When you have a preemie baby, you may not be able to begin breastfeeding right away. Your baby may need to be fed intravenously at first, then may graduate to being fed by a dropper with supplemental formula. If you plan to breastfeed when your baby is able to do so, you will need to take care to preserve your milk supply. Sometimes simply pumping your milk may not be enough to ensure an adequate supply. Babies are more adept at getting milk from the breast than the pump, and are better able to stimulate milk production. The stress of caring for a special-needs baby can also reduce your supply. If you are experiencing a low milk supply while you are waiting for your preemie baby to begin breastfeeding, here are a few things you can do to help: [Read more...]
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