If your baby is ill or very small, they may not be fed right away. If you had planned to breastfeed your baby, you can still do so. By pumping your breasts, you will be able to maintain your milk supply and we can save your milk by freezing it. This milk will be used when your baby is ready to take milk, until he/she is strong enough to breastfeed directly. Please ask your baby’s nurse for information on how to collect and store your milk. There is an electric pump in the NICU for your use, or you may ask your nurse for information about renting one.

Smaller babies often cannot suck well and need to be fed through a gavage tube. As the baby becomes stronger, he/she will begin to take part of his feeding by nipple. When your baby is strong enough to feed with a nipple or at the breast, we encourage you to feed him/her during your visits. This is a good time for you to get to know each other better.