Lila Hammonds in NICU February 2008
Even if a baby is in the NICU, they can still be breastfeed. There may be a chance that a baby is too small and requires a feeding tube at first, but continuing to attempt nursing is a must.
A mother can pump their breast milk to feed the baby even if the baby is unable to be breastfeed. A pump can be rented from most Hospitals or purchased from just about any department store and stores like Babies R Us.
If the baby is unable to breastfeed they can be feed via a feeding tube or a bottle and this can be done without supplementing with formula. This is not to say that formula is not a perfectly acceptable way to achieve nourishment for a baby until mother and baby get nursing down or at least until mother’s milk comes in and she is able to pump.
If a baby requires a feeding tube it most likely will be placed through the nose down to the stomach. Sometimes it is placed through the mouth. Do not panic. Many babies have had feeding tubes and never required any kind of other food supplementing after. This is just a way of making sure a baby that is born too young or that has a hard time achieving good sucking can get the proper nourishment. It is also a way for the Nursing staff to check and see if the baby has residuals. Residuals are pulled from the tube prior to a feeding to see how much “food” is left in the baby’s stomach from the previous feeding. This will help determine how well your baby is digesting milk and if further treatment needs to occur.
It does take time for a new mother’s milk supply to come in. Once it does, regular pumping is necessary to keep up a good supply. To help stimulate milk production skin to skin contact, also known as the Kangaroo Method , can help.
If the baby is too premature they will probably wear out quickly and not have enough sucking power to actually get a good amount of milk from nursing. That is not to say that trying is not worth it. The sooner you begin introducing the baby to nursing the better. Letting the baby practice sucking even if it is not achieved is a great way to encourage milk production. The Nursing staff will allow mothers to do this and than bottle or tube feed the baby after an attempt if still required.
A lot of hospitals, when a mother is breastfeeding, will attempt to weigh the baby before and after to acquire some kind of idea of how much the baby is eating. This method is not reliable or accurate. A baby has to lay perfectly still and in the exact position for this to work. Good luck getting a newborn to not wiggle.
Keep an open mind and express all your concerns with Nurses and Doctors in the NICU. If you feel you are not being allowed ample opportunity to breastfeed, tell them. If you feel your baby is eating better than they think, tell them.
If a baby is still having trouble breastfeeding, go ahead and supplement with a bottle. This is not going to make your baby never be able to nurse. It is a method to help achieve the ultimate goal of going home and home is the best place to be.
Other articles in this series:
Surviving NICU part 1: An introduction
Surviving NICU part 2: Feeding your baby
Surviving NICU part 3: Stages of beds in NICU
Surviving NICU part 4: What is Bradycardia or Apnea?
Surviving NICU part 5: My baby needs O2
Surviving NICU part 6: Monitors
Surviving NICU part 7: Aiva's stay in NICU
Surviving NICU part 8: Caroline and Sophie
Surviving NICU part 9: Jaundice
Surviving NICU part 10: Helping older siblings
Surviving NICU part 11: Blood work and IV therapy
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NICU support for Evansville area parent
For further information on getting help with nursing or finding alternatives check out the following web-sites.
Lactation Specialists in the Newburgh/ Evansville area
Yvette Wassmer, IBCLC, RLC, LLLL, Doula
4599 Grimm Rd
Newburgh, Indiana 47630
Phone: 812-490-0978
Email: ibclc2004@yahoo.com
Jessica J Flota, RN, BSN, CLC
7677 Gourley Ln.
Newburgh, Indiana 47630
Phone: 812-629-8416
Email: jessicaflota@yahoo.com
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