Posted on December 24, 2007 in Chest Feeding
While most mothers are well prepared to breastfeed their baby soon after childbirth, which is a normal process, they may be thrown off gear when the baby arrives prematurely, because it then becomes a life and death situation. As you watch your baby rushed to the intensive care and hooked to various tubes and monitors, your heart is already breaking. And at that point, the baby’s life becomes more important than the rest of it, and most mothers stop wondering about breastfeeding the infants. But cheer up! Its just a temporary phase your baby is in, and will soon be out of woods.
Meanwhile can you breastfeed the baby? Yes. You can. The breast milk of a mother who delivers prematurely is suited for the baby’s special needs. The colostrums that contain antibodies and other valuable immune properties will help the baby fight infection. In fact research proves that breast milk can actually improve the neurological development of premature babies.
We understand. Its easier said than done. Because breast milk supply has to be built up and maintained. You will have to use the help of a breast pump till your baby is mature enough to breast feed directly.
- When can my premature baby start to breastfeed? If your baby is relatively well, then you can start breastfeeding from the 32-33 week. Till then you will have to make do with expressed milk fed to the baby through the tube.
- How do I get started? Start expressing the next day after your baby’s birth. You can either hand express milk or use a breast pump.
- How often and for how long do I need to express? For the first and second days you should pump for 5 minutes every 3 hours during the day and once during the night. That is till your milk starts flowing. Once it starts flowing easily you must be able to pump at least 6 to 8 times a day.
- What can I do if my baby does not gain weight? If after your repeated nursing your baby does not show an improvement in weight, try using formula or mix formula with your milk and supply it together till you actually see an improvement.
- What can I do if my baby is unable to suck well? Some premature babies never learn to suck well. In such cases you can feed the baby with a bottle till he learns to suck.
- Will my baby suffer if I don’t breastfeed? Its completely understandable if your milk supply is low because of all the stress that comes along with delivering a premature baby. Sometimes for some mothers the supply may just decrease after 4 weeks which is also very normal. Don’t worry; your baby will not suffer if you are unable to provide breast milk. Stop feeling guilty and make sure that you become the best mom for your baby!
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