#  Breastfeeding Your Premature Baby 

 

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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](/bump-beyond/newborn-care/feeding-your-baby/benefits-breastfeeding "Bump & Beyond: The Many Benefits of Breastfeeding | Boston Medical Center (bmc.org)"). 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](/bump-beyond/labor-and-birth/hospital-baby/first-moments "Bump & Beyond: The First Moments: Skin-to-Skin, Bonding, and Breastfeeding | Boston Medical Center (bmc.org)") and feeding calm both you and your baby

If your baby cannot breastfeed yet, you can [hand express](/bump-beyond/newborn-care/feeding-your-baby/colostrum-breast-milk-hand-expression "Bump & Beyond: Collecting Breast Milk (Colostrum): Prenatal Hand Expression | Boston Medical Center (bmc.org)") or [pump](/bump-beyond/newborn-care/feeding-your-baby/choosing-breast-pump "Bump & Beyond: How to Choose a Breast Pump | Boston Medical Center (bmc.org)") 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](/bump-beyond/newborn-care/feeding-your-baby/get-help-breastfeeding "Bump & Beyond: Get Help with Breastfeeding | Boston Medical Center (bmc.org)").

Learn more about the benefits of breastmilk for premature babies in the videos below from the [Perinatal-Neonatal Quality Improvement Network (PNQINMA)](https://pnqinma.org/human-milk-educational-videos/ "Human Milk Educational Videos | Perinatal-Neonatal Quality Improvement Network (PNQINMA) (pnqinma.org)").

### Breastmilk Is Best for Premature Babies


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### 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



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