How to Breast-Feed a Premature Baby

A premature baby may be too tiny and weak to latch onto a mother's breast at birth, but it is still possible to build a successful nursing relationship and to provide the baby with many of the benefits of your milk from the first day of life.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Baby Bibs
• Burp Cloths
• Nursing Pads
• Electric Breast Pumps

1. Start pumping as soon as your baby is born. Your colostrum (the milk you secrete for a few days after your baby's birth) can be fed to your baby through a tube at the first feeding, followed by feedings of your fresh milk. The colostrum is important because premature babies are extremely vulnerable to infection.

2. Buy or rent a hospital-grade electric pump; this will help to build your milk supply so that you have enough milk to nurse your baby when it becomes possible.

3. Fortify your milk if medically necessary - ask about this option before agreeing to formula supplements.

4. Try to avoid artificial nipples when your baby is ready to make the transition to your breast. Feeding the baby your expressed milk by gavage tube rather than by bottle will help to prevent nipple confusion.

5. Try tickling your baby's lips and chin and expressing a few drops of milk onto the tip of your nipple to get her interested, since a premature baby may need extra encouragement to open her mouth wide and latch on.

6. Follow your baby's cues when she's nursing well, and let her nurse as long as she wants to. If her suck still is not strong, she may need extra time at the breast to stimulate the letdown and get the milk flowing well.

7. Build and stabilize your milk supply with the help of a breast pump until your baby is able to maintain the supply on her own.

8. Contact a lactation consultant and your local La Leche League for support. You may be able to arrange both hospital visits and follow-up home visits.

9. Place a breast pad soaked with your milk next to your baby, even when you can't hold her; this will familiarize the baby with the smell of your milk, and may make her more willing to breast-feed when she is able to do so.

10. Enlist the assistance and support of neonatal nursing staff. Try to let them know in advance when you plan to be with your baby.

Tips & Warnings

• Even if your baby is being tube-fed, you may also be able to offer your breast. If your pediatrician wants to monitor your baby's intake of milk fairly closely, you may be able to express your milk before offering the breast.
• Ask about "kangaroo care" for your baby. This involves placing your baby skin-to-skin on your chest under a light shirt or gown, and can improve your baby's condition, increase your milk supply and allow you to bond more rapidly with your baby.
• Very small or sick premature babies may become exhausted if they are switched from breast to breast or repositioned frequently. You may have to nurse on one side at a time and pump from the other side to keep your milk supply stable. (This will change as your baby gains strength and alertness.)
• It is often difficult for a small baby to stay latched on without constant support. Try holding your breast so that its weight doesn't rest on the baby, or support her latch by gently tucking a finger under her chin.

Who Can Help:

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on 8/8/2006 My twin girls were born at 33 weeks and 4 pounds. I pumped for nearly a month until they were ready to try to breast feed. Now they are 15 and 16 pounds at 7 months old. It is worth nursing twins.

on 11/22/2005 Please, do not start feeding your preemie formula just because you may not have enough milk, or because the baby can not suck for a long time. I have a preemie baby, she would not suck either. With a lot of effort, she is doing just fine now. Breast feed your babies, it is the most important care you can give to them. :)