Babies in the NICU need help getting the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. It is normal for your baby to lose weight immediately after birth and for your baby’s weight to fluctuate daily. The neonatal care team closely monitors your baby’s weight. Nurses record strict intake and output measurements, including the amount of fluid and milk your baby is receiving as well as diaper weights to track the stool and urine totals. As your baby grows, calories and the amount of food will be adjusted and advanced slowly and appropriately. Nurses are constantly assessing the motility of their intestines as well as feeding tolerance.
Breast milk is the recommended food for all newborns, especially NICU babies who are premature and/or sick. Oftentimes, donor breast milk may be used in place of mother’s milk. NICUs typically discourage the use of formula unless absolutely necessary and medically indicated. If your baby is too small or too sick to take any food by mouth, we will place them NPO. This means that they will receive all nutrients from an IV. These nutrients are a blend of essential vitamins, minerals, fats, sugars, salts, and protein called Total Parenteral Nutrition and Lipids.
Although breast milk is preferred and pumping is highly encouraged, mothers can become frustrated due to the fact that we may not allow them to breastfeed while their baby is in the NICU. Most babies require strict intake and output monitoring, and breastfeeding makes this process very challenging. If a mother wishes to nurse her infant, and it is deemed that the baby can safely feed by mouth, we suggest that you start with bottle feeding your infant the allotted amount of milk based on his weight FIRST and then supplement with the breast if your baby is still hungry. This is not the ideal situation for most NICU mamas—trust me, I get it—but it definitely helps to get your baby home sooner!
For all of the many wonderful benefits associated with breast milk, stay tuned & look out for a future post ;)