How Do You Breastfeed A Preemie Baby?
Breastfeeding is important and beneficial for all babies, more so if the baby arrives early. It is best that a premature baby can take advantage of the milk that your body will automatically produce to nourish a premature baby, with extra vitamins, protein and calories. Colostrum, or the first milk, is specifically important for a premature baby as it contains antibodies, white blood cells and other protective ingredients that are more vital to a preemie to resist infection. At the hospital it is a standard practice to start feeding a preemie with milk expressed from the mother through a nasogastric (NG) tube called a gavage. This is to ensure that the baby will get as much nourishment as possible at the earliest time if he is not able to suckle. Here are some steps to help you understand how you can initially feed your preemie with breast milk until you can teach him to suckle and breastfeed. • You will have to work closely with the hospital staff to make a plan to feed your baby with
