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Methods of Feeding a Preterm Infant

Preterm infants, also called preemies, are newborns that are born before the 37-week gestation period. Preterm labor commonly occurs in women giving birth to multiple children and women with health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and kidney problems. These infants have difficulty eating because they have problems sucking, swallowing and breathing. The neonatal unit uses alternative feeding method for preemies, and hospital staff teach parents how to feed babies when they are healthy enough to bring home.

  1. Feeding Tubes

    • Sucking and swallowing mechanisms are not developed in infants until about 34 weeks of gestation, according to MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. This puts them at higher risks of suffering from malnutrition. Preterm infants admitted into the neonatal intensive care unit get their nutrition via small, soft feeding tubes inserted in the nose or mouth that lead directly to the stomach. If infants have health conditions, nurses must feed them intravenously until their stomachs are stable enough to accommodate food.

    Mother's Breast Milk

    • Preterm infants whose mothers want to breastfeed should not be given a bottle unless nursing staff gets permission. La Leche League International says mothers who give birth to premature babies have higher amounts of protein than full-term babies, as well as the lipase enzyme. Breast milk builds their immune systems, which helps them fight infections. If babies are unable to breastfeed right away, mothers can pump and freeze the milk. MayoClinic.com says mothers should pump every two or three hours until their milk supply increases. Then, pump at least eight times a day.

    Donor Breast Milk

    • Donor breast milk works for mothers who are unable to breastfeed or who don't want to breastfeed but want their children to get the nutritional benefits. Banked donor milk does not have the same nutritional content as the premature baby's mother milk because of pasteurization. "The Use of Donor Human Milk for Preterm Infants" by Dr. Susan Landers says banked milk must adhere to quality control screenings, tests and pasteurization before donated to other mothers. Mothers donating milk have to pass medical examinations and screenings for diseases, including HIV.

    Preterm Infant Formula

    • Preterm infants sometimes need more calcium and phosphorus when they leave the hospital, according to "Gaining and Growing: Assuring Nutritional Care of Preterm Infants," published by the University of Washington. Mothers who don't want to or can't breastfeed rely on infant formula to feed their premature babies. Select formulas, such as Prematrue Enfamil and Similac Special Care, manufacture formulas designed for preemie nutrition. Neonatal nurses provide feeding recommendations before parents leave the hospital. Mothers should not force feed babies to prevent stomach discomfort and vomiting.

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