A New Beginning

FEEDING TIPS FOR LATE-PRETERM BABIES • Increase your milk supply with breast massage, hand expression, and an electric double breast pump. • Perform skin-to-skin contact before each feeding. • Put baby to breast when you notice any of these hunger cues: − Lip smacking − Opening their mouth − Tongue thrusting − Rooting − Putting their hands to their mouth • Express some breast milk on your nipple for baby to smell. • Ask your nurse for help.

• Ask to speak to a lactation specialist. • Do not overstimulate your baby. They need to use their calories for feeding and growing. • Even though your baby may be sleepy, they still need to get 8 to 12 feedings every 24 hours. Wake your baby if they don’t show signs of hunger and it has been 3 hours since their last feeding. Keep track of their feedings on a feeding log. Chapter Resources • American Academy of Pediatrics Healthy Children www.healthychildren.org • March of Dimes www.marchofdimes.org • Stanford Childrens Healthy Children www.stanfordchildrens.org • Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta www.choa.org

80

A New Beginning