Breastfeeding for preterm babies - every drop counts

Having a premature a baby can be overwhelming and a lot for you to process, the midwives, nurses and feeding specialists will be on hand to talk to you and help you with expressing, storing and giving your breast milk to your baby. 

Expressing milk by hand (NHS Choices)

What is colostrum and what are its benefits? 

  • Colostrum is the first milk produced by mothers during pregnancy and after birth. It is concentrated nutrition, and it comes in perfect small amounts that is easy to digest 

  • Each drop of their mother's breast milk has a positive effect on the outcomes for a premature baby 

  • It is full of protective factors and antibodies that strengthen your baby's immune system 

  • All babies, no matter how premature or unwell, can receive their mother's colostrum into their mouths. 

Our goal if for all babies to receive breast milk within 6 hours of birth.

When can I start expressing colostrum for my baby? 

Expressing before your baby is born 

  • You can start expressing breastmilk for your baby even before they are born. Please discuss this with your doctor or midwife before your start. Antenatal expressing should only be done once it is certain that you will give birth to your preterm baby in the next few hours. 

Expressing after your baby is born 

  • You can start expressing breast milk for you baby immediately after delivery, ideally within 2 hours of birth. We recommend using both hand expressing and using our special breast pumps. Your breasts need stimulation of regular expressing to start and maintain breast milk production. 

Don't hesitate, initiate! Hand express or pump ASAP. 

Ask your midwife for support and use the code below QR code to see how to use the breast pump with the Initiate program