Baby food pouches with protein
15 Best Baby Food Pouches 2021
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We’re all about that convenient squeeze pouch.
By Cat Bowen and Latifah Miles
Serenity Kids
Baby food pouches sometimes get a bad rap for being too expensive, full of fillers, or cavity-causing. But they're also quick, easy, and ultra convenient for parents and babies on the go. While they aren't a reasonable replacement for fresh fruits and veggies, pouches do offer necessary nutrition for your babe. You can't go wrong with using one for an occasional meal or snack to satisfy your tot's growing appetite.
We contacted nutritionist Heather Hanks, M.S., to find out what exactly parents should be looking for in a baby food pouch. She tells Best Products: "A great baby food pouch contains whole food ingredients and little to nothing else,” adding that “many store-bought baby food pouches contain fruit juices, which are high in calories and low in nutrition.”
But juice isn't the only thing parents need to be looking for. According to Hanks: "Parents should look for a food pouch that contains lemon juice concentrate as its only preservative. Food pouches need to stay shelf-stable or they will go bad, meaning that most of them will contain at least some type of preservative.
" She says that the lemon juice adds flavor and vitamin C without any extra ingredients that parents may choose not to give their kids.
The pouches below are whole-foods based, with zero fillers and tons of flavor that kids really love. Plus, they're ridiculously convenient.
1
Best Whole-Meal Pouch
HappyBaby Organics
HappyBaby Organics Hearty Meals (16-Pack)
$25 AT AMAZON
2
Best Grain-Blend Pouch
Plum Organics
Plum Organics Mango, Sweet Potato, Apple and Millet (6-Pack)
$8 AT AMAZON $9 AT WALMART
3
Best Veggie and Fruit Blend
Gerber
Gerber Purees Organic 2nd Foods Baby Food Fruit & Veggie (18-Pack)
$39 AT AMAZON
4
Best Organic Pouch
Peter Rabbit
Peter Rabbit Organics 100% Veg & Fruit Puree (10-Pack)
$26 AT AMAZON
5
Best Breakfast Pouch
Happy Tot
Happy Tot Organic Stage 4 Super Morning Apple Cinnamon Yogurt Oats + Super Chia (8-Pack)
$12 AT AMAZON $12 AT WALMART
6
Best Avocado-Based Baby Food
Happy Family
Happy Baby Organic Clearly Crafted Stage 2 Baby Food (16-Pack)
$28 AT AMAZON
7
Best Ethically-Sourced Pouch
Serenity Kids
Serenity Kids Baby Food (8-Pack)
$34 AT AMAZON
8
Best Bean Pouch
Earth's Best
Earth's Best Organic Stage 2 Baby Food, Sweet Potato Garbanzo Barley (12-Pack)
$21 AT AMAZON
9
Best Subscription Pouches
Cerebelly
Cerebelly Pouch Boxes
$3 AT CEREBELLY.
COM
10
Best Tropical Option
Happy Family
Happy Baby Banana Pineapple Avocado Granola (16-Pack)
$30 AT AMAZON
11
Best For Backed Up Babies
Plum Organics
Plum Organics Prunes (12-Pack)
$18 AT AMAZON
12
Best For Teaching Kids To Love Fish
Serenity Kids
Serenity Kids Baby Food, Wild-Caught Coho Salmon With Organic Butternut Squash and Beets (6-Pack)
$24 AT AMAZON $22 AT WALMART
13
Best Açai Bowl Blend
Happy Tot
Happy Tot Organics Super Morning (16-Pack)
$35 AT AMAZON
14
Best Protein-Packed Pouch
Plum Organics
Plum Organics Mighty Protein and Fiber (12-Pack)
$18 AT AMAZON
15
Best Peanut Pouch
MyPeanut
MyPeanut Organic Baby Food Apples & Peanuts (6-Pack)
SHOP AT AMAZON
Cat Bowen Parenting Editor Cat Bowen is the parenting editor at BestProducts.
com where she researches all of the best products for families from pre-conception through their teen years, focusing on matching scientific evidence with real-life needs.
Latifah Miles Parenting Editor Latifah is the former parenting editor at BestProducts.com, where she spent her time researching and testing the latest, greatest, and coolest products created to make parenting a breeze; her work has been featured on Cosmopolitan, Romper, and Elite Daily.
