Breastfeeding Your Premature Baby

Your milk is like medicine for a premature baby! While feeding your baby however you can is the most important thing, breastfeeding your premature baby matters.

Benefits of Breast Milk and Breastfeeding

There are many ways your premature baby will benefit from your breast milk. That’s because breast milk:

• Has fat and protein to help your baby grow, gain weight, and stay warm
• Helps protect your baby from infections, including a serious gut infection
• Is easier to digest than formula and gentle on the stomach
• Supports brain and eye development
• Helps your baby get ready to go from the hospital sooner
• Builds bonding—skin-to-skin and feeding calm both you and your baby

If your baby cannot breastfeed yet, you can hand express or pump and give your milk by tube or bottle. You can also use donor milk to help your baby.

Need more help? Check out breastfeeding support options.

Learn more about the benefits of breastmilk for premature babies in the videos below from the Perinatal-Neonatal Quality Improvement Network (PNQINMA).

Breastmilk Is Best for Premature Babies

Colostrum for Your Premature Baby

Skin-to-skin Care for Your Premature Baby

Making Breastmilk When Your Baby Is Premature

Finding Support When Your Baby Is Premature