Can premature babies be breastfed?
Yes! Breast milk may help premature babies develop and may even reduce some illnesses. However, they may need extra support. Babies born very early may not have the ability to feed directly from the breast soon after birth. They have difficulty coordinating sucking and swallowing, get tired easily, and may have other medical problems, such as breathing difficulties, which make it too hard for the baby to breastfeed. But your baby will still need the nutrition that only your breast milk can provide. The breast milk of mothers who deliver prematurely is best at meeting the special needs of the premature baby. Besides providing milk that is more easily digested, breast milk contains white blood cells, antibodies and other valuable immunities that may help a premature baby resist infection. Premature babies fed breast milk also learn to feed better, have higher mental function scores, and may have a lower risk of long term intestinal disease and allergies. You can use a breast pump to coll