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The Best Baby Food Pouches: 2022 Guide
By Anjali Shah on · Last Updated on
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This is your guide to the healthiest and best baby food pouches on the market today! Learn what to avoid, what to buy, and what to look for on the label!
When your little one transitions to solids, a common question is: should I buy pre-made baby food pouches or make baby food at home? While it doesn’t necessarily have to be an either-or, many of you know that I’m a huge fan of homemade baby food because it’s so easy and you can control all of the ingredients your little one is getting. I shared all of the recipes I used for Layla and Ayan in my baby food cookbook and put many on my blog here!
But there are those times when you’re on the go, or pressed for time, and you don’t have any homemade baby food on hand. Which is when baby food pouches can be a quick and convenient meal for your little one! But there are SO many baby food pouches out there, and not all of them are healthy.
Many are filled with processed ingredients and added sugars. This can set your baby up to only appreciate sweet foods and reject vegetables as they get older. So what should you buy? And what should you avoid?
This is your guide to the best baby food pouches available today!
Can Some Baby Food Pouches Really Be That Unhealthy?
The food industry knows that babies shouldn’t be having added sugars when they first start solids, right?
Wrong.
As you have probably heard when it comes to buying pre-packaged food, what’s on the front is often misleading. This is also true when it comes to baby food pouches. The front may say spinach and kale, but when you turn it over you’ll find less expensive fillers such as fruit purees, or even fruit juices like apple juice concentrate. Sometimes in a “spinach” pouch the first 3 ingredients are fruits! That’s because, while there may be spinach, the manufacturer is not required to list the percentage of ingredients on the label.
This basically means that your baby is only getting a sweet taste when eating that pouch and isn’t getting exposed to the actual taste of a vegetable. And in those early months of developing tastebuds, getting exposure to all kinds of flavors and tastes is essential to having a baby who doesn’t become a picky eater (who rejects veggies) later on!
Why Is It So Confusing To Find The Best Baby Food Pouches For Your Child?
Ingredient labels are confusing, packaging is misleading. I remember when I first gave Layla a baby food pouch and she devoured it. It was a pouch that said “organic super greens” on it. And I remember thinking: “Yeah! She loves greens!” When I turned it over, the ingredients were: bananas, pear, apple, spinach. What??
It has always really bothered me that most baby food pouches (even the ones promoting veggies) contain fruit. Like why add bananas or pears to a carrot & sweet potato pouch? Carrots and sweet potatoes are already naturally sweet – there is no need for fruit purees to make it even sweeter! Since breast milk is naturally sweet, it’s so important that babies learn the other tastes: bitter, sour, pungent, etc.
when they start solids. All the fruit purees are essentially taking over your baby’s taste buds, making them think that if food isn’t sweet it’s not worth eating.
On top of that, many pouches that are fruit-forward and look healthy actually have a ton of unnecessary processed ingredients added. Take a look at Gerber’s Fruit & Yogurt Strawberry Banana Pouch.
Sugar, Carrot Juice Concentrate, Natural Flavor, Gelatin, Two different types of coloring…
These are all major red-flag ingredients in baby food. What in the world is gelatin doing in a pouch that looks vegetarian-friendly? And for a pouch that is supposed to have apples and strawberries (both of which are rich in fiber), there is less than 1g fiber in the entire pouch because of all of the fillers added. AND this pouch has 14g sugar. That’s as much as 1.5 Fun Sized Milky Way bars, or 1/3 of a can of Coke.
That’s why reading labels is so important to finding healthy, packaged baby food! So how do you find those pouches? Skip to the end of this post for my list of the healthiest baby food pouches! But first…
Top 5 Tips To Find The Best Baby Food Pouches
- Look at the sugar content: Stick to pouches with less than 8g of sugar, but ideally you’ll want to find pouches between 4-6g of sugar.
For example, if you look at the front of Ella’s Organic Apples, Green Beans, Raisins pouch, you might think, “green beans are in here, this is great!” But the pouch actually has 13g of sugar from the apples and raisins, while the green beans are a very small addition. 13g sugar is equal to a fun sized milky way bar. - Look to see if the ingredient listed on the front of the package is the first ingredient listed on the back. If you’re buying “spinach and apples,” it’s likely that apples are the dominant flavor. Some companies are more transparent than others on the percentage or amount of each ingredient in the pouch.
