So my little man was finally released out of the NICU yesterday they sent us home with Similac Neosure and told us to use 1 and 1/4 teaspoon to his bottles when we feed him now my question is why does it look so thick and i noticed since we started using it that he drips more out his mouth and there's white chunks on his lips when hes done? am i doing something wrong or is it suppose to be like that?
I'm sure the NICU gave you a number to call for help and advice, or at least you have your doctor's 24 hour nurse line, please call them!
I'd think back to what the formula looked like that he got while he was there. Did it look the same? If not then I'd call them. They have staff on 24 hours per day. They know his history, he was their patient. Call them.
Call the NICU. They are used to this and they would rather you call right away before any real problems happen.
Most common thing is too little liquid or mismeasuring the powder.
When you make a bottle, put the water in the bottle first to the appropriate ounce line. Add the measured powder second. Shake it up and when the bubbles go away look at where it measures on the bottle. You'll see it is now a bit more than the water you added. If you put the powder in first then add water to the ounce line, you'll be a little short on the water and that can lead to chunky, thick formula.
Also make sure you're measuring in teaspoons and not tablespoons, and that you're using enough liquid for the amount you were told to use.
Similac Neosure directions say to use one level scoop into 2 ounces of water. If you're using cooking spoons to measure 1.5 tsp, you should compare that amount to the scoop amount to determine if you're using the proper water-to-powder ratio.
Having used multiple formulas but not this one, I think something may be amiss. Chunks indicate you're not mixing it to the point of dissolving the powder. I don't know if it should be thicker than the usual formula. Did you feed your baby in the NICU? If you did, did they use this formula. If so you can compare the texture to what the baby was fed in the NICU and what it looks like now.
Do you mix it with breast milk? Similac's web site says that this formula is made to be more like breast milk. Breast milk is somewhat thicker than regular formula. But not enough for me to easily see the difference. The formula is enriched with more nutrition than formula made for full term babies.
I also think you should call the nurse who helped you in the NICU and gave you the formula or call the help line listed on the package. Unless someone has used this particular formula, they can't know what the formula should look like.
I suggest you first look at the directions and be sure you are using enough liquid. Then be sure to mix itn until you can see no chunks, even very small ones. Dry formula can be difficult to mix with liquid. I usually gently shake the bottle after it is warmed to be sure all of the powder has desolved.
If you determine you are mixing it correctly, call the nurse or the Similac help line to ask if formula should be thick and chunky.
formula should not be chunky. are you dissolving it sufficiently?
i suggest you call the NICU or your pediatrician.
khairete
S.
