Breastfeeding is beneficial to your baby’s health, particularly when they are premature. In fact, according to Irish Premature Babies, mums whose babies are born early, produce a milk with a different composition to those who go full-term. It is designed to meet your baby’s needs and is higher in protein, minerals and contains a type of fat that is easily absorbed.
However, due to a number of reasons, not all babies born early can latch on to the breast, meaning mums will have to express their milk in order for their baby to benefit from it.
Irish Premature Babies offers the following advice for mums:
Express colostrum by hand
The first milk you produce after giving birth is called colostrum. This can be expressed by hand and contains immune boosting properties. While it is produced in very small quantities, it is still extremely beneficial for your baby.
The first milk you produce after giving birth is called colostrum. This can be expressed by hand and contains immune boosting properties. While it is produced in very small quantities, it is still extremely beneficial for your baby.
Start expressing soon after birth
To help establish and maintain a good milk supply, you should try to express soon after you have given birth. The earlier you start the better for your supply.
To help establish and maintain a good milk supply, you should try to express soon after you have given birth. The earlier you start the better for your supply.
Use a double pump
The double pump helps to stimulate the release of the milk hormone prolactin and also reduces the amount of time spent expressing.
The double pump helps to stimulate the release of the milk hormone prolactin and also reduces the amount of time spent expressing.
Express 8/10 times a day
For most women, it is recommended to express at least 8/10 times in a 24 hour period with at least one overnight expression. For mothers of twins, it is recommended to express at least 10 times within a 24 hour period.
For most women, it is recommended to express at least 8/10 times in a 24 hour period with at least one overnight expression. For mothers of twins, it is recommended to express at least 10 times within a 24 hour period.
Express frequently
Frequent expressing gives a message to your breasts to make more milk for your baby.
Frequent expressing gives a message to your breasts to make more milk for your baby.
Express one side until flow stops
The important thing is to express one side until the flow slows to a drip and then switch to the other side and repeat. Switching back and forth, expressing each side two or three times will increase your supply over time.
The important thing is to express one side until the flow slows to a drip and then switch to the other side and repeat. Switching back and forth, expressing each side two or three times will increase your supply over time.
Night time expressing
You have to pump at least once during the night. More prolactin is produced at night, so expressing at this time is helpful for keeping up the milk supply.
You have to pump at least once during the night. More prolactin is produced at night, so expressing at this time is helpful for keeping up the milk supply.
Hold your baby if you can
The hormones that are released when you hold your baby close can help increase your milk supply. If your baby is too sick for this, talk to the NICU staff about pumping beside your baby. This will make the most of your mothering hormones to increase your pumped milk supply.