- Stick to pouches that ONLY have vegetables. These are harder to find, but they do exist. And they actually taste like vegetables! If you do buy one with veggies & fruits, make sure there is <8g sugar, that vegetables are first, and fruits are last on the ingredients list. Beware of labels that make it seem like the pouch only has veggies: there are some deceptive pouches such as Veggie Blends, and Plum Organics Mighty Veggie pouches.
These veggie blends also contain fruit, and often has as much or sometimes more sugar than those labeled as fruit blends. - Fiber matters. A good sign that a pouch is either mostly water or fillers is when the fiber content is 1g or less. Aim for pouches with 2g fiber or more.
- Avoid ingredients likely to be contaminated with heavy metals. Pouches that have apples, pears, carrots, sweet potatoes, and rice are particularly at risk. (For more details: A study done by the Clean Label Project in 2017 found that 65% of baby food products had detectable levels of arsenic, 36% detectable levels of lead, and 58% contained detectable levels of cadmium. A more recent study done by Consumer Reports in August of 2018 found that out of 50 nationally distributed baby food products, every single one of them had trace amounts of at least one of the heave metals which included arsenic, lead, or cadmium. Two-thirds of those tested had worrisome amounts of heavy metals, and 15 of the foods could pose potential health risk.
The pouches that included rice and/or sweet potato were more likely to have higher amounts of heavy metal, and organic foods were just as likely to contain heavy metals as their non-organic counterparts.)
There are pouches out there that are organic, vegetable-forward, and don’t have any added sugars or fruit juices in them.
So here it is: the healthiest baby food pouches on the market today, the brands I love, and which pouches to buy.
A special shout out to Alison Corey from Keeping the Peas who helped me with some of the research for this post! If a pouch is not listed on this list, it’s likely either high in heavy metals (per the Consumer Reports and Clean Label Project studies) or too high in sugar/fruits/processed ingredients, and should be avoided. But if you have a question about a particular pouch, don’t hesitate to ask in the comments of this post!
What Makes These the Best Baby Food Pouches?
- They contain between 0-8g of natural sugar; and 0g added sugar
- They have 2g fiber or more
- They are all organic
- They don’t carry a risk of heavy metals
The Best Baby Food Pouches (Organized by Brand)
Holle Organic Baby Food: Holle’s baby food is made in Europe and is certified both Organic and Biodynamic, which means that their farming practices go above and beyond just regular organic standards.
All of their baby food is unsweetened, I love these flavors from this brand:
- Veggie Bunny: Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, and Peas
- Power Parrot: Pear, Apple, Spinach
- Zebra Beat: Apple, Banana, Beetroot
Cerebelly Organic Custom Pouches: All of Cerebelly’s pouches are super healthy and made with 100% organic ingredients. All of their pouches were developed by their founder – a neuroscientist and mom who is dedicated to creating the highest quality baby food possible. The way it works is super simple: you fill out a quick survey that tells Cerebelly your child’s age and what they’re up to. Cerebelly recommends a personalized pack of organic purees with the right blend of nutrients, and it gets shipped right to your door! The best part – they offer 20% off your first order + free shipping with the code: FIRSTORDER20!
Yumi Organic Baby and Toddler Food.
Yumi prides itself on creating custom blends for your baby that are 100% organic, made with real food, customized based on your baby’s stage of eating (from Stage 1 purees all the way to snacks and mini meals!). Their food comes in little jars – not pouches – as it’s made fresh and delivered weekly, straight to your door. You can also be confident that Yumi’s food contains no heavy metals, as they partner with trusted farms that are USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified and follow rigorous food safety testing. They look at federal data on soil contamination to find the best farms. Lastly, you get to choose from their range of 60+ unique organic meals you won’t find anywhere else, handpicked by nutritionists to support every milestone! Yumi is also offering 50% off your first order with the code: PICKY50!
Serenity Kids
I love Serenity Kids because ALL of their pouches are under 5 grams of sugar! They’re 100% organic, made with super clean ingredients, has no added preservatives or sugars, and were created by a husband and wife team trying to find a better option for baby food for their daughter.
Here are all of hte pouches I love – use the code PICKY to get 15% off your first order!
