Nutrition 2/15/2021

This week, my mentor, Mrs. Paulina Morman, sent over some information regarding nutrition. This consisted of 3 different videos which showed how to insert a PICC line (peripherally inserted central line), a UV (umbilical catheters) and finally a IV (intravenous catheter). She also sent over some articles about cue based feeding and I looked over the National Association Neonatal Nurse Practitioner nutritional guideline. This was a lot of information for me to take in, but Mrs. Morman was able to thoroughly go over this during our mentor meeting. The biggest takeaway from this was how important nutrition is during the baby’s journey in the NICU. NNPs are focusing on the baby's carbs, proteins, lipids and vitamins or additives. These are the main supplements that go into the baby’s IV line, which is trying to mimic how they would be growing inside of the uterus. Overall, I learned that the first weeks consist of using an IV and playing around or fine tuning with the fluids, then NNPs will begin small feeds with milk through the tubes, next at around 34 weeks, bottle feeding begins based on cues that the baby gives, and finally as the baby approaches what would have been their due date, they get ready to go home and gain weight!! Ultimately, feedings are vital for the baby to be able to go home healthy.