728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › Breastfeeding › Breastfeeding Your Preemie

Breastfeeding Your Preemie

Breastfeeding Premature Infants

By Gail Pirics

Pages:  1  2  3  4  5  

Collect and freeze every drop of milk expressed. "In the beginning a woman produces colostrum, which is like gold," Buerger says. "Pumping empowers the mom because even if she can't have her baby at home and take care of it, this is the one thing only she can provide that is vital to her baby." As soon as the baby is stable, Mom can attempt breastfeeding. "At 32 weeks they may not feed for nutrition, but it is very rewarding for the mom and something she can look forward to," Kolder says.

Benefits: The Breastfeeding/Breastmilk Advantage
According to a report put out by the American Academy of Pediatrics, extensive research documents the advantages of breastfeeding, including health, nutritional, immunologic, developmental, psychological, social, economic and environmental benefits. Additional research concludes that breastmilk significantly decreases risk for a variety of acute and chronic diseases.

"There is a huge amount of information available on the immune properties of breastmilk," Kolder says. "When preemies are given it, they tolerate it better. We ask some moms to pump even when they are not planning to breastfeed because the outcomes are better.

Mothers benefit as well, with decreased postpartum bleeding, faster return to pre-pregnancy weight and reduced risk of ovarian and pre-menopausal breast cancers.

With early deliveries, Mother Nature also miraculously alters the properties of premature breastmilk to fortify a baby with more demanding nutritional needs. "Mom's body produces colostrum and milk with different nutritional content than the milk of a mother who carries full term," Buerger says. "It is higher in protein, sodium, iron and chloride, and preterm milk also has more antibodies than mothers of full-term babies.


Pages:  1  2  3  4  5  

Want to see more?

Comments

There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to add a comment.

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.