Feeding your baby

If your baby is born early, staff at your neonatal unit will offer guidance and support on feeding your baby.

Some babies may not be ready to breastfeed as soon as they are born. They may not be well enough or strong enough to breastfeed, so give it time and speak with your baby’s consultants about feeding options.

If you have any expressed colostrum, speak to the staff at the neonatal unit about the possibility of your baby having some. Any colostrum and breastmilk is beneficial for your baby.

The charity Bliss has lots of useful information about feeding your premature baby.

Neonatal care

Your baby may be transferred to the Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit at Medway Maritime hospital if they are premature.

The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit provides intensive care, high dependency, and special and transitional care services for babies born prematurely or who are sick and require specialist treatment.

The unit has created a Padlet which contains lots of useful information about premature babies. The Padlet also contains information about the staff who will look after your baby, bonding with your baby as well as support to help with feeding your premature baby.

You can access their Padlet here.

Expressing milk for your baby

The benefits of breastfeeding for your baby’s development and protecting them from illness, can be even more important if they are born early or unwell

You may need to start by expressing your milk for your baby. Expressing eight to 10 times a day, including at least once overnight is important to keep up your support if you can’t feed your baby straight away.

Bonding with your premature baby

If it’s possible, some skin-to-skin with your baby from early on can help boost the oxytocin in both of you, as well as calm your baby. Skin-to-skin can help to grow the bond between you and your baby. Partners can also have skin-to-skin with your baby too.

Touching and holding your baby can provide a source of comfort to them. A little physical touch where possible can help with bonding and attachment.

There are lots of ways you can be involved with your baby’s care. You could be involved with changing their nappies, first bath or helping with feeds. Speak to the neonatal staff about how you can be more involved.

By talking, singing, reading and your baby hearing your voice, you are continuing to strengthen the bond between you. Each interaction with your baby supports their brain development and helps to grow their brain.

Speak to the staff looking after your baby about how you can be involved in feeding them. It maybe you can express breastmilk regularly or help with tube feeds. Staff will be able to guide you so you can be involved too.

There are different resources and organisations providing support for premature babies.

 

Bliss

Bliss is a charity that supports premature and sick babies and their families
Breastfeeding peer supporter guiding a mother to breastfeed

Find support in Medway

This can be a hard time worrying about your baby alongside expressing milk. Speak to your health visitor and reach out for breastfeeding support to help you through our interactive map.

Interactive map

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