nutch_noindex
Search Icon
    Menu Button
    Stanford Medicine Children's Health
    DonateContactMyChart LoginFind a Doctor
    • Second Opinion
    • Donate
    • Contact
    • Refer a Patient
    • En Español
    • Our Locations
    • Medical Services
    • About Us
    • Research & Innovation
    • Patients & Visitors
    • For Health Professionals
    • Second Opinion
    • Donate
    • En Español
    • MyChart Login
    • Recently Visited
      • Our Locations
      • Medical Services
      • About Us
      • Research & Innovation
      • Patients & Visitors
      • For Health Professionals
      CANCEL
      • View More Results

      Loading...

      COVID-2019 Alert

      The latest information about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, including vaccine clinics for children ages 6 months and older.

      La información más reciente sobre el nuevo Coronavirus de 2019, incluidas las clínicas de vacunación para niños de 6 meses en adelante.

      /nutch_noindex

       


      Breastfeeding Your Premature Baby

      Giving birth to a premature or other high-risk baby or babies does not mean you can't breastfeed. In fact, it's important that you do provide your own milk and breastfeed. . Providing your milk for your baby lets you care for your baby in a very important way. The benefits of mother's milk are very important to the high-risk newborn. You are able to do something for your baby that no one else can.

      Benefits of mother's milk for the premature baby include: 

      • Better digestion and digestive function

      • Fewer infections

      • Better brain and eye development

      • Better wellness for you and better bonding with the baby

      How your milk will be used by the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) depends on the health status of your baby. Even babies who are not eating yet will benefit from breastmilk. The nurses will use your milk to clean your baby's gums. This is called oral care. This adds healthy bacteria to your baby's body. As your baby gets better, your milk will then be used to give them calories through a tube or bottle. When it can be done, the NICU staff will help your baby breastfeed to get milk. As the mother of a high-risk newborn, you may have to overcome problems that a mother and full-term healthy baby are unlikely to have when learning to breastfeed. But you and your baby will learn to breastfeed. It may take a bit more patience and work. How soon you and your baby can start to breastfeed will depend on how mature your baby's brain and body systems are.

      Until your baby is able to fully breastfeed, express your milk. Expressing means removing milk from your breasts regularly. This helps your breasts start and continue making breastmilk. Milk expression also allows your high-risk baby to get the benefits of your milk as soon as their digestive tract is ready to handle feedings. Plan to continue to express your milk until you know your baby is able to get all the milk directly from your breasts. As soon as your baby is stable, ask the healthcare providers and nurses when you can hold your baby skin-to-skin. This is called kangaroo care. It's good for your premature baby's overall health as well as breastfeeding. 

      Related Topics

      • Breastfeeding Your Premature Baby
      • Basics About Your Newborn Baby's Body

        nutch_noindex
        • About Us
        • Contact
        • MyChart Login
        • Careers
        • Blog
        • Refer a Patient
        • Download from App Store Download From Google Play
        • Notice of Nondiscrimination
        • Terms of Use
        • Privacy Policy
        • Code of Conduct

        © 2023 Stanford Medicine Children's Health

        About

        • About Us
        • Our Hospital
        • Patient Stories
        • Blog
        • News
        • Send a Greeting Card
        • New Hospital
        • Careers

        Connect

        • Donate
        • Refer a Patient
        • Contact Us
        • Pay Your Bill

        Find

        • Doctors
        • Locations
        • Services
        • Classes
        Download from App Store Download From Google Play

        Also Find Us on:

        • facebook
        • twitter
        • youtube
        • linkedin
        US News & World Report Badge
        • Stanford Medicine
        • Stanford University
        • Stanford Health Care
        • Lucile Packard Foundation
        • Notice of Nondiscrimination
        • Terms of Use
        • Privacy Policy
        • Code of Conduct
        • © 2023 Stanford MEDICINE Children's Health
        /nutch_noindex
        shareprint