How to care for and feed premature babies

Although premature birth is not a good thing for newborns, if parents can take good care of premature babies and adopt the correct feeding method, premature babies can develop and grow well, and even catch up with the growth rate of full-term babies. Therefore, the feeding of premature babies and the care of their parents are very important and cannot be ignored. So, how to care for and feed premature babies?

1. Start feeding time

Usually, sugar water is started to be fed 6-12 hours after birth, and breastfeeding is started after 24 hours. For infants weighing less than 1000g, breastfeeding is generally started 48-72 hours after birth.

2. Milk quantity and interval

Feeding milk amount calculation formula:

Daily milk feeding amount for premature babies within 10 days after birth (ml) = (baby's actual number of days after birth + 10) × body weight (kg/100)

After 10 days, the daily feeding amount (ml) = 1/5-1/4 of the body weight (kg)

3. Feeding method and posture

It is best for premature babies to eat breast milk which is easy to digest and absorb. If they have to eat formula milk, they must find a special formula milk that is close to breast milk. Remember that the milk concentration is too high and it can only serve as a supplement to breast milk. The baby is born with a heavy weight, in which case the child can be breastfed directly. If your baby is underweight after birth, you can consider feeding with a dropper or gastric tube. To avoid choking and spitting up milk, you can hold the baby up to feed him. If you are feeding artificially, you must choose a suitable nipple. A nipple that is too large or too small will not be conducive to the baby's normal breastfeeding. It is best to let the baby rest for a few seconds while feeding, and it is best to pick up the baby and pat the baby's back after each feeding to prevent the baby from spitting up milk.

4. Milk powder

For premature babies with poor digestive systems, they are more suitable to drink breast milk or specially designed premature formula. If the baby is fed with milk powder, when the baby's weight returns to normal and reaches 2500g, it should be gradually replaced with infant formula milk powder.

1. Keep warm:

Because premature babies have unstable body temperature and are difficult to regulate, it is necessary to measure their temperature more often and try to ensure that the temperature is constant. The difference between the highest and lowest temperatures should not be greater than 1°C.

2. Careful feeding:

Premature babies need breastfeeding more. Breast milk is rich in multiple nutrients such as amino acids, which help premature babies absorb and grow better. Breast milk is easily absorbed by babies, which is beneficial to the development of the digestive system and can also improve immunity. For babies who cannot suck or have weak sucking ability, it is recommended that new mothers express breast milk on time and in the right amount before feeding them.

3. Prevent complications:

Regularly check vision, lungs, intestines, jaundice, etc., observe whether there is difficulty breathing, unstable body temperature or bleeding. Changing sleeping positions frequently can help lung circulation and prevent pneumonia.

4. Keep quiet:

Premature babies need a quiet and clean environment to grow in, so be gentle when feeding and changing diapers, and avoid making loud noises or smoking.

5. Prevents Infection:

Ensure that the room where the premature baby lives has fresh air. Do not allow unauthorized persons to enter the premature baby room. Even when holding a baby, wash your hands and put on clean clothes first. Mothers with a cold should wear a mask when breastfeeding, and wash their hands with soap and hot water before breastfeeding to avoid cross infection.

Frequently touching children to stimulate their eyes, hands, feet, etc. can promote their intellectual development and help digestion, absorption and sleep. If you experience any of the following, please contact your doctor immediately:

(1) It is generally believed that the normal body temperature of a baby is between 35℃ and 38℃. Once the baby's body temperature is found to be out of this range, it means that there is something wrong with the baby's body. Parents should try to help the baby maintain body temperature through physical therapy or other means. If the body temperature still does not return to normal, you need to contact a doctor in time;

(2) Coughing, foaming at the mouth, and shortness of breath;

(3) The amount of milk consumed suddenly decreases, the skin turns yellow, and the crying becomes weak;

(4) Sudden abdominal distension;

(5) Spasms and convulsions.