Your preterm baby
You are the most important person to help your baby grow and develop. Being with your baby as much as possible, holding your baby skin-to-skin, providing breastmilk or breastfeeding are all ways you can support your new baby.
Feeding
Good feeding helps your baby to grow, maintain their blood sugar level and get enough fluids.
Your baby will benefit from any amount of breastmilk you make, and breastfeeding can be combined with other feeding methods if needed Some babies need intravenous (IV) fluids and/or supplemental feeding.
Some preterm babies learn to breastfeed easily from birth. Others may not feed well because they:
- are sleepier and have fewer and shorter awake periods
- have a weak suck that makes it more difficult for them to get enough breastmilk
- may find it difficult to suck, swallow and breathe in a coordinated manner as they are still learning these skills
- may not wake up for feedings and don’t consistently show signs of hunger
- tire easily and may fall asleep before drinking enough milk to help them grow (falling asleep is not always a sign that the baby is finished eating)
These behaviours can make it more difficult for a preterm baby to get enough milk while breastfeeding until they get stronger.
Rooming in
You and your baby belong together, and rooming in (staying with your baby day and night) is best as soon as you are medically able.
When you stay together, you can hold your baby skin-to-skin, get to know your baby, watch for your baby’s feeding cues and respond quickly to them. Your baby will be comforted by your warmth, touch and scent that they recognize.
Skin-to-skin care
Skin-to-skin care is holding your baby against your bare skin and is also called kangaroo care. During skin-to-skin care, the baby is only wearing a diaper and a hat, and is placed upright on your naked chest, covered by a blanket.
Research shows that your baby will benefit the most if skin-to-skin care is done for at least one hour at a time.
Benefits
Skin-to-skin benefits you and your baby by:
- helping your baby’s brain develop
- keeping your baby’s temperature, heart rate, blood sugar level and breathing rate normal
- reducing the baby’s pain, stress and crying, especially during painful procedures such as blood draws
- helping your milk flow and increasing supply
- helping your baby feed better and more relaxed
- strengthening your baby’s immune system
- shortening your baby’s hospital stay
- helping you bond with your baby
How to start skin-to-skin care
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Place the baby directly on your skin, upright on your chest. Cover the baby with a blanket.
- Position the baby’s shoulders flat against you, with their head turned to one side. You should be able to see the baby’s face and their nose should not be covered. The baby should be supported in your arms.