Question
A 31+2-week premature baby has been receiving treatment in a children’s hospital since birth, with doctors providing feedings at fixed times and doses. The parents are worried that this feeding method may cause the child to be unaccustomed to their mother’s nipple after discharge. Experts, how should this situation be handled?
Answer
For premature infants, they need to be protected and promoted for growth in a cooler incubator while undergoing sterile operations. In the neonatal intensive care unit, it is usually not allowed to feed breast milk within about ten days after birth. Therefore, the parents’ current concerns are unnecessary. Newborns have a natural ability to suckle and can find their mother’s nipple on their own. It is recommended to try breastfeeding after the baby is discharged, but the parents should be fully prepared as breastfeeding may cause some pain. When feeding, attention should be paid to ensuring that the baby takes in most of the nipple.