By Lila Havens, Staff Writer, myOptumHealth
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Delivering a baby prematurely can throw a wrench into many plans. Instead of the peaceful scene you imagined, the birth may become a whirl of medical staff with your tiny baby at its center. If the baby has any problems, he or she may be whisked away to the nursery or neonatal intensive care unit.
This experience can leave a mother feeling upset, frustrated and useless. You may wonder if there's anything you can give your baby that all those nurses and doctors can't.
The answer is "yes." You have a unique gift to give your preemie: your breast milk.
Breast milk offers many advantages for babies, and they are especially important if your baby was premature.
- Your milk provides antibodies that can help your baby fight off diseases and infections. Preemies are at a higher risk for infection because of their immature immune systems.
- Your milk is tailor-made for your baby's needs. When her baby is born prematurely, a woman produces milk that is higher in protein, fat and minerals than the milk from mothers who delivered at term. These extra nutrients are highly beneficial to a preterm infant's growth and development.
- Producing milk for your newborn triggers hormones that help you bond with your preemie.
Formulas, even ones made especially for preemies, simply cannot match these benefits. The milk you make is the very best food for your preemie.
Many women plan to breast-feed but then feel they can't if their baby was premature. It's true that you may not be able to start out breast-feeding your baby. At first, your baby may need to be fed through a tube or with a bottle. Still, you can pump (or express) your breast milk to be given to your preemie. In time, as your preemie grows stronger, you will be able to hold and breast-feed your baby.
6 tips for preemie breast-feeding
1. Express your milk if your baby isn't able to breast-feed yet. This will help keep your supply strong. The hospital may provide an electric breast pump that allows you to empty both breasts at the same time, or you may be able to rent one. A nurse or lactation consultant can show you how to use the pump.
2. Get started right away. It's best to start pumping (or breast-feeding if your baby is able) soon after birth. You'll need to do it every three hours, or about eight times in 24 hours.
3. Once your baby is ready to nurse, feed often. Babies usually need to eat every two to three hours. As you get to know your baby, you will begin to notice the cues that he or she is hungry. In some cases, you may need to wake your baby up to feed. Try to limit crying. Crying is a late sign of hunger, and it wastes energy your baby needs to grow.
Until your baby matures, he or she may not nurse long enough at each feeding to empty your breasts. You may need to pump after feedings to keep your supply up.
4. Expect to have some problems. Preemies often have trouble sucking, swallowing or latching on to the breast. They may not develop these abilities until weeks after they were born. It's common for preemies to fall asleep while feeding or to slip off the breast. With patience and persistence, there is usually a way to overcome the obstacles and succeed at breast-feeding.
5. If you have trouble, don't give up. Get help. Preemies present special challenges. It's not always easy to get a preemie to breast-feed. You may worry that your baby is not gaining enough weight or that you're not making enough milk. If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor.
Hospital nurses and lactation consultants can be a good source of breast-feeding information and support. La Leche League International is a worldwide organization of mothers who educate and encourage women who want to breast-feed. To find a meeting or one-on-one support in your area, go to their Web site at www.llli.org.
6. Consider breast-feeding for at least the first year of your baby's life. If that's not possible, breast-feed as long as you can. Any amount of breast-feeding will help get your baby off to a healthier start.
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