- SK – Kabocha Squash, Butternut, Pumpkin, 2g Sugar
- SK – Butternut Squash + Spinach, 2g Sugar
- SK – Carrot, Spinach and Basil, 3g Sugar
- SK – Chicken, Beef, Pork or Wild Salmon (choose your variety here), 2-3g Sugar
- SK – Carrots, 4g Sugar
- SK – Sweet Potato + Parsnip, 4g Sugar
- SK – Mixed Root Veggies, 4g Sugar
- SK – Sweet Potato + Spinach, 4g Sugar
White Leaf Provisions: WLP is a family business run by a husband and wife team who are bringing the first 100% regeneratively farmed, biodynamic, organic & GMO-Free baby food line to retail in the US! I love their pouches because the ingredients are so pure, and the majority of them have less than 8 grams of sugar per pouch! And, they are offering all of my readers 10% off your purchase by using the code “PICKYEATS” at checkout! My two favorites are:
- WLP – Pumpkin + Nectarine, 5g Sugar
- WLP – Peach + Oat, 7g Sugar
- WLP – Pumpkin + Nectarine, 5g Sugar
- WLP – Peach + Oat, 7g Sugar
Amara Organic – Note: these do not come in a pouch that is ready to serve – they need to be mixed with water or milk and served in a bowl.
But these are still a good option if your baby is ok eating from a bowl/spoon and you need an option that saves you time!
- Amara – Black Bean and Sweet Corn, 0g Sugar
- Amara – Peas, Corn, Carrots, 2g Sugar
- Amara – Potato Kale Mash, 2g Sugar
- Amara – Pumpkin + Pear, 2g Sugar
- Amara – Sweet Potato Raspberry, 5g Sugar
- Amara – Oats and Berries, 5g Sugar
Ella’s Kitchen Organic
- Ella’s Kitchen Veggie Bean Feast, 1g Sugar
- Ella’s Spaghetti and Meatball, 1g Sugar
- Ella’s Beefy Stew, 2g Sugar
- Ella’s Vegetable and Lentil Bake, 3g Sugar
- Ella’s Pears, Peas, and Broccoli, 8g Sugar
Beechnut Organics
- Beechnut Peas & Spinach, 2g Sugar
- Beechnut Peas, Green Bean and Avocado, 4g
- Beechnut Corn, Kale, Quinoa, 4g Sugar
- Beechnut Veggies, Squash, Peas, Pear, 6g Sugar
- Beechnut Apple, Kiwi, Spinach, 6g Sugar
- Beechnut Pear, Pumpkin, Cranberry, 7g Sugar
- Beechnut Veggies, Carrots, Zucchini, Pear, 7g Sugar
- Beechnut Apple, Black Bean, Raspberry, 8g Sugar
Sprout Organic
- Sprout – Green bean, peas, butternut squash, 1g Sugar
- Sprout – Butternut squash, chickpea, quinoa, dates, 4g Sugar
- Sprout – Butternut Squash, Blueberry, Apple, with Beans, 5g Sugar
- Sprout – Mixed Berry Oatmeal, 7g Sugar
Plum Organics
- Plum – Hearty Veggie, Pumpkin, Spinach, Chickpea and Broccoli, 1g Sugar
- Plum – Hearty Veggie, Corn, Kale, Carrot and Tomato, 1g Sugar
- Plum – Hearty Veggie, Butternut Squash, Carrot, Chickpea and Corn, 1g Sugar
- Plum – Hearty Veggie, Carrots, Beans, Spinach and Tomato, 2g Sugar
- Plum – Stage 3 Meals, Carrot, Spinach, Turkey, Corn, Apple, Potato, Celery, Onion, 2g Sugar
- Plum – Stage 3 Meals, Carrot, Chickpea, Pea, Beef, Tomato, Celery, Date, Onion, 4g Sugar
- Plum – Eat Your Colors Red, 5g Sugar
- Plum – Eat Your Colors Orange, 5g Sugar
- Plum – Pear, Green Bean and Greek Yogurt, 6g Sugar
- Plum – Pear Spinach and Pea, 6g Sugar
- Plum – Pear, Purple Carrot and Blueberry, 7g Sugar
- Plum – Eat Your Colors Green, 7g Sugar
- Plum – Mighty 4 – Guava, Banana, Black Bean, Carrot, Oat, 7g Sugar
- Plum – Mighty 4 – Pear, Cherry, Blackberry, Strawberry, Spinach, 7g Sugar
Happy Family Organics
- HF – Hearty Meals, Root Vegetables, Turkey and Quinoa, 2g Sugar
- HF – Hearty Meals, Harvest Vegetables, Chicken and Quinoa, 2g Sugar
- HF – Hearty Meals, Vegetable Beef Medley, 3g Sugar
- HF – Green Beans, Spinach, and Pears, 4g Sugar
- HF – Zucchini, Pear, Chickpea, Kale 5g Sugar
- HF – Purple Carrots, Banana, Avocado, and Quinoa, 6g Sugar
- HF – Zucchini, Apples, Peas, Quinoa, and Basil, 6g Sugar
- HF – Pear, Green Beans, Peas + Super Chia, 6g Sugar
- HF – Pears, Kale, and Spinach, 7g Sugar
