Quick Search

Even though your baby is in the NICU, he or she can breastfeed. If your baby is unable to nurse right away, inform your mother-baby nurse so you may use a breast pump. We will freeze your milk so it will be available when your infant is ready to begin feeding. As your milk supply increases, please check with your baby's nurse before bringing additional milk to the hospital. To continue pumping breast milk at home, you can rent or purchase a breast pump from the Infant Nutrition Center at Forsyth Medical Center. When your baby is able to nurse, he or she may begin to breastfeed. A lactation consultant will be available to assist you in getting started.

The amount of formula a baby receives when he or she begins feeding may seem very small, but these amounts are determined by individual weight and nutritional needs. Also, the type of formula he or she is fed depends on the nutritional needs and may change several times before they baby is discharged.

Many premature infants have a weak sucking reflex. These babies use lots of energy as they try to suck from a bottle and therefore lose weight. To conserve their energy and maintain weight gain, they may be fed by the Gavage method. We do this by inserting a small, flexible tube through the mouth and into the stomach. The procedure is not painful to the baby, but may cause a tickling in the throat. When the tube is in place, a small amount of milk is inserted in the tube and down to the stomach, and then the tube is removed. If your baby is receiving frequent Gavage feedings, the Gavage tube may be left in place.