Breastfeeding is important to all new borns but particularly premature babies as the milk provided by the mother is designed to provide the specific nutrients required by the baby.
The Australian Breastfeeding Association have produced a booklet that deals specifically with the issue of breasfeeding premature babies.
The booklet covers topics such as:
- You can breastfeed your premature baby
- Advantages of breastfeeding
- Establishing a supply
- Going home without baby
- Kangaroo care
- Transition to full breastfeeding
- Bottles and supplement feeds
- Coming home
- Solids
This booklet can help guide parents on what to expect with breastfeeding a premature baby. It can also assist parents to make informed decisions when discussing your baby’s feeding care plan with medical and nursing staff.
Here is an excerpt from the booklet:
Home at last!
Your joy at being home may be tempered by feelings of apprehension about the health of your baby and sadness at leaving the friends you’ve made in the nursery.
You and your baby are faced with a whole new pattern of life together. Most parents find they need to make time to relax and concentrate on helping their baby adjust to her new environment, and for the mother to breastfeed her for as long as she wants, whenever she seems hungry.
Many mothers of ex-premature babies feel quite isolated and alone when they get home. Some say they need more help now than when the baby was still in hospital. Other mothers feel that their friends and family do not understand what they go through when they get home. These feelings can be exaggerated by the extreme tiredness that most mothers feel when they finally get the baby home after days, weeks or even months living the very hectic double life between normal activities and their baby in hospital. On top of this, there are now the interrupted nights and normal tiredness associated with caring for a young baby.
It can be a great help to keep in contact with other mothers of premature babies from the hospital, especially if you don’t have access to any of the support groups for parents of premature babies. Your local Australian Breastfeeding Association group can also be a wealth of information, support and encouragement.
If you have been expressing until now, your supply may need some time to settle down. If you find your breasts are getting uncomfortably full, express just a little until you are comfortable again. If you develop lumpy or painful areas in your breasts, this may be due to engorgement or some blocked milk ducts.
Australian Breastfeeding Association members can contact their local counselor or phone the Helpline, which is available seven days and week. It is important to clear any blockage to avoid mastitis or a breast infection.
Is the baby getting enough?
The weight gains of premature babies can be a source or great concern. You will know whether your fully-breastfed baby, who is having no other fluids or solids, is getting enough breastmilk because she has:
• six to eight pale, thoroughly-wet cloth nappies, or five heavily –wet disposable nappies
• soft, yellow bowel movements
• good skin colour and muscle tone
• bright, alert and reasonably content baby
• some weight gain, and growth in length and head circumference
Dark or strong-smelling urine and hard, formed bowel motions suggest that a baby needs more breastmilk.
It is usual for a baby’s weight gains to vary from week to week. They can be affected by the length of time since the last wet or dirty nappy, or the last feed. It is the overall trend of the baby’s weight gain that is important, not the weekly gains. If you are concerned, ask your maternal child health nurse to show you a graph of your baby’s overall weight gains. It is quite common for premature babies to be below the lowest percentile on the graphs. As they grow, they gradually move onto the lines, and eventually, many move off the bottom percentile lines. Try to resist comparing your baby with other babies. Each baby grows and puts on weight at their own rate.
This booklet is available directly from the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA)
ABA
Head Office: 1818-1822 Malvern Rd, East Malvern, Victoria 3145
Ph: (03) 9885 0855
Breastfeeding help line service: 1800 MUM 2 MUM (1800 686 2 686) 24 hrs
www.breastfeeding.asn.au
Other Resources
Australian Lactation consultants Association
National professional association for Australian International Board Certified Lactation Consultants. Below is a link which will enable you to find a private lactation consultant near you.
Email: info@alca.asn.au
www.alca.asn.au
Express at home
Melbourne based breast pump hire service, delivered to your home or hospital
Ph: 0433 95 34 34 (24hrs)
www.expressathome.com.au
Breast Pump Hire Australia
A professional rental service for Breastfeeding mothers. Breast Pump Hire Australia was established to support the growing needs of breastfeeding mothers who require assistance and support whilst breastfeeding.
Whether you are returning to the workforce or are a stay at home mother, they have only the highest quality hospital grade breast pumps available – Medela Lactina, Medela Symphony & Ameda Elite.
They also supply the accessories you need to use these hospital grade pumps. Due to the high cost involved in purchasing hospital grade breastpumps, they offer this professional service as a cost effective way to benefit both you and your baby.
For further information please call Nicole on 0421 221 422.
www.breastpumphireaustralia.com.au
All LLT articles are the sole property of LLT and all contents are copyrighted – Life’s Little Treasures Foundation 2010
