Weight Gain in a Premature Baby

Postnatal

To read the previous entry, go to Factors that Influence a Baby’s Weight Gain.

Photo - Bébé prématuré dans un incubateur - La prise de poids chez le nouveau-né

Concerning weight gain in a premature baby, you need to first identify the degree of prematurity. A baby born at 37 weeks minus 1 day is identified as a premature baby. But it won’t have the same sucking capacity as a premature baby born between 30 and 36 weeks, or a very premature baby born between 23 and 30 weeks.

When breastfeeding a premature baby, it’s difficult for those born before 34 weeks to coordinate their sucking reflex with breathing and swallowing. We see babies suck in short bursts rapidly but their lips have blue contours as they’re not properly breathing at the same time. This is directly associated with the immaturity of their brain. It must adapt to the reality of life outside the uterus. Each baby will have their challenges to face. However, many times I have seen very small babies drink impressive amounts and fight to live. Just because a baby is born at 35 weeks doesn’t mean they will have problems with feeding. They have everything they need to be breastfed by their mother. All we have to do is help her with milk flow and encourage the baby to take her breast.

It’s preferable to give the mother’s milk to a baby born before term. All the virtues of breast milk will have a major impact on the premature baby’s health as this milk:

  • Is easier to digest;
  • Is better tolerated by the baby;
  • Contains more antibodies to fight several potential infections;
  • Contains essential fatty acids to help brain development and provide the baby with energy to feed;
  • And much more…

On the other hand, most of the time the mother must stimulate their milk production mechanically. They will use a double electric breast pump to start the demand in her system. The pumped milk will then be used to force-feed or complete a feeding for the baby, who isn’t always able to do it themselves. It might be necessary to use supplementation, the use of a feeding tube, if breastfeeding isn’t going well despite all efforts to help the mother. But this isn’t routine.

It isn’t always easy to consider all these elements and monitor the changes in your baby’s weight. Health professionals monitor your baby to ensure that they’re gaining weight properly. They check if they are growing in size and the monitor the growth of their head based on their pace and characteristics after birth. I hope this entry will help you understand this health dimension of your baby, which is often a concern for parents.

A usefull tool : the OMS growth charts for girls and boys.

Talk soon,

Marie
The Baby Expert

 

Discover our videos

Subscribe to a monthly or quarterly package now to access full videos.

Domestic Animals and Pregnancy

Domestic Animals and Pregnancy

Isabelle Dion, a veterinarian, explains how to prepare your cat and dog for the arrival of your baby. You can
Acupuncture and Pregnancy

Acupuncture and Pregnancy

Did you know that acupuncture is a safe alternative practice during pregnancy and for the baby? Along with Karèya Audet,
Baby Massages

Baby Massages

Do you want to massage your baby but don’t know where to start? In this video, Suzanne Boily, baby massage
Breaking Your Water

Breaking Your Water

One of a pregnant woman’s greatest fears is breaking their water in public. It can happen, but breaking your water

Discover other articles

Can you talk about RESPs for my child’s future education?

Can you talk about RESPs for my child’s future education?

Marie, I heard that we can save money a bit at a time to pay for our baby’s education. I don’t know anything about RESPs.
Bathing with a baby: lakes, public and private pools.

Bathing with a baby: lakes, public and private pools.

Can I swim with my three-month-old baby in a lake? Our parents live on the shore of the lake, and I would like to go
It hurts when I breastfeed!

It hurts when I breastfeed!

I know that when we start breastfeeding, a mother may have nipple wounds…but I can’t stand it anymore! Please, I need help… Melissa I understand
Photo - médicaments

Prenatal Multivitamins: All the Same?

In this article, I want to talk to women who wish to become pregnant and those already expecting their baby. When a woman decides that

Weight Gain in a Premature Baby

Par Marie Fortier Temps de lecture: 2 min
0