carla.hca

They have been put on a higher calorie feed (higher calorie is all I know at the mo, very new to neonates, having done 10 years in adult medicine). They are still only taking little amounts but no less then previous so they should gain weight!!! Doctors have said if they gain weight tomorrow they can go home! Fingers crossed!!!!!!!

Hi there, The team have now changed their milk to a higher calorie formula in the hope that they will gain weight. They are 3 hourly feeds on a standard teat. As for it taking an hour, that's feeding each baby, waking again when they fall asleep and changing their nappy again in the hope that they will have another !!!!! So in all it takes about an hour atrt to finish!!!!!!!!!! Nighmare, I tell you........poor little mites, it's such a shame!

Medically there is no reason at all. Our speech and language department are involved and have simply advised the use of different bottles????? They were being gravity fed but ng tubes have since been removed and they are on demand feeds but like I say they are getting nowhere. You're definately right though, about the risk factors. It's just been said that if we were to send them home anytime soon, thy would end up being re-admitted. But like you say, it may be worth the try , gavage feeds at home, we arent getting them anywhere in our environment so maybe they do just need to get home and into what will be their own routine with mum and dad!!!!!!

Any advice? I work as a HCA on a neonatal ward. We have a set of twin girls who were born at 28+2. They are now 94 days old. The only thing keeping them both on the unit at the moment is the fact that we cant establish feeds with them! They were being breast fed but are now bottles. The problem is they will only take half their required amount on a good feed. After a few minutes they simply decide they no longer want it and will either go back to sleep or become upset! Every possible teat has been tried with no obvious results to the point that they have probably been confused! Each feed is taaking about an hour, feeding, waking them up, and feeding again. It's really quite bizaar, both girls are just the same and no one seems to know why!!! Anyone got any tips on how to get these babies to feed? They even demand their feed every four hours but then they just dont want it and they are now loosing weight. I want to help the parents to get their beautiful girls home but it seems their getting nowhere!!!!