- HF – Black Beans, Beets and Bananas, 7g Sugar
- HF – Pears, Pumpkin, Peaches, and Granola, 7g Sugar
- HF – Pears, Peas, Broccoli, 7g Sugar in the new formulation
- HF – Pumpkin, Apples, Peached and Cinnamon, 8g
- HF – Pears, Squash, and Blackberries, 8g Sugar
- HF – Pears, Zucchini, Peas, 8g Sugar
- HF – Pears, Pumpkin, Passionfruit, 8g Sugar
Earth’s Best
- EB – Broccoli, Red Lentil, Oat, 1g Sugar
- EB – Spinach & Potato, 1g Sugar
- EB – Carrots & Broccoli, 2g Sugar
- EB – Winter Squash, 2g Sugar
- EB – Summer Vegetable Dinner, 2g Sugar
- EB – Corn & Butternut Squash, 3g Sugar
- EB – Peas & Brown Rice, 4g Sugar
- EB – Zucchini & Broccoli Medley, 4g Sugar
- EB – Spring Vegetables & Pasta, 4g Sugar
Note: If you are in Canada, Baby Gourmet has a couple of good options (e.
g. their roasted squash and fruit medley has only 6 grams of sugar!), and their savory meals are low in sugar as well!
I used many of the pouches on this list (prioritizing the flavors listed in bold since those contain only veggies) for my kids when I needed a meal on the go. One thing to note on these pouches is that even if you use them regularly, it’s still important to incorporate a variety of finger foods so your baby becomes familiar with the different textures and flavors of non-pureed food.
I know the baby food aisle can be overwhelming at times, but I hope this post helps you find the healthiest baby food pouches with confidence! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave me a comment on this post or contact me here! I respond to every single message I get! 🙂
Looking for the best baby products? Learn more about my favorite kids daily multivitamin that is included in my article on best multivitamin for kids. Or check out these fantastic products for your kids:
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- Best Baby Cereal Brands
- 80+ Healthy Road Trip Snacks For Kids And Toddlers
- Best Organic Baby Formula
Parenteral nutrition - together
What is parenteral nutrition?
Parenteral nutrition (PN) is intravenous nutrition given through a catheter placed in a vein.
It is used when the patient is unable to obtain all the necessary nutrients orally or through an enteral feeding tube. Parenteral nutrition is administered as a liquid directly into the bloodstream. It provides the necessary calories and nutrients to the patient's body. nine0005
Parenteral nutrition is used for partial or complete nutritional support. Complete nutritional support is called total parenteral nutrition (TPN).
Various types of intravenous catheters can be used for parenteral nutrition. These include:
- Peripheral venous catheter. For short-term parenteral nutrition, a catheter is placed in a vein in the arm. This method of installation is called intravenous or peripheral intravenous. nine0014
- Central venous catheter. The surgeon may place a catheter in a large vein leading directly to the heart. Central venous catheters include PVCC, central catheters and port systems. Many children with cancer have a central venous catheter for procedures so that they can receive nutrients through the lumen of the catheter.
Central venous catheters are the preferred option for long-term parenteral nutrition.
Whenever possible, feeding is best done in the usual way (orally) or through a tube. In this case, digestion occurs in a more natural way. For children with cancer, this is not always possible. Parenteral nutrition may be required in the following cases:
- The child's digestive system is unable to properly absorb nutrients.
- The child underwent an operation on the digestive system.
- The child has intestinal obstruction. nine0014
- The child has severe vomiting or diarrhea.
