Feeding Premature Babies Using Breast Milk

By Annabelle Holman


Premature babies are very delicate and they need extra care to survive. Their organs are not usually well developed therefore it is not possible to take food like normal children. Feeding premature babies is not easy because their digestive system may not be fully developed. The doctors may think the baby is mature enough to be taken home or use some methods that help to add fluids and nutrients to the child.

Milk can be introduced to these babies but in a timely manner that is neither too slow nor too quick. The advice of the doctor is very important on when to start feeding the child milk. Preterm newborns, especially those who are born thirty four or more weeks early usually have hard time coping with milk therefore this process should be gradual.

There are some nutritional supplements that are normally fed to the infants who have difficulties taking in the nutrients in the food they eat. The preterm infants also miss on some nutrients that are normally administered to the infants during the last phases of pregnancy. These enhancements can also aid in giving them these nutrients.

There are different tactics that are normally used to nourish the preterm newborns. One is by the use of IV lines which refers to tubes that go straight to the abdomen of the infant and it adds all the required nutrients precisely into the blood flow. The process is normally done for only few hours or a few days and this is dependent on the prematurity level of the baby.

There are preterm infants whose gastric systems are usually okay but the problem comes during the feeding time. They are normally too premature that they lack the ability to suckle in milk and swallow as they respire at a similar instant. These kinds of infants can be fed using a soft pipe that is put through the nose or mouth till they learn how to suckle.

Having a premature baby should never make a mother give up on breast feeding. The premature newborns are usually associated with a lot of stress and fatigue on the mothers due to the extra care they require. This stress affects milk production which may be needed after the baby is mature enough to breast feed. Mothers therefore need to be patient and wait for their babies to develop.

Many neonatologists recommend that premature newborns be fed breast milk if it is possible because it has a lot of benefits. The milk will help to build the strength and health of the kid and at the same time it will protect them from bacteria and viruses. The breast milk has antibodies that help to protect the baby against diseases and build their immune system. It is also easier to digest than baby formula.

If breast milk is not utilized for a while, it usually dries up. A mother who is waiting for their baby to mature so that they can breast feed can always get make sure they always have milk by having the child practice suckling. Some of them achieve this by just cuddling the kid.




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