Premature baby holding caregivers finger in incubator

Planning for the Unexpected

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Planning for the Unexpected

June 28, 2023 Infant

Becoming a new parent can be an exciting and joyful time. You spend months getting ready — from buying a car seat to choosing a crib. However, if your little one arrives several weeks early, it can catch you by surprise and mess up those well-laid out plans.

Newborn in incubator with adult finger touching foot

Neonatal Intensive Care

When a baby is premature or has a condition that requires medical help, they are taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The NICU is a special area in the hospital where infants receive treatment and support while their tiny bodies mature and get strong enough to go home. It can be very scary for parents who have never been inside a NICU. There are wires, monitors, strange equipment and a team of health care professionals making decisions about your baby’s care. Moms can feel disconnected and helpless. Some of the care, such as giving medications, must be left to the hospital staff. But you can play a very important role in other ways, especially when it comes to nutrition.

Feeding Your Baby

If you had your heart set on breast/chestfeeding, it can be disappointing if your baby is not strong enough to do that at first — but don’t despair! You can still provide human milk, which can help your baby get stronger faster and may prevent some life-threatening problems, too. You can express your milk using a breast pump. Most hospitals have these available; after delivery, request a pump for use in your room. If your baby can’t nurse directly, you may wonder how they will get your milk. The nurse will place a thin plastic tube into your baby’s mouth or nose, which goes down into their stomach so they can receive the milk. If they are too young to tolerate anything in their belly yet, your human milk can be stored in the NICU freezers until ready for use, even if it’s several weeks later.

Breast pump showing display reading press power

Parent holding sleeping newborn with feeding tube

Establishing A Good Milk Supply

Take these steps to ensure a good supply of human milk for your little one:

Establish a pumping schedule: pump every 2-3 hours. It’s easy to forget to pump when your baby is not crying for milk yet. Set an alert or reminder so you don’t miss a session.
Ask your baby’s doctor when you can try Kangaroo care, the practice of holding your baby in their diaper against your bare chest for skin-to-skin contact. This closeness can increase your milk supply and get your baby used to your smell. It has also been proven to help premature babies control their heartbeats, breathing and temperature.

Around 32 weeks gestational age, babies start to develop their sucking reflex. (Gestational age is a term that means how many weeks along a pregnancy is, but is also used to tell how old a preemie is.) Ask your baby’s health care team when your baby can be put to your breast/chest to practice. Even if your baby isn’t ready to try at 32 weeks, try again each week.
After you’re discharged from the hospital, ask if the NICU has a private ‘pumping room’ where you can pump in between visits with your baby. Many hospitals provide the machines and moms just have to bring the tubing and storage containers. Also, check with your local WIC clinic, as they may be able to provide you with a pump to use at home.
Take care of yourself by eating regular healthy meals and snacks and drink plenty of fluids.
If you need help, call your WIC breastfeeding peer counselor. They are experts on breastfeeding and can offer advice on pumping too.

Don’t be surprised during the first few days of pumping if you only produce a few drops of colostrum and milk. This is perfectly normal and it is all your baby needs. Your body will adjust to the amount your baby needs over time, as long as you continue to pump regularly. Visit your baby often, especially around a scheduled feeding time. Let the nurses know you want to be the one to hold your baby while they receive a feeding (bottle or tube).

Prevention

Not all premature births can be prevented, but you can do your part to lower the risk of your baby being born early:

Don’t smoke.
Gain the right amount of weight.
Make sure to have folic acid in your diet even if you are not planning a pregnancy: take a daily vitamin supplement or eat cereal that has 400 mcg of folic acid.
See your health care provider as soon as you are pregnant.
Don’t drink alcohol or take street drugs.
Take care of your health, especially if you have diabetes or high blood pressure.

Planning for the Unexpected

Neonatal Intensive Care

Feeding Your Baby

Establishing A Good Milk Supply

Prevention

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Planning for the Unexpected

Neonatal Intensive Care

Feeding Your Baby

Establishing A Good Milk Supply

Prevention

Do you find this Blog helpful?

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