- The child has problems with enteral feeding (feeding through a tube).
Nutrients in solution for parenteral nutrition
Solutions for parenteral nutrition are prepared in a pharmacy. It is a sterile liquid containing a mixture of essential nutrients. The composition is selected individually, taking into account the needs of a particular patient - his age, body weight and health status.
Carbohydrates, proteins and fats are the 3 main types of nutrients that provide energy to the body and are used by it to perform various functions.
- Carbohydrates are the body's source of energy. In PN, carbohydrates are supplied in the form of glucose (dextrose).
- Protein is important for building muscle, healing tissue, fighting infection, and cellular function, and is also the body's source of energy. Proteins are made up of amino acids. Some amino acids are synthesized by the body, while others must be ingested with food. nine0014
- Fats (lipids) provide calories and energy and are used to support a variety of cell functions. Fats in PN are important in preventing essential fatty acid deficiencies. Fats serve to protect the organs, help keep the body warm, and provide a supply of certain vitamins that the body can absorb.
PP also provides:
- Electrolytes that are critical for bone, nerve, organ and muscle function. The composition of PP may include substances such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, chloride and acetate ions. nine0014
- Vitamins to help your child grow and stay healthy. DAAs typically contain multivitamins containing vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K.
- Minerals and trace elements that are important for the growth and functioning of the body. These include zinc, iron, copper, chromium, manganese and selenium.
- Water that provides the right amount of fluid to prevent dehydration.
How parenteral nutrition is done
Generally, parenteral nutrition is started in the hospital. A doctor, pharmacist, and registered dietitian work together to formulate nutrition based on the amount of calories and nutrients a patient needs each day. A blood test is performed to check the response to PP. If necessary, the mixture for PP is adjusted.
nine0005
The patient usually receives one packet of PN solution per day. PP is available as a 2 in 1 solution (dextrose and amino acids) and 3 in 1 solution (dextrose, amino acids, lipids). If the solution contains lipids, then there will be two separate chambers in the bag. The nutrients are mixed together by removing the separating strip and gently kneading the bag just prior to infusion. To deliver the solution, the bag is attached to the patient's intravenous or central catheter and an infusion pump is used. The pump is configured to supply the solution on a schedule. nine0005
Permanent PM is carried out continuously. This method is used at the very beginning of PP. This allows the body to adjust and allows doctors to make sure the body is getting all the nutrients it needs.
Cyclic PM is carried out during certain periods (not around the clock). The pump is set to a PV cycle that includes a certain number of hours, such as 20, 16 or 12 hours. As the cycle time decreases, the feed rate increases so that the total amount of PP remains constant.
nine0005
Benefits of cyclic PN:
- The patient has the ability to disconnect from the pump to do things or just move around.
- Cyclic PN allows the patient to experience hunger. With continuous PN, the patient does not have time to get hungry, and this can make it difficult to switch to oral nutrition.
- In cyclic PN, the patient's body may release hormones more naturally, as it does with a normal diet.
- Reduces the risk of PN-induced cholestasis, a condition in which bile flow decreases or stops. nine0014
Most patients receive cyclic PN at night so that they can do their normal activities for several hours during the day. If the design of the device allows, the infusion pump can be carried in a backpack, which gives additional freedom of movement during parenteral nutrition.
Problems and side effects of parenteral nutrition
To ensure proper nutrition and prevent serious side effects, the process must be carefully monitored.
Many problems associated with PN can be solved by adjusting the PN formula or changing the diet. It is also important to take good care of your central venous catheter to avoid infection. It is very important to wash your hands properly and use aseptic techniques when attaching and detaching a PN bag. nine0005
Possible complications of PN include abnormal glucose levels, abnormal liver function, electrolyte changes, mineral or vitamin deficiencies, and catheter problems including infection, thrombosis, or blockage. PN may also interfere with the effect of certain drugs.
A common problem with PN is hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. Hyperglycemia can occur when the body cannot fully use glucose and blood levels rise. This can happen if PN is fed too quickly and the body does not have time to process the sugar. Hyperglycemia can also be caused by infection and medications such as steroids. Symptoms of hyperglycemia: headache, thirst, weakness, nausea. To avoid hyperglycemia, the content of carbohydrates (dextrose) in PN is increased gradually over several days.
Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is less common, but still possible with abrupt discontinuation of PN. nine0005
PC monitoring may include the following checks:
- Blood or urine glucose
- Blood electrolyte levels
- Liver Monitor
- Blood triglyceride level
- Daily urine volume
- Body weight
Parenteral nutrition at home
Patients can receive parenteral nutrition at home. Before the patient is allowed to go home, the relatives who will care for him will be taught:
- How to handle the PP solution, how to store and activate it (gently knead the bag)
- How to add multivitamins and/or medicines to an infusion bag
- How to connect and disconnect the pump
- How to use the infusion pump
- How to care for your catheter
- How to use aseptic techniques to prevent infections
- How to perform a blood and/or urine glucose test
- How to deal with possible problems
- How to Seek Medical Care in an Emergency
Family Advice
- Plan delivery and storage of PN solution.
PC home services can deliver a week's supply of PC (up to 7 packets) to you. Make sure that the refrigerator has enough space to store food and that the refrigerator is clean. Do not stack more than 3 bags on top of each other. - All PP bags should be refrigerated and protected from light. The temperature in the refrigerator should be between 2 and 8 °C. PP can be stored at room temperature for no more than 24 hours. Bacteria can grow in the bag if stored incorrectly. nine0014
- Remove PP bag from refrigerator 2 hours before use.
- Select the place where you will prepare the PP. There should be no foreign objects in this place. Work on a hard surface that is easy to clean.
- Serve PN at the same time each night.
- Maintain a list of mix stocks. Mark when and in what quantity you need to order packages.
- Keep supplies in one place so you can easily find mixes when you need them. nine0014
- Maintain a list of contacts, including physician, pharmacist, nutritionist, and home intravenous product delivery company.
- If you need to travel somewhere, plan your BCP in advance. You will need a portable refrigerator to store the solution. Make sure you have enough travel supplies and consider a way to recharge your pump battery.
To provide PN for a child at home, you will need PN solution, equipment, formulas, and supplies. All of these can be obtained from a clinic and an intravenous infusion company at home. These may include:
- PP Solution
- Multivitamin
- Physician-prescribed intravenous drugs
- Equipment
- Infusion pump
- IV stand
- Carrying bag for ambulatory pump
- Mixes and supplies
- Alcohol wipes
- Urine Sugar Test Strips
- Heparin and saline
- Tubes
- Batteries
- Needleless connector
PC at home can seem like an incredibly difficult task.
Doctors will help patients and families remember the basic rules of home care and take care of the comfort of all participants in the process. What you need to know for family members providing PC for a child at home:
- How to handle and prepare PP mortar. If the PP is prepared in a two-chamber bag (proteins and carbohydrates on one side, and fats on the other), the bag must be activated. To activate the pack, grasp one end of the rubber strip, pull it out of the rigid rod, and discard. Gently mash the bag to mix the fats with the rest of the solution.
- How to add drugs and/or multivitamins to PN. A multivitamin is a blend of vitamins and minerals prepared with the needs of the patient in mind. You will learn what vitamins the child needs and how to draw them into a syringe and inject them into a bag. Initially, PP has the appearance of a transparent liquid. After adding multivitamins, the solution will turn yellow. nine0157
- How to use PCB equipment, supplies, and mixes.
These skills include programming an ambulatory pump (PN delivery device), piercing a PN bag, and filling or "priming" tubes by passing PN solution through them. - How to connect the PN bag to the central catheter. The procedure depends on the type of catheter.
- How to check your child's blood and/or urine glucose levels. These tests show how well the child's body absorbs the sugar contained in PN. Your doctors will tell you when these tests should be done. nine0157
- How to use aseptic techniques to prevent infection. Keeping cleanliness in the organization of the PP is very important. Microorganisms in the central catheter can cause severe bloodstream infection.
To prevent infection:
- Store formula supplies in a clean, dry place out of reach of children and pets.
- Prepare a clean, dry area free from foreign objects. nine0157
- Wash hands with antibacterial soap before touching consumables and mixtures.
- Keep PP solutions and mixtures packed until you are ready to use them.
- Store PN solutions and multivitamins in the refrigerator on a separate clean shelf or in a clean box away from food.
- Avoid using PP solution if it has been stored out of the refrigerator for more than 24 hours.
