Breast milk is very essential for good health of a premature baby. Breastfeeding premature baby is very beneficial for improving the immune system of baby and protect her from various illnesses. Read on to know all about breastfeeding premature baby right here. It is perfectly alright to breastfeed your baby even if she was born prematurely. It is in fact one of the best things which you can do to protect her from illness and build her immunity. Depending on how early you baby was born she will get used to feeding from the breast. Many a time premature babies are not strong enough to feed at the breast. This is because the baby’s digestive system and ability to suck is not fully developed. Premature babies with breathing problems may become very tired during feeds. Hence till such time that you are naturally able to breastfeed your premature baby, you can feed her your expressed milk. Breast milk can be expressed by hand or with a breast pump. Seek your doctor’s advice on the best way to feed the expressed milk to your infant till she is able to breastfeed on her own. In this articleBenefits of Breastfeeding a Premature BabyWhen to Start Breastfeeding a Premature Baby?How to Get Started?Frequency of ExpressingWhen to Breastfeed Directly?Benefits of Breastfeeding a Premature Baby Have a quick look at the benefits of breastfeeding premature babies. Breast milk is rich in antibodies which protect a baby against viruses and bacteria. This is especially important for premature babies, who are easily vulnerable to infections.Breast milk is unmatched in its nutritive content. It contains growth-promoting ingredients called growth factors which are very useful to help the babys gut mature.Breast milk is easily digestible as compared to infant formula milk.Research has indicated that breastfeeding helps brain development in premature babies.Breastfeeding is one of the best ways for a newborn baby and mother to bond.For the mother, breastfeeding will help in losing weight after pregnancy. It also produces mood alleviating hormones such as Oxytocin which generate a feeling of well being.When to Start Breastfeeding a Premature Baby? If a premature baby is developing normally and maintaining stable health you can begin to breastfeed her when she is about 32-33 weeks old. Prior to this the baby can be given expressed breast milk via a gavage tube. Alternatively you can check with your doctor regarding other methods of feeding an infant your expressed milk. How to Get Started? New moms must start expressing milk as soon as possible. It can be started on the day after the babys birth or even earlier if possible. Consult the doctor or the nurse in your health care centre about the best way to express milk. Some mothers prefer expressing by hand. Breast milk can be expressed with the help of hand or a breast pump. Initially using the pump may be slightly uncomfortable. Once the milk comes in it will be much easier to make use of the pump. With practice you will be able to master the use of breast pump and increase the speed and the suction setting of the pump. Frequency of ExpressingInitially before the milk comes in which may take around two to three days make use the pump for about 5 minutes every three hours during the day, and once during the night. Once your milk comes in irrespective of the quantity express at least 6-8 times during a 24 hour period. You must attempt to completely empty your breasts in a day. When to Breastfeed Directly? When your baby is strong enough she will start taking milk from the breast. Initially she may suck only a few drops. Premature babies get tired very fast. Hence do not feel disappointed if your baby takes time to get a hang of breastfeeding. Even before you start feeding her directly from the breast you can help her to strengthen her sucking by offering your emptied breast before or in between her tube feeds.
Breast milk is very essential for good health of a premature baby. Breastfeeding premature baby is very beneficial for improving the immune system of baby and protect her from various illnesses. Read on to know all about breastfeeding premature baby right here. It is perfectly alright to breastfeed your baby even if she was born prematurely. It is in fact one of the best things which you can do to protect her from illness and build her immunity.
Depending on how early you baby was born she will get used to feeding from the breast. Many a time premature babies are not strong enough to feed at the breast. This is because the baby’s digestive system and ability to suck is not fully developed. Premature babies with breathing problems may become very tired during feeds.
Hence till such time that you are naturally able to breastfeed your premature baby, you can feed her your expressed milk. Breast milk can be expressed by hand or with a breast pump. Seek your doctor’s advice on the best way to feed the expressed milk to your infant till she is able to breastfeed on her own.
Benefits of Breastfeeding a Premature Baby
Have a quick look at the benefits of
breastfeeding premature babies.
- Breast milk is rich in antibodies which protect a baby against viruses and bacteria. This is especially important for premature babies, who are easily vulnerable to infections.
- Breast milk is unmatched in its nutritive content. It contains growth-promoting ingredients called growth factors which are very useful to help the baby's gut mature.
- Breast milk is easily digestible as compared to infant formula milk.
- Research has indicated that breastfeeding helps brain development in premature babies.
- Breastfeeding is one of the best ways for a newborn baby and mother to bond.
- For the mother, breastfeeding will help in losing weight after pregnancy. It also produces mood alleviating hormones such as Oxytocin which generate a feeling of well being.
When to Start Breastfeeding a Premature Baby?
If a premature baby is developing normally and maintaining stable health you can begin to breastfeed her when she is about 32-33 weeks old. Prior to this the baby can be given expressed breast milk via a gavage tube. Alternatively you can check with your doctor regarding other methods of feeding an infant your expressed milk.
How to Get Started?
New moms must start expressing milk as soon as possible. It can be started on the day after the baby's birth or even earlier if possible. Consult the doctor or the nurse in your health care centre about the best way to express milk. Some mothers prefer expressing by hand.
Breast milk can be expressed with the help of hand or a breast pump. Initially using the pump may be slightly uncomfortable. Once the milk comes in it will be much easier to make use of the pump. With practice you will be able to master the use of breast pump and increase the speed and the suction setting of the pump.
Frequency of Expressing
Initially before the milk comes in which may take around two to three days make use the pump for about 5 minutes every three hours during the day, and once during the night. Once your milk comes in irrespective of the quantity express at least 6-8 times during a 24 hour period. You must attempt to completely empty your breasts in a day.
When to Breastfeed Directly?
When your baby is strong enough she will start taking milk from the breast. Initially she may suck only a few drops. Premature babies get tired very fast. Hence do not feel disappointed if your baby takes time to get a hang of breastfeeding. Even before you start feeding her directly from the breast you can help her to strengthen her sucking by offering your emptied breast before or in between her tube feeds.
