#nutrisafe

Taking care of a newborn baby is of utmost importance. Parents' anxiety tends to aggravate when the infant is born way before the standard term and is of very low weight. Infant mortality is a standard that cannot be ignored even in developed countries such as the USA. The medical professionals ensure the best possible care for frail babies by placing them in the NICU, monitored 24X7. Feeding them is an added challenge, with most frail premature infants unable to suck milk directly from the mother's breast. Enteral feeding is the best solution in such cases that necessitates the use of a 20 mL syringe.

This specific product is available in both soft as well as rigid packs. Medical facilities tend to source them in bulk, making it easier for them to get at wholesale rates. The purchaser needs to be aware of the risks associated with the use of imperfect enteral syringes. The top medical equipment manufacturers and dealers ensure safety by providing each syringe in separate packs. The product is 100% sterile and meant to be used only once. There is no inclusion of needles, however. The soft pack also contains a barrel made out of polypropylene and a plunger with a latex-free tip to avoid allergies. The user may opt for any of the other variety of tips. Still, the bright orange markings make it possible to read the measurements even when the NICU is not brightly illuminated.

Some of the other precautions that need to be maintained by the manufacturer of enteral syringes to minimize the risks of contamination include the following:-

· The syringe may be used to administer oral drugs, nutrition, and even anesthesia

· Both the barrel and the plunger must be made out of non-toxic material that is compatible with every kind of medication

· The top quality syringes come with a thumb press that is marked by a changed texture

· Quality syringes are compliant with FDA regulations with absolutely no possibility of misconnections.

The O-Ring design and an eccentrically placed tip are favored by the medical fraternity, including the caregiving staff working in the NICU. Proper feeding of the neonates is essential to maintain optimum body weight and ensure development. Tips placed slightly off the center have been found to keep fat loss minimum compared to the "elastomeric piston design" that removes at least 11% to 22% fat.

Enteral syringes are utilized within the NICU to provide weak and underdeveloped infants with proper nutrition. Human breast milk is usually pumped and delivered via the syringe, thereby nourishing the neonate who slowly but surely regains strength. The offset tip is preferred as it delivers the lipids first, thus enabling the newborn infants to boost their growth and immunity.

The image of a mother & baby is indeed a happy one. Not all babies are bouncy and healthy at birth. Most of the pre-term babies have low birth weight and are susceptible to cold. This poses a severe problem for the parents as well as the caregivers. The specialist doctors responsible for babies' well-being in the NICU need to take proper neonatal thermoregulation measures to keep the child warm and comfortable. It is a challenge that may jeopardize the life of the newborn baby. While medical professionals are well aware of the problem and associated risks, the new parents need to remain informed about it even in the NICU.

It helps to learn that the optimum body temperature for a neonate is 37°C. Several health organizations, including "The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), as well as the World Health Organization (WHO)" put the normal range of axillary temperature between 36.5°C - 37.5°C.

What happens to "at-risk" newborns?

Babies who have a drop in their body temperature due to diverse conditions experience discomfort and pain. The condition is known as hypothermia medically and is observed in newborn babies whose body temperature drops well below 36.3°C. It is usually found in frail babies diagnosed with any of the following:-

· Increased surface area to body mass ratio

· Low amount of fat below the Skin

· Increased quantity of water in the body

· Loss of heat due to improper development

· Weak metabolism

Signs that necessitate urgent thermoregulation

· Skin becomes pale and is cool

· Low blood sugar levels

· Irregular and slow heartbeat

· Breathing problems, restlessness

· Low oxygen concentration in the blood

· Lethargy and minimal movement

· Weak cries

· Disinterest in feeding

· Progressive weight loss

The medical professionals in charge of neonates in the NICU make sure to take adequate measures for normalizing the body temperature. The environment should be conducive o prevent excessive heat loss as well. Failing to do so is likely to result in cold stress that pronounces hypothermia risks in neonates, especially those born well before term.