- Lightly squeeze the PP bag to check its integrity. Make sure the solution is clear and looks normal. Do not use food if there is a puncture in the bag, if the solution is cloudy, or if there are particles floating in it. If you use a 3-part solution, after you activate the lipids, it will look like milk.
- Do not use mixtures or consumables if you are in doubt about their purity. If cleaning objects and surfaces is acceptable, wipe them with alcohol. Any consumables with a sterile tip (tubing, needles, syringes) that have touched a non-sterile surface should be discarded. nine0157
The family will need to contact a company that provides infusion services at home.
In some cases, this company may refer to a clinic or hospital. Your PCPs can help you find out what options are available in your area.
A doctor's referral is required for home PCP. Before switching to home treatment, the clinic's health staff will help you contact the home infusion company to order the right mixtures. You will need to meet with representatives of this company and pick up the ordered mixtures; the nurse will have to come to your home and connect the PC for your child. After your first visit, a nurse from this company will visit you at least once a week to supervise catheter care, perform lab tests, and resupply food. nine0157
Getting PC at home may be covered, but it depends on your policy and your child's medical needs. Your questions can be answered by a social worker, a patient advocate, an insurance company manager, or a representative of a home PCC company.
Be sure to keep a detailed list of formulas, consumables, and equipment.
Include notes on how to order, storage instructions, quantity of each item available, and notes on what to order and when. The home infusion company can also help you determine your current formula and supplies needs, arrange for ordering and delivery, and resolve equipment problems. nine0157
If you have questions about PN, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, nurse or nutritionist. Before you go home, make sure you know who to contact if you have questions or concerns and what to do in an emergency.
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Modified June 2018
storing, freezing and thawing breast milk ~
- Baby food
Breast milk bags is an indispensable thing for a nursing mother.
Scientists have proven that breast milk retains its properties best in glass or plastic (transparent) containers. Glassware is not a good option due to its fragility, but the latest BPA-free plastic is a great solution.
Milk bags Medela is one of several options that mums can use.
Medela manufactures and sells a wide range of products for breastfeeding mothers and their babies, breast pump bags are just one item in the list of products of this manufacturer.
Medela Benefits
Breast milk is easy to store, carry and warm in Medela bags.
We list the main features and advantages of of this accessory:
- Double walls 100% protect against milk leakage during storage. nine0014
- The double ziplock also prevents milk from spilling when the bag is moved.
- Thanks to the special soldered seams, the bag will not tear, open at the seam or crack.
- bag material does not contain BPA .
- The bag resin uses multi-layer molding technology to make the material stronger than ever.
- bags can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer and, thanks to their flat shape, both horizontally and vertically.
- Medela comes with a transport bag for transporting the bag (for example, if you take expressed breast milk on the road).
- Medela Expression Bags are sold in packs of 25 or 50. Exactly 50 bags are the minimum recommended for storing breast milk when creating the Breast Milk Bank . This amount is enough for 5 days of feeding the baby.
How do I use Medela milk storage bags?
The manufacturer recommends that you express into another container (sterile, of course), and then simply pour milk from it into a bag through a wide neck.
In a special place, you need to write the date when the pumping took place, in the future this will be useful when selecting the “oldest” milk packets.
You can also write down the amount of milk in each sachet. One package is designed for 180 ml of milk.
An oxygen barrier inside each Medela bag prevents the milk from losing its taste and nutrients.
Attention : One Medela breast milk bag can only be used once.
How to store breast milk in the refrigerator?
Rules for storing breast milk in the refrigerator:
- Place the container (bag) with expressed milk in the refrigerator as soon as possible.
- Milk can be added to one bag several times, pumping several times. However, you should first cool the milk, and then pour it into the bag with the milk already there. nine0014
- Store expressed milk in the refrigerator in the coldest part of the refrigerator, preferably at the back.
How to store breast milk in the freezer?
Freezing of breast milk follows slightly different rules:
- To make it easier to thaw frozen breast milk, it is recommended to store it in small portions, for example, 60 ml.
- Thawed milk from different packages can be safely mixed.
- Chilled expressed milk can be added to a bag of previously frozen milk.
- Store breast milk in the freezer at the back.
Medela breast milk freezer bags are suitable for storing expressed milk safely for a long time.
Read:
The Medela Feeding System is a simulation of breastfeeding.
Medela silicone pads: what they are and how to use them.
