A Guiding Hand for Families in NICU and Special Care Nurseries - Digital - Book - Page 56
Feeding your premature or sick baby
Babies get many benefits from breast milk
and these advantages are doubly important
for pre-term babies. Breastfeeding also
allows you to have skin- to-skin contact with
your baby. Research has shown this is very
beneficial, especially for pre-term babies.
Giving your baby breast milk can help
you feel more in control and involved in
caring for your baby. Research shows
that encouragement and support from
partners increases the chances of successful
breastfeeding. If you are a partner, you can
also give your baby tube feeds if they are
having these.
Most new parents need some help to get breastfeeding
Breastfeeding
off to a good start. There can be extra problems to
allows you to have skinto-skin contact with your
overcome if your baby is too premature or sick to go
baby. Research has shown
on the breast. It is useful to practice how to hold your
this is very beneficial,
baby for breastfeeding long before they are actually
especially for premature
ready to begin to breastfeed.
babies.
If you can’t breastfeed, it’s OK
Most mothers hope to breastfeed and most premature and sick babies can
be breastfed eventually.
Some mothers may have problems with milk supply, perhaps due to the
baby arriving early, complications from the illness that caused the baby’s
prematurity, being on medication or baby being too small to suck.
Speak with nursery staff and let them know your concerns. You still may be
able to express your milk and feed your baby by bottle.
If you’ve done all you can but haven’t been able to establish breastfeeding,
please be assured that you are in no way letting your baby down and that
you are not alone. We can only do what we can and your baby will be fine
with all the love and attention they get from you.
If you are concerned about criticism from others, a simple explanation like
“My baby was born prematurely/sick and was too small to suck” usually
results in sympathy and understanding.
Life’s Little Treasures Foundation | Supporting Families of Premature & Sick Babies
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