hours for everything except Nutramigen...states on the can that it is only good for 2 hours at room temp.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
The unit where I work once you open a formula bottle you may pour from it for 4 hours, once a baby's mouth touches the bottle it's good just for that feed. If you draw formula up in a syringe and it's just straight from the bottle with no changes to it, then we allow it to "hang" for 8 hrs. Any changes to the formula (add NaCl, microlipids, protein, extra formula powder to pump up the calories) then it hangs the same length as EBM which is 4 hrs.

If you open a bottle of formula, pour from it, you may use it for 24 hrs if it is then refrigerated. Especially useful if you have trophic feeds or those starting Pedialyte feeds after gut surgery.

And within a year or two our hospital will no longer accept free formula, we will be buying it as part of our initiative to become "baby friendly".

This is what we do too at my place, both in NICU and well-baby.

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