kcal in breastmilk

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · May 23, 2007

Our nutritionist says most post-colostrum breastmilk should have between 20-24 kcal ideally, however, some moms come in with kcals of 12-15 that are still breastfeeding a previous baby. We end up fortifying with Similac Special Care 30 cal to average 22 kcals. We use the "Creamatocrit" machine to determine kcal and fat content.

I've never used neonatalyte 10%, I'm assuming that it's similar to Pedialyte?

prmenrs, RN · May 24, 2007

If you can't do a "creamocrit" (you put the breast milk in a couple of hematocrit tubes, spin it down, and read it against a graph that tells you how much fat/volume, which gives you the accurate calories), and a lot of places don't, you can "assume" that the breast milk is 20 cals/oz, and then fortify accordingly.

We use Human Milk Fortifier til they are ~ 34 wks, then switch to Sim special care 30, or Neosure powder. This gives them more calories, obviously, but also more Ca and Phosphorous, which they need for their bones. If you want to add more protein, you can use BenePRO.

Sometimes I feel like a bartender mixing all this stuff up!!

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · May 28, 2007

Sometimes I feel like a bartender mixing all this stuff up!!

Yeah, no kidding! Except you wear gloves, and there aren't any peanuts at this bar. (The baby does get completely milk-drunk half the time, though)