Preemie Nipples

fergus51 · Mar 11, 2004

I know, it's beyond stupid. My preference would be to bottle feed, but I will willingly cup or finger feed to make parents happy. I would NG if they were adamant, but there is no way I am trying to start an IV on a dehydrated kid.

MishlB · Mar 11, 2004

We don't care how they are eating as long as it is by mouth. We have a lot of breastfeeding nazis who will even insist on cup feeding or finger feeding only.

Uh oh.... :uhoh3:

Mimi2RN, ASN, RN · Mar 11, 2004

Fergus, if the bili is really high, we do start IV's on those babies. Our docs also order formula feeding, with a bottle. The moms can't stay on our unit, and it's hard for them to come in for every feeding, if they have been discharged home. Also, the bili level goes down faster when they are formula fed. We do transfer them to peds when possible, so parents can stay. It will take longer to get the level down, because the baby will be out from under the lights a lot more, when mom is there.

Sorry, I think the thread got hijacked.

fergus51 · Mar 11, 2004

No worries, we do start IVs on kids with crazy bilis, but not just to avoid formula is what I meant. And once they are under the lights they don't come out for more than 20 minutes every 4-6 hours, less if they are really high. A kid under triple ain't comin' out.

dawngloves, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2004

We wrap our kiddos in a Wallaby when they come out to breast feed.

fergus51 · Mar 11, 2004

Sigh... we have none here. I miss them.... I am sure the parents would love them, but until the bili is safe, the kid has to stay under our lights, naked and yelling.

Mimi2RN, ASN, RN · Mar 12, 2004

Fergus....naked babies? Do you keep them in a crib or isolette? Most of ours are in cribs, it would be dangerous to have term boy children naked :eek:

Pretermers are in isolettes, so that wouldn't be a problem.We do have those cute little pampers that fit the little ones like peri pads.

fergus51 · Mar 12, 2004

We keep them in isolettes when they are under the lights (term or preterm), and we are supposed to have the maximum amount of skin exposed which means naked (especially for kids under triple). Some of us do make "baby g-strings" out of masks.

NICU_RNwantsFL · Mar 14, 2004

Our unit recently had an overhaul regarding preemie nipples - we dumped them, based on the theory that if an infant can't accommodate a term nipple, he's not ready to PO feed yet.

nekhismom · Mar 14, 2004

We have CURRENT 25 and 26 weekers PO feeding at least qd! It's INSANE!!! And I do feel like screaming EAT! EAAAAATTT! at some of the older kids. But, alas, I'm just an RN, and I have no say-so at my facility. *that's why I'm moving*

nekhismom · Mar 14, 2004

We don't do cup or finger feeding, but nearly all of our kids have an NG tube. Some of them don't get feeds through it anymore, but it remains in for the "convenience" of the nurses. The docs and NNP's only allow a few kids to actually nurse at the breast, and usually only once a day. Those who take breast milk take it from a bottle. Period. So far, we haven't had any parents refuse to allow kids to take the bottle. So far.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2004

We have CURRENT 25 and 26 weekers PO feeding at least qd! It's INSANE!!! And I do feel like screaming EAT! EAAAAATTT! at some of the older kids. But, alas, I'm just an RN, and I have no say-so at my facility. *that's why I'm moving*

OMG I just cannot believe this! Most of our 25-26 weekers are on the vent, and even those who aren't aren't stable enough respiratory wise to PO feed. Plus, whatever happened to the fact that babies don't develop the suck-swallow-breathe reflex until 32 weeks?!?! This is just so wrong, and such a huge risk for aspiration pneumonia.

I don't blame you for wanting to move! Good luck at your new place!!