The arrival of a first child is a memorable and emotionally charged experience for many parents. This experience can become even more intense and worrisome if the child is born prematurely.
Worry and the feeling of helplessness can increase in the face of the additional challenges of caring for a premature baby, especially when it comes to their nutrition.
Feeding a premature baby is often more delicate, but fortunately, there are tailored solutions to support parents through this ordeal.
Find out how to feed a premature baby with this comprehensive article!
CONTENTS:
- Why is a baby called premature?
- What causes the premature birth of a baby?
- Feeding a premature baby who is strong enough to suckle
- If your premature baby does not have the strength to suckle at the breast or bottle
- In conclusion
Why is a baby called premature?
A baby is considered premature if they are born before the typical end of pregnancy, which is generally scheduled between the start of the 38th week of amenorrhea and the end of the 41st week of amenorrhea.
Babies born before the 28th week are considered extremely premature. They are cared for in specialized neonatal care units due to their extreme fragility.
A premature baby is also recognized by their low, or very low, birth weight.
- Newborns weighing less than 2.2 lb (1000 grams) are considered to have extremely low birth weight.
- Those whose weight is between 2.2 and 3.3 lb (1000 and 1499 grams) are classified as very low birth weight.
- Finally, babies weighing between 3.3 and 5.5 lb (1500 and 2500 grams) are categorized as having low birth weight.
This weight-based classification gives the medical staff important clues regarding each premature infant's health and needs.
What causes the premature birth of a baby?
There are various reasons that may lead to a premature delivery:
- a multiple pregnancy,
- premature detachment of the placenta,
- health issues for the fetus requiring induction of labor or a C-section,
- a weak cervix,
- premature rupture of the membranes,
- medical complications in the mother (gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, others...).
Feeding a premature baby who is strong enough to suckle
Through breastfeeding
Breastfeeding provides all the necessary nutrients to a premature baby. Therefore, it is recommended to encourage your child to latch if you wish to breastfeed. Because of the tiny size of their stomach, which cannot hold a lot of milk at once, and the effort involved in each feeding, you will need to do so very regularly.
Your lactation will develop naturally over the days and weeks.
🍼 Related article: Comment relancer votre lactation ?
Expressing your milk with a breast pump
If direct breastfeeding isn't always possible, you can pump your breast milk and feed it to your baby using a bottle.
Regular milk expression helps maintain milk supply, and allows healthcare professionals to monitor the baby's nutritional intake—something that is not possible with exclusive breastfeeding. This can be a source of stress for some parents who are also unable to track the quantity of milk consumed by the child.
You can use a manual or electric breast pump to express your milk.
Giving special powdered formula for premature babies
If you do not wish to breastfeed or pump, know that there are also special formulas designed for premature babies, such as:
- Enfamil EnfaCare,
- Similac NeoSure,
- Gallia Bébé Expert Pré-Gallia,
- Guigoz UltimaPré (Guigoz pré-guigoz expert),
- …
Before choosing the right infant formula, consult your pediatrician, who will advise you.
Using a bottle for premature babies
To provide your baby with expressed breast milk or the formula recommended by your pediatrician, you can use a special bottle designed for babies born before full term.
These bottles have nipples adapted to their small mouths and their suckling abilities.
If your premature baby does not have the strength to suckle at the breast or bottle
Expression of breast milk and administration with a nasogastric tube or syringe
If your baby struggles to suckle, expressed breast milk can be given using a nasogastric tube. This tube is placed in the nose and passes down to the stomach, allowing the baby to receive milk in a controlled manner.
Feeding with syringe without needle
Another option is to feed the expressed breast milk using a syringe without a needle. This can be done slowly to allow the baby to get used to eating.
In conclusion
Although having a premature baby can be worrying, it is essential to remember that as parents, you are not alone. Thanks to medical advances and tailored solutions available on the market, feeding a premature baby is now perfectly manageable!
To sum up:
- If your child is unable to feed by bottle or breast, a neonatal care team will provide support in a specialized facility.
- If your child is strong enough, you will then be able to breastfeed and give special formulas.
Don't hesitate to get a bottle specially designed for preemies which will make feeding easier during mealtimes and allow you to feel more confident if breastfeeding is not an option for you!
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