Feeding your baby on the Neonatal Unit
Feeding your baby is an important part of their care that you can be supported to be involved in from the very start. Each baby on the unit has an individual feeding plan, depending on their condition and age. This plan is reviewed frequently as your baby’s needs and condition changes. All changes will be explained to you.
On the Neonatal Unit staff will support you and your baby in your chosen method of feeding.
If your baby is unable to feed when they first come to the neonatal unit they will be given nutrition in other ways, which we will explain to you. These could include: Intravenous fluids (IV) lines, Parental nutrition (PN) and Tube Feeding.
Tube feeding
Your baby is likely to have a small feeding tube either via their mouth or nose through which milk can be given straight into their stomach if they are too small or too unwell to suck. When you feel ready you can learn to do this, the nursing team will give you an information booklet and guide you through a teaching package with demonstrations and support. When you are confident and comfortable you will be asked to sign to say you are happy with this.
Breastmilk/Breastfeeding
Breastmilk/breastfeeding is generally recommended for all babies admitted on the Neonatal Unit and especially for premature babies wherever possible. It is seen as part of your baby’s medical treatment. Your breastmilk helps protect your baby from infections like necrotising enterocolitis which premature babies are susceptible to and pre-term complications. It will help your baby’s brain, eyes and gut to mature and develop. If you choose this method and your baby is not yet strong enough to breastfeed, you will be shown how to hand express your milk.
Staff will show you how to use the electric pump. There are electric pumps available for use on the Neonatal Unit and postnatal wards. Do not worry if you are producing small amounts of colostrum (first milk) at first, this is very normal until your milk comes in. Having skin-to-skin contact with your baby and pumping regularly; 8-10 times a day including at least once in the night (your milk making hormone is at its highest at night), will help increase your milk.
Expressing milk for your baby on the neonatal unit
When your baby is ready to breastfeed the Feeding Team will support you to make the transition to breastfeeding.
Attaching your baby at the breast
Donor Expressed Breastmilk (DEBM)
DEBM is milk donated from mothers who have been fully screened. Their milk is pasteurised and frozen until needed by other mothers and their babies. If you have given birth to a very small or preterm baby, you may not always be able to provide enough of your own breast milk at first. Donor expressed breast milk (DEBM) may be the preferred alternative milk if there is not enough of your own breast milk to meet the baby’s needs. If your baby’s Consultant feels that this is the best alternative milk for your baby, they will discuss this with you and will need to gain your consent to give your baby donated milk before using it.
Formula Feeding
If you choose to formula feed, staff will support you with this. It may be a few weeks before your baby is able to feed by bottle, depending on the gestation they are born at. When they are ready (around 34 weeks gestational age) staff will support you to feed your baby in a paced, responsive and safe way. You can learn more about this here: Infant formula and responsive bottle feeding
Last Modified: 10:21am 19/09/2024