Late Preterms Can't Breastfeed Effectively? Watch This!

It is common in our culture to whisk late pre-term babies (34-36 weeks gestation) to the NICU or special care nursery.  Later, mom can "try" to breastfeed.  Mothers are often left to try to get their tiny ones to latch without help.  The mother is usually sitting in a chair, upright, and trying to get her tiny one to latch.  The NICU nurse may be busy with another baby.  The lactation consultant may not have been notified to provide assistance.  This is because it is ASSUMED that babies of this age can not breastfeed effectively.  

What often happens is that the mother is given a nipple shield to help the baby maintain the latch.  All of this often leads to formula supplementation, bottle feeding, and cessation of breastfeeding. What should be tried first is breastfeeding in a semi-reclined position, with skin to skin contact. 

Hand expression, coupled with pumping, can more quickly increase mom's milk supply.  Pasteurized breast milk can fill in as needed.  Alternative feeding methods can be employed to keep baby off the bottle feeding/weaning track.

Below is a video of a newborn 36 weeker (born in an eastern European country), who was allowed to self attach after the delivery.  The baby crawled to the breast, as is common for term babies to do, and latched.  Effective breastfeeding ensued.

Instead of assuming that late pre-terms can't latch, maintain a latch, and breastfeed effectively, perhaps they should be allowed to breastfeed in a more natural position  -- one which cooperates with the reflexes God provided them with. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kCODzKxDl4&feature=c4-overview&list=UU3ttCe8WtZqHsCorrY6VJkg