Haberman feeder

Does your baby have difficulty feeding? Be reassured, you are not alone. Many babies born each year experience feeding problems for a wide variety of reasons. The Haberman Feeder has been developed specifically to help your baby. The Mini-Haberman Feeder is a smaller version for smaller or premature infants.

The Haberman feeder was invented by a mother whose baby was born with Stickler's Syndrome. She experienced the misery of feeding problems and recognized the need for a specialized feeder. Five years of research and development have resulted in a product which really can transform feeding from a traumatic experience into a relaxed and rewarding activity for both you and your baby. Its innovative design provides the answer to lengthy, distressful feedings, and an alternative to nasogastric tube or spoon feedings. It is suitable for all babies for whom oral feeding is recommended.

First introduced to the United Kingdom in 1987, the Haberman Feeder has been widely used for babies suffering from ailments such as cleft palate, chromosomal abnormality, cardiac conditions, neuromuscular weakness, mental handicap, cerebral palsy and it works great for the breastfed infant in the absence of mom.

In cases of severe feeding problems, the Haberman Feeder offers an alternative to spoons, enlarged and /or extra holes in bottle nipples, and nasogastric tubes. It is so effective and easy to use that it can change feeding sessions from difficult or traumatic experience into a pleasurable activity for health care professionals, parents and babies. Special design features make the Haberman Feeder uniquely responsive to the baby’s nursing efforts. The slit-valve in the teat regulates milk flow from zero to maximum, depending on it’s orientation in the baby’s mouth. As milk is drawn out of the teat by even the slightest action of the baby’s tongue and gums, air enters the bottle at the same rate through an inlet groove in the disc. Consequently, there is no turbulence. Milk flows in only one direction - from bottle to teat. The reservoir always remains full, and none of the baby’s effort is wasted.

If the baby cannot nurse at all, or needs a little help, the health care professional or mother can squeeze and release a limited amount of milk - 1.25 ml (about Ľ teaspoon) - from the reservoir into the baby’s mouth.

Warning: The Haberman and Mini-Haberman Feeders are unsuitable for babies with a poor swallow reflex. Do not use the Feeders without the valve.

Medela Haberman Feeder Rewards the Weakest Suck
In conventional feeders, much of the baby's effort is wasted on compression of air within the container and movement of feed within the system. However, the unique Haberman teat is separated from the container by a one-way valve. Once filled, milk is held in the teat and cannot flow back into the container. All your baby's sucking effort is directed onto the contents of the teat, so even the weakest suck gets results.

Never Floods
Enlarging the hole of an ordinary teat does not solve your feeding problems. Your baby cannot stop the flow of feed in order to relax and breathe. Panic and choking soon result. The Haberman feeder has a slit-valve in the mouthpiece which only opens when your baby sucks. Your baby has complete control and is never overwhelmed. It also has the advantage of variable flow. Graduation from a large opening. down to a shut position, can be achieved to suit the individual needs of your baby. Whichever opening you select, it will always shut between sucks.

May reduce gas, vomiting and colic
Many babies swallow air while using some ordinary feeders. This is because a vacuum builds up inside the system and the baby must release his lips from the teat to allow air back in. Consequently, air is swallowed with the next mouthful of feed causing gas, vomiting and colic. The Haberman Feeder may reduce air-swallowing. It has a special air inlet groove which allows air in at the same rate as feed is released from the system. There is no vacuum to work against your baby's sucking efforts and air-swallowing is avoided. Even babies with cleft palates benefit significantly from this feature.

You can help your baby to feed
If your baby needs some additional help, you can gently squeeze and release the reservoir of the teat. This will deliver a controlled amount of feed into your baby's mouth. The full teat has a natural resistance which prevents you from squeezing too hard.

Cleaning the Haberman
After each feeding: Flush cold water through the slit in the teat to remove as much feed as possible. (DO NOT turn the teat inside out or push brushes, etc. through the slit.) Take the feeder apart, making sure that the valve membrane is separated from the disc. Wash all parts in warm soapy water. Rinse thoroughly with cold water.
Each Day: All disassembled parts of the feeder should be sanitized by boiling, preferably in distilled water for 5 minutes of boiling time. If hard water deposits occur, use distilled water or occasionally boil in a mixture of 3 parts water and 1 part vinegar. They can be sterilized in only 3 minutes quickly using the new the Medela Micro- Steam bags in the microwave.

Important:
Consult your doctor before using the Haberman or Mini-Haberman Feeder for the first time, in order to make sure that oral feeding is recommended for your baby. Your doctor should tell you the appropriate amount of weight your baby should gain in a specified time frame. If your baby does not gain this amount of weight, contact your doctor or other health care provider. Always inspect parts thoroughly before each use.

Components:
1 Container, 1-teat, 1-Disc, 1-valve membrane, 1-collar. These items are available as separate parts for replacement. It is recommended to purchase two feeders in the beginning, so you would have spare parts if one became damaged or lost. While borrowing a part from the other feeder, you could then order only the part needed and would have a working feeder until it arrived. If you phone in the order, it can be shipped via First Class mail for a lower shipping fee for a small inexpensive part.

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Haberman feeder for Cleft Palate