I was forwarded this from another listserv.  If you can help
Charlotte out, please e-mail her privately at:
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From: <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 15:32:56 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: breastmilk t.feeds in small volumes for premies

Help!  We're running into a situation where we need to infuse
continuous feeds at a very low rate/volume in premature
infants either due to nj placement or high residuals with
g-tube feeds and feel like we have to waste inordinate
amounts of brestmilk because it takes about 20cc to prime
the tubing and we have a hospital policy that breastmilk can
only hang for 4 hours.  This means that if the tube feeds are
running at only 1, 2, 3, 4cc/hr for example that a large
amount of breastmilk is wasted when the tubing/pumpset is
changed every four hours!  So, are we off track?  Can we
hang the breastmilk, which may be frozen and not fresh, for
more than 4 hours safely?  And, how often so we need to
change the tubing and pumpset?  Does anyone have a pump
that needs a lot less than 20cc to prime it every time the set
is changed?  Thanks to anyone who can help answer these
questions.
Carlie Geer, MS, RD, CD,  FAHC, Burlington VT.