Tips for Breastfeeding in the NICU
As a NICU nurse and breastfeeding enthusiast, I was most excited to post about this topic. I encounter moms time and time again feeling frustrated, depressed, exhausted, grieving the loss of their expected postpartum journey. Pumping around the clock is a FULL-TIME JOB, yet parents still need to manage spending time with their babies at the hospital, and continue with every day life at home away from their babies. It is a huge amount of stress and grief alike, and I wanted to share some tips to help keep their breastfeeding dream alive during this time. That’s right, it is still possible to breastfeed even if their early days are in the NICU!
1. Involvement
Be VERY involved in your baby’s care and make yourself AND your breastfeeding desire known to your baby’s care team. This includes doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, lactation consultants, EVERYONE. It’s essential for everyone to be on board with you.
2. Breast before Bottle!
THIS PART IS SUPER IMPORTANT…….please MAKE SURE that the first time your infant is fed by mouth, that it happens at the breast. A bottle is much easier for them to learn, so if they start with the bottle and get used to that, it can lead to more struggles at the breast.
3. Skin-to-Skin
Do skin-to-skin with your baby as often as possible!!! I mean it. If you are there, your baby is stable enough, and no other procedures are currently happening, DO SKIN-TO-SKIN. This will help your milk supply tremendously and also be healing and comforting to your baby. There is a definitive link between skin-to-skin time and milk supply. So seriously, do it.
4. Pump in the NICU
Speaking of skin-to-skin and milk supply, it’s a great idea to pump afterwards. You’d be surprised what you may find in regards to your output after doing skin-to-skin with your baby. Utilize the hospital’s resources and pump! There’s often “pump rooms” designed for NICU mommies and you can use them as often as you’d like. My favorite option, however, is to pump at your baby’s bedside, because there you can continue to look at your baby, hear your baby, and even smell your baby. All of those things are boosts for your supply and let downs. You can bring your own pump/supplies if you please, or utilize the hospital-grade pumps if they’re available on the unit.
5. Invest in a good Pump
In regards to pumping- I highly recommend investing in a high-quality pump. A lot of my tips involve pumping because I realize that it can be impossible to be on the unit 24/7, and that means you need to tell your body/brain you still need milk even when you’re away from your baby. Some NICUs do not allow anyone to sleep at the baby’s bedside either, leaving parents with no choice but to commute every night. Some babies are in the NICU for an extensive amount of time before they’re able to try bottle or breastfeeding, so during this bridge of time, continue to demand milk from your body AROUND THE CLOCK. Every 2-3 hours. You can see here, how a good pump can be hugely important.
6. Eat, Sleep, and DRINK WATER!
When you have a baby in the hospital, it’s often hard to take care of yourself. But please, do your best, as it is so important and essential for your supply and mental/physical health too. Being tired, not eating enough, and not drinking enough water, all contribute to a lower milk supply. I know it’s much easier said than done, but EAT, SLEEP, and DRINK WATER. I know it’s hard to ever “sleep” when your alarm is going off every 2-3 hours to pump. Simply do the best you can. That is all you can do! Healthy foods, calories, and water will be so helpful to you.
7. Check for a Breastfeeding Pathway
See if your hospital has a “breastfeeding pathway” or something of the nature. Some hospitals have these in place to help guide the breastfeeding mom and care team, and typically require mom to be at the bedside to attempt to breastfeed for a certain number of feedings throughout each day. I know it sounds exhausting, but it can definitely be beneficial in regards to breastfeeding success.
8. Ask for Lactation
Last but not least, UTILIZE LACTATION CONSULTANTS! You are already at the hospital, so why not? Ask the nurse to contact them so they can see you and be involved in your journey. You can ask for them as often as you feel necessary. They are a great tool to utilize. Have them evaluate your baby’s latch, ask them all your breastfeeding questions! They know it all and can even supply you with materials or recommend other things depending on your needs.
I cannot stress enough the importance of being proactive in your child’s care. This will not only help with your milk supply and breastfeeding journey, but there’s a huge link between a baby’s length of stay and parental involvement. Baby’s thrive better with their parents! Be there as much as you can, but don’t forget to meet your own body’s needs. Be kind to yourself. You’ve got this!