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Preemies
human milk fortifier
My baby is still in the NICU, and she has progressed to being a grower and feeder. She is getting a combination of breastfeeds, bottlefeeds with my milk, and whatever she doesn't take by mouth, she gets via her nasogastric tube. The bottles with my expressed milk and the tube feeds have Enfamil Human Milk Fortifier added to them. My concern is that I believe this fortifier is causing her extremely watery stools and abdominal discomfort. I have brought this up to her caregivers (nurses and doctors) and some agree that it might be causing it, but that she needs it to help her grow and get more nutrients/calories. Others have made it clear they think it's what I am eating, and couldn't be this artificial fortifier!
Either way, I was wondering what your experiences have been with these types of products given to your preemie. I am convinced its this additive that is causing her these stomach probs because it started shortly after she began getting full feedings with the additive; her stools were completely normal before they began the additive.
TIA!
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Re: human milk fortifier
Gabe NEVER tolerated the 24cal HMF. He had huge residuals and a very bloated belly.
He stayed on the 22cal the rest of his stay.
We'll miss you sweet Debbie Girl (4.21.12) and sweet Cindy Girl (8.9.12)
OK, glad to see that others had some issues (not glad that other had the issues, but glad to see I am not crazy for thinking this!)> I have looked at diet, and outside of an occasional iced coffee (usually 12 oz) there is no known irritants that I am taking. The probs with the stools started several days after she was on the full feeds with my expressed milk and the HMF, and its been consistent. They do plan on changing her to the expressed milk with enfamil's enfacare powder to bump it up to 22 cals several days before she goes home, but that may not be for weeks!
The issue I get from her caregivers is that they feel she is tolerating the 24 cal expressed milk with HMF because her belly is fine, minimal residuals, and her belly is soft. But I think her stool tell us a different story!
Katie, how was Gabes weight gain on the 22 cals? My daugthers docs think that won't be enough for her to stay on her growth curve.
His gains were great in the NICU (1-2oz a day) and now that he is home he is on neosure (2 ounces of 22cal twice a day) and unfortified BM the rest of the day. He is still gaining 1-2 ounces a day according to his weigh-ins at the doctors.
We'll miss you sweet Debbie Girl (4.21.12) and sweet Cindy Girl (8.9.12)
My girls were fine with HMF and when we switched to Neosure as the fortifier instead.
Maybe ask if they can use the Neosure to bump it to 24 calories instead for several days? I don't know how many calories he's taking and it's hard to successfully make breast milk 27 calories with Neosure, but my girls are still on the 24 calorie recipe now.
You know your baby best. Keep fighting. I fought for weeks for them to acknowledge that our feeding issues were reflux related. They never would give in. All the issues we were dealing with resolved almost 100% when her pediatrician put her on prilosec. I wish I would have fought harder sooner.
ETA: Mine are on 100% breast milk with the Neosure fortifier now and consistently gain 1oz a day, even while in NICU. Ask about using the breast milk and neosure to make it 24 cal.