According to the March of Dimes nearly 12.9 million infants are born premature each year. Of those, many do not survive their first year. It is a sad fact that seems to be growing each year. Yet one that can be reduced through better health care and education.
Micro-preemie Josie Duggar has become a reminder of one way parents can help their premature infants survive. When the news that Josie was taking breastmilk successfully came out, people were reminded once again how important it is to breastfeed even premature babies.
The human body is an amazing thing, though. It knows when a baby has come early and tries to protect the infant by producing special breast milk to compensate for some of what was missed in the womb. Preterm breast milk differs from full-term milk in that it is higher in calories and contains more protein, calcium phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, sodium, and chloride.
As with full-term breast milk, preterm milk offers immune system protection through the antibodies found in colostrum. Colostrum contains high amounts of immunoglobulin A, which helps a preemie fight off infections (especially in their weakest areas of the lungs and intestines) and special white cells called leukocytes, which protect the baby from bacteria and viruses. Immune system protection continues even after the breasts switch from producing colostrum to normal breast milk.
However, the physical act of breastfeeding is far from simple. Most premature infants are unable to suckle, are too small to take to breast, and need extremely tender care. This means mothers of premature infants who want to give their babies breastmilk will need a pump. Unfortunately pumping breastmilk can be difficult for mothers of preemies. Here are ten tips to help make pumping breastmilk easier for you.
- Stay relaxed. It can be hard to relax when you are worried about your child, however stress and nerves can negatively effect how much milk you are able to create. This is even more so when using a pump.
- Emotionally prepare yourself. Visualize your baby, think about holding your infant close. Sometimes this will help your milk to flow more easily. This is why some mothers experience leaking when they hear an infant cry. There is a very emotional tie with breastfeeding.
- Use a professional pump. There are many low-grade, low cost breast pumps available. However, these weaker pumps may not be able to efficiently pump enough milk. If you cannot afford a good quality breast pump check with your local hospital or Women, Infants and Children (WIC) office. They may have breast pumps that you can rent or borrow on loan.
- Create a pumping routine. Set up your pump in the same place at the same time every day. Take regularly scheduled breaks to pump, the more frequently the better. This will both help you create a full milk supply and make it easier to pump in the future.
- If you are finding it painful when pumping make sure you have as much of your breast in the funnel as possible. Check that your breast is not rubbing against any of the sides and that your pump is not set to too high of a setting. If you are still experiencing pain there are many creams you can use, such as Natural Nipple Butter.
- If your preemie is able to breastfeed some, try pumping the opposite breast while you are nursing. Your milk will have already dropped making it easier for you to pump. If you cannot nurse your infant yet, you can still pump while holding your baby or shortly after to make the most of your milk letdown.
- Take care of yourself while pumping. Drink plenty of water and eat enough food to keep yourself healthy and to keep your milk supply up. Bring water with you to drink while you are pumping.
What tips would you give to a mom trying to pump breastmilk for her preemie?
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