A premature birth is defined as a delivery that occurs earlier than 37 weeks gestation. Preterm delivery means a life-and-death situation for the baby, who requires special care. If you are the mother of a preemie, you'll want to learn everything you can about how to help your baby through this time. Supplying your baby with breast milk is one of the best things you can do for the growth and health of your premature child.
Beneficial Breast Milk
Because they have immature immune systems, preemies have a higher risk of infection than full-term babies. While there are formulas made particularly for premature babies, they won't contain the infection-fighting antibodies and white blood cells present in your breast milk. Your body automatically produces the milk your premature baby needs, containing extra calories, vitamins and protein. Plus, the American Academy of Family Physicians reports that breastfed infants have better development than formula-fed infants at 18 months.
More Breast Milk Benefits
Penny Stanway, M.D., author of "Breast is Best," says breast milk stimulates bowel function, good growth rate, fewer allergic problems such as asthma and eczema and better eyesight. Breastfed babies grow faster in their first year than those who are formula fed -- an important consideration for a preemie. Moreover, Stanway says breastfeeding reduces the risk of your baby becoming afflicted with necrotizing enterocolitis, a bowel infection that kills two in five affected babies.
Feeding Preterm Babies
While breast milk is nature's best "medicine" for a premature baby, preemies born before 32 to 34 weeks won't be able to breastfeed. In this case, you'll have to use a breast pump to supply your baby with milk that will be given via a gavage tube. Special fortifiers might be added to your breast milk, as premature babies require more vitamins and minerals than full-term infants. While in hospital care, your baby's mineral levels are monitored to ensure they are in a normal range.
Formula
Although there are distinct advantages to breastfeeding, not every mother can do so. Some mothers must return to work, experience pain when nursing or cannot breastfeed due to a health issue that requires medication. If you cannot breastfeed your premature infant, choose preterm formula, which is specially made to mimic the qualities of breast milk. While it won't have your beneficial live cells and antibodies, it does provide the dense calories, high protein, vitamins and minerals that your infant needs to grow and be healthy.
References
- BabyCentre: Nutrition for Premature Babies; Penny Stanway, M.D.
- BabyCenter: Chosing to Formula Feed
- American Family Physician: Care of the Premature Infant, Monitoring Growth and Development; David E. Trachtenbarg, M.D.; 1999
- Preemie-L: Breastfeeding Your Premature Baby; Justine Diamond & Anne Casey
- University of Washington: Infant Formulas; March 2007
