Community› The Bump Message Boards› Preemies
Preemies
New Discussion

Adding vegetable oil to formula to increase cals?!

GatorNurseGatorNurse
in Preemies

We took Caroline to the pulmonologist today and they dc'd her oxygen! Hallelujah! She has to remain on the apnea monitor for another month and then as long as its good, we are done with it too! Yay!

The strange thing though is she wants Caroline to gain weight a tad faster than she has been. She told me to add 1 ml of vegetable or canola oil to 4 oz of formula to increase the cals to 24. Uhh, for real? That sounds ick! LOL I've never read anything about this; have you guys?

 Angela

Lilypie Premature Baby tickers
Report Reply to Post

Re: Adding vegetable oil to formula to increase cals?!

  • katie4253katie4253 member

    We didn't have to do this, but it is a very common recommendation.  Hope it helps her gain faster!  From what I've seen on here, weight gain and babies on O2 is a good thing because growing body = growing lungs. 

    Babies don't have sophisticated palettes.  So, don't worry about it being gross.  If you've tasted formula, you know that a little oil can't make it taste worse.  LOL!  

    What calorie are you mixing her formula to now?   You can mix formula to 24 calorie without adding oil.  What formula are you feeding now? 

    Born at 31w3d due to severe IUGR & Placental Insufficiency--2lbs 3ounces
    image

    We'll miss you sweet Debbie Girl (4.21.12) and sweet Cindy Girl (8.9.12)
    Lilypie Premature Baby tickers

    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • GatorNurseGatorNurse

    Enfacare. You're right, the formula does smell pretty awful. She loves it though, so whatever, lol. 

     I thought there was a way to mix formula to increase the cals.  

    Lilypie Premature Baby tickers
    Report Reply
  • kelligagnonkelligagnon
    We actually use Enfacare to fortify my LO's BM to 25 calories and she has been gaining weight consistently. 
    The vegetable oil sounds weird but I guess they know what they are talking about :)
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
  • GatorNurseGatorNurse
    I add Enfacare to my EBM (which my supply is tanking so we're probably moving to all FF this week), but yeah, it is weird. I mean 1 ml in 120 is not much but still. I'm sure it'll make her poop more. lol
    Lilypie Premature Baby tickers
    Report Reply
  • katie4253katie4253 member
    This may be helpful to you if you don't want to do the oil!  https://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/Increasecaloriesenfacare.pdf
    Born at 31w3d due to severe IUGR & Placental Insufficiency--2lbs 3ounces
    image

    We'll miss you sweet Debbie Girl (4.21.12) and sweet Cindy Girl (8.9.12)
    Lilypie Premature Baby tickers

    Report Reply
  • shanlubeyshanlubey
    We also were told this, but with olive oil. They preferred this to bulking up the formula with formula because of his slow intestines and the oils are full of healthy fats. If you are questioning it, call their office up and ask for other recommendations.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
  • maronesamaronesa member

    While DD was near the end of her NICU stay they started her on MCT oil (medium chain triglycerides) that I mixed with BM.  That lasted at home for a few weeks and then we changed to adding a calorie powder to BM (Duocal) for an additional few weeks.  

    They seemed to do the trick until she was gaining enough weight on her own as we weened her off.   

    imageimage My special EA/TEF fighter! Lilypie Premature Baby tickers image image image
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"