Dietitians
How a Neonatal Dietitian can support you
Some babies need parenteral nutrition (PN) whilst on the neonatal unit, if they are born very premature or are unwell. The neonatal dietitian works closely with the rest of the team to ensure the PN matches the needs of your growing baby.
As your baby is able to have more milk (mum’s milk, donor milk, or infant formula), the neonatal dietitian will monitor their transition from PN to milk feeding. They may recommend breast milk fortifier (BMF) or other supplements for you and your baby to meet their needs.
Your baby may need tube feeding during their stay, if they are too unwell or too young to meet all of their nutrition needs via breast or bottle feeding. The neonatal dietitian will work closely with other team members (nurses, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists) to help you and your baby to meet your feeding goals and prepare your family for going home.
When your baby goes home, they may still need support from a neonatal dietitian; if they still need tube feeding, require BMF at home, or have other needs. The neonatal dietitian can work with you and your baby alongside other healthcare professionals, in different settings outside the neonatal unit to support growth, development and help keep your baby well at home with their family.
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The role of a dietitian how they make a difference.
Registered Dietitians (RDs) are qualified and regulated healthcare professionals that assess, diagnose and treat nutrition problems at an individual and wider public health level. They work with both healthy and sick people. A neonatal dietitian supports sick and premature babies and their families on the neonatal unit and beyond.
Parenteral Nutrition (PN) is a form of liquid nutrition that is given directly directly through a vein, avoiding the gut. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is when nutrition is only given this way and nothing is given through the mouth or gut.
Tube feeding is where a thin plastic tube is passed through the nose (nasogastric – NG) or mouth (orogastric – OG), via the throat and into the stomach for feeding. It is used to give milk feeds and medication to babies that are too small or too unwell to feed with their mouths.
Donor milk is human breast milk donated from another mum. It is reserved for very premature or very sick babies, when mum’s milk is not available or not enough. Donated breast milk is always screened, pasteurised (a special heat treatment) and tracked by Milk Banks before being given to another baby.
Neonatal Network Dietitians work with multiple neonatal units within an Operational Delivery Network (ODN) covering a regional area. They work closely with staff on the unit and beyond to support equal access to the best nutritional care for babies and their families.
Breast milk fortifier (BMF) is powder that is added to human breast milk to increase the energy, protein, vitamin and mineral content. Human breast milk is the best milk for all babies, and BMF is added to meet the extra needs of very premature babies.
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London InFed project
The Phase 1 report of the London InFed project is now published. This scoping project highlights that over 40% of Infant Feeding Support hours across the network are unfunded, with notable variation between sectors.
The working group, led by the Lead Dietitian, extends its gratitude to all neonatal and maternity staff who contributed their valuable time and insights. The report includes an executive summary and can be accessed here: DOWNLOAD HERE
We welcome your thoughts and reflections on the findings.
If you have any feedback please email the Lead Dietitian: moriam.mustapha@nhs.net
Watch the Bliss webinar MDT spotlight Dietetics
The webinar features a Q&A and a discussion with Dietetics Professionals. We discussed the sensitivities surrounding this role, examples of great collaboration with wider MDT and how essential these roles are to the delivery of Family Integrated Care for every baby. Featuring Moriam Mostapha the London Neonatal Network Dietitian.
