Neonatal vitamins and iron for infants <34 weeks gestation (with Abidec)

Babies who are born at less than 34 weeks' gestation require extra vitamins and minerals over the first year of life. The dose of each supplement your baby needs will depend on the type of milk they are being given when they are at home. This leaflet explains the different doses of each supplement they will need, depending on whether they are having breast milk, formula milk or a combination of both.

Multivitamin drops

Abidec: a multivitamin supplement containing vitamins A, B, C and D.

• 0.6ml Abidec until your baby is 12 months corrected age if you are exclusively breastfeeding or giving only expressed breast milk via a bottle.

or

• 0.6ml Abidec until your baby is 6 months corrected age if you are giving your baby a combination of breastfeeds and formula or a formula only

Iron

Sytron: an iron supplement.

• 1ml Sytron once a day from four weeks of age until 12 months corrected age if you are exclusively breastfeeding or giving only expressed breast milk via a bottle.
• 1ml Sytron once a day from four weeks of age until 6 months corrected age if you are giving your baby a combination of breastfeeds and formula or a term formula only.

If your baby has not started iron supplements before discharge, they should start this on: ______/______/______

Folic acid (liquid 2.5mg/5ml)

• Babies who are exclusively breast fed will need 0.1ml of folic acid until they either reach their due date or a formula feed is introduced, whichever occurs earliest.

Preparation and administration

If your infant has been receiving exclusive breast milk and then starts to have some formula introduced, the Abidec and Sytron will only be required until six months corrected age.

Trained nursing staff will advise you on how to administer these vitamins and minerals prior to your discharge from the neonatal unit. If you are breastfeeding, your baby can receive these vitamins and minerals via a syringe. If you are bottle feeding you can add them to 10 to 20ml of expressed breast milk or formula milk. They can either all be administered at the same time or split up during the day.

If your baby has been on the neonatal unit, you will have the opportunity to give your baby their vitamins and minerals while they are on the unit before discharge.

If your baby is discharged before four weeks of age, then you will be provided with a bottle of Sytron at discharge to start on the date indicated in this leaflet.

Upon discharge you will be provided with an initial supply of Abidec, Sytron and folic acid, if required. This should last for about one month. Once you are at home your GP will continue to provide your ongoing prescription. You will need to contact your GP surgery for a repeat prescription.