It is of paramount importance to establish a "warm chain" as advised by WHO immediately after delivery and during the next few days. Some of the accepted norms of thermoregulation in newborn babies include the following:-

· The delivery room should be set at the optimal temperature with all supplies for warming a neonate kept handy

· The baby should be washed and dried immediately after delivery

· The newborn child should be placed directly on the chest of the mother

· Breastfeeding should be started within an hour of delivery

· The neonate should be wrapped loosely with a warm blanket

Breastfeeding is an accepted way to ensure the good health of a newborn baby. Statistics have revealed that the first milk expelled out of the breast is a rich source of nutrients that can help the infant grow properly. Unfortunately, holding the baby and feeding it is not always possible today as most mothers have to go out to work and deal with the pressures of life. An ideal alternative would be to have the milk available and ready in a superior breastmilk storage container that can be opened to feed the baby as and when required.

One needs o make sure that the container is perfect for holding rest milk that has been expressed. One would not want the baby to be put at risk, especially by feeding inferior or contaminated milk. The standard storage solution is to use a bottle or a bag where the milk will remain fresh and untainted. Any plastic or glass bottle will not do, though. One has to make sure about sourcing the right kind of container for this specific purpose. The right way would be to utilize a sterilized neo bottle and collect the milk as it is expressed via a breast pump.

The new mother also needs to be aware of the facts before collecting breast milk into a container.

Guidelines for storing breast milk

· The milk can be kept at room temperature for four hours at the maximum. Feeding the same milk to the baby afterward can pose a risk of contamination

· The milk can be stored in a refrigerator for as long as 24 hours. It can keep for 3 to 5 days in countries that experience cold weather for most of the year

· Breast milk can also be stored for 3 to 6 months, ideally by keeping it within a freezer.

It is important to remember that milk taken out by a pump is not identical to that being taken out spontaneously. One needs to discuss the pros and cons of string each kind with an expert before proceeding to go ahead.

Conditions for freezing breast milk

· It is necessary to freeze the milk as soon as it has been expressed. Storage should be in a sterilized bottle or bag that needs to be put inside a freezer operating at -18 degrees Celsius or less.

· On should remember not to fill the container to its brim, though. It is essential to leave a small gap between the top of the bottle and the milk surface to allow room for expansion.

· The container needs to be sealed tightly so that no air contaminates it.

· One may notice the separation of milk nutrients after removal and thawing. Mothers are advised to shake the bottle or stir the contents thoroughly to mix it properly.

It is necessary to feed a baby right from the day it is born. Unfortunately, not all moms happen to be healthy and capable of sucking the infant from Day 1. Using a breast milk tube as a part of the supplemental nursing system is a widely accepted practice. While the caregiving team of professionals at the NICU makes sure to feed a preterm baby through other means, it becomes essential to provide milk fortified with multiple nutrients for all balanced growth and development. Many new mothers are apprehensive of this system and try to switch the baby to bottle feeding and formula. However, statistics reveal that supplemental nursing can help strengthen the bond between mother and child.

The SNS Procedure

The milk tube is usually placed at the breast of the mother that runs to a container filled with breast milk or formula. The baby suckles at the nipple with the end of the tube going into its mouth at the same time. The advanced models have provisions for increasing or decreasing the flow of milk according to the requirement. There are several different kinds of supplementary systems available at present. Both the hospital staff and homebound mothers find it advantageous to utilize this system for nursing infants. Pediatricians recommend supplementing breast milk in the following circumstances:-

· The baby is healthy enough to suckle at the breast, but the mother lacks sufficient quantity and requires to provide extra nutrition

· The infant has developed jaundice or has low blood glucose levels and needs additional milk for growing normally

· There is no milk production in the mother’s body causing the parent to look for an alternative

· The mother is on medication and the milk may contain drugs deemed to be unhealthy for a baby

· The baby tries to speed up milk flow but is unable to do so when sucking on the mother’s breast. The SNS helps the infant to achieve satiety within a short time

Advantages of supplemental nursing

· It endorses one’s support for breastfeeding

· A frail infant learns to suck correctly by practicing on the milk tube initially

· The baby not only obtains breast milk from the mother along with the all-important antibody-rich colostrum but also gets the right quantity thanks to the SNS

· Mothers having a low amount of milk find the production increase after using milk tubes

· Nutrition of the baby is ensured as is the bond between a mother and child

· It is a perfect system to incorporate for adopted babies who fail to obtain a natural source of milk

Cleaning the different components of the system is essential after every use, however. It can be done quickly by following the instructions. It would not do to keep using the system for years. It is advisable to make inquiries and wean off the baby from breastfeeding and SNS slowly but surely.