From the article: Success Tips for Bottle Feeding a Preemie
In the NICU, learning to bottle feed can be one of a premature baby's biggest challenges! What helped your preemie learn to bottle feed? Please share your tips and stories. Share Your Tips
Successfully feeding our 31 weeker
- Learning to bottle feed our son who was born at 31 weeks took a lot of patience. It took about a week of practice before feeling comfortable. Watch the nurses. They hold the bottle in their hand like it is a dart and use the index finger to gently apply pressure under the jaw. This helps the baby form a seal when drinking. Allowing the baby time to catch their breath is important. The suck/swallow/breathe reflexes may not be perfect. With our son we had to "remind" him to breath while he was learning. Blowing gently on his face usually was enough or some pats to the back. Just watch their face and you will see the cue. Remind the baby they are drinking by rotating the nipple in their mouth or rubbing the top of their mouth with the nipple. This gentle stimulation seems to be very helpful while the baby is learning to bottle feed. Don't feel like you didn't do a good job if they do not finish the bottle. They tire easily. Talk to the baby as you feed them. It really helps then focus.
- —SoWeAreDads
primie bottle feeding
- Dr Browns bottle helped my twin prmies too thanks for he tip.
- —Guest shubi
dr brown preemie bottles help my preemie
- I tried every bottle it seems and my preemie baby always choked and formula always ran down her neck because the nipple flow was too fast for her. Once i tried dr brown bottles she stopped choking and milk no longer leaked and an added benefit she wasnt gassy and didnt spit up anymore i would highly recomend dr brown bottles to other mothers with preemie babies!!!
- —Guest jessica
