![]() It’s as if they’re trying to find the nipple.Īs your baby gets older, usually around three weeks of age, they’ll turn more quickly to the side that’s stroked. Your baby will turn their head when their cheek or the corner of their mouth is stroked. Rooting and sucking reflexes go together. Talk to your baby’s doctor if you’re concerned about their reflexes. In premature babies, the development of some reflexes may be delayed, or they may retain the reflex for longer than average. Some hospitals offer consultations for free while you’re on the maternity floor or even after you’ve gone home.īabies develop several reflexes to help them adjust to life outside the womb. You can also rent equipment, like hospital-grade breast pumps. You may request home visits, private consultations, or help at a breastfeeding clinic. In the United States, you can find a IBCLC near you by searching the United States Lactation Consultant Association database. Your child’s pediatrician, or your OB-GYN or midwife, may be able to recommend a lactation consult. They may suggest using different devices, like nipple shields, to help promote better latch. ![]() They can help with anything from latch issues to dealing with plugged ducts to assessing and correcting other feeding problems, like positioning. These professionals focus solely on feeding and all things nursing-related. If you’re experiencing issues with nursing, a certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) may also help. With time, they should start to consume more milk over longer feeding sessions. What’s most important is getting to know your baby. Try your best not to get discouraged, especially in the early days. You can massage, hand-express, or place a warm heat pack on your breasts to get things flowing. This will make expressing milk easier for your baby. Work on increasing your let-down reflex, which is the reflex that causes milk to start flowing. Some babies do well in a “twin” position (or “football hold”), tucked under your arm with their body supported by a pillow. Experiment with holding your baby in different positions while nursing. The idea is to get them to know the smell of your milk. You may even try soaking cotton balls with breastmilk and placing them near your baby. ![]() Hold your baby in a breastfeeding position even if they’re being tube-fed. Premature babies may need to be fed more frequently, or woken to eat for a longer amount of time than other babies. Your healthcare provider can help you determine when you no longer need to wake your baby for feeds. Wake your baby every 2 to 3 hours to eat. Kangaroo care may not be an option for all babies, especially those with certain medical conditions. This helps your baby stay warm and may even help with your milk supply. Give your baby plenty of skin-to-skin contact, or what’s sometimes referred to as kangaroo care. With practice, however, babies can master this task. As a result, not all babies are pros - at least at first. Breathing and swallowing while sucking can be a difficult combination for premature babies and even some newborns.
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