Feeding and Weaning a Premature Baby
A baby is considered premature if they are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Premature babies are not uncommon, and there are many reasons why babies can be born premature. Mothers who have had premature babies are not destined to always have premature babies. Many mothers (9 out of 10) who have given birth to premature babies will have future pregnancies that they carry to full term.
Though the number of premature births each year is significantly less than pregnancies that went to full term, most doctors and nurses have handled and are well trained to care for premature babies. Premature babies are usually put into an incubator where they can continue to develop. Often, their respiratory system and their other organs are not strong enough, and an incubator can help them stay comfortable and healthy while these systems begin to develop. All premature babies will need extra care and monitoring, and are usually kept in the neonatal unit till doctors are sure that they can survive without hospital assistance.
If you have given birth before 37 weeks, the best advice you can get is from your doctor. Being able to assess the situation and determine what stage of development your baby is in is your doctor's call. They will tell you what needs to be done, and what you have to do as a mother to help your baby along.
Usually, doctors recommend that mothers visit their premature babies at least once a day (more is better if the hospital allows it.) Like full term babies, premature babies can recognize their mother's voice. This is why it is recommended that mothers talk to their baby and sit near them. If the hospital allows it, you can also stroke or massage your baby to comfort them and let them know you are near.
When it comes to feeding and weaning, it will be very different for a premature babies. It is recommended that premature babies be given breast milk because this is the best form of nutrition for them. It will give them the strength they need to develop as well as help their immune system develop. However, it is unlikely that you will be allowed to breast feed. This means your baby will go straight to bottle feeding, but with your breast milk. To do this, you will have to express or pump breast milk.
Depending on how long your baby is in the neonatal unit, you can try breastfeeding. If your baby has been bottle fed for about four to six weeks, it is unlikely that they will respond to breastfeeding. It is much easier to feed from the bottle, and premature babies need to get their nourishment quickly and fully.
Weaning will now involve weaning your baby from the bottle to solid food. Usually weaning will begin at 6 months from their original due date (if you had carried them full term.) It follows the same rules and tricks as weaning any other baby, though you may have to be more careful with what you are feeding them and keep in mind that it is more important that they get the right amounts of nutrition. You can discuss how exactly to wean or what to first feed your premature baby with your doctor. Some premature babies live with certain medical or health problems, and your doctor may need to guide you through the weaning process. |
