How much breast milk should I pump per day?  This is an extraordinarily common question many mothers ask, especially first-time moms new to breastfeeding.  The motherly instinct to provide the best possible nutrition for her baby has create certain uncertainties that need answers.
When finding out how much breast milk a mom should pump per day, she should seek the advice of her OB/GYN and/or her baby’s pediatrician.  These two resources will be invaluable assets in terms of breastfeeding advice.
Another way of determining the amount of breast milk a baby needs …

Every NICU will have unique policies in regards to labeling and storing breast milk.  Because of this, it is important for a mother to ask the baby’s NICU nurse what should specifically be done in regards to the laebling and storing of her breast milk.
A common practice for many NICUs is to have the mother use a label that has her baby’s name and medical record number on it.  These labels will be placed on the storage container for the breast milk.  It should have the date and time the …

When a premature infant is born, they are usually not ready to breastfeed immediately after birth.  In fact, it may be days, weeks, or months before the baby is ready to breastfeed, depending on how early the infant was born, or the severity of the condition keeping the child in the NICU.
It is important for mothers to begin expressing their breast milk very soon after birth, because this provides the first form of breast millk, colostrum.  Colostrum is a nutrient-packed form of breast milk that protects a baby from disease …

Breastfeeding a premature baby at home, after it has been in the NICU, will often be very similar to how it was in the hospital.  Many parents come home with the expectations that breastfeeding will progress into that of a newborn baby very quickly.  This is not always the case.
It is common in NICUs to send premature babies home a week or two before their original birth date.  A 31-week preterm infant could, in theory, be sent home healthy at around 38 weeks, still 2 weeks early!  Because of this, it …

Breastfeeding can pose many questions for parents, so here is a small collection of some of the most often asked breastfeeding concerns.
How do I treat sore, blistered, or bleeding nipples?

Try to change feeding positions with each feed, as this will shift the position of the baby’s mouth.
Try to feed more often, but for shorter periods of time.  The idea is that the infant will not be as hungry, thus will not suck as avidly when going shorter times between feeds.
Apply breast milk to nipples, as this can help heal them.  …

Colostrum is the first form of breast milk produced after a pregnancy, and usually is present for 3 or 4 days until a mother’s normal breast milk comes in.  It has a yellow tinge to it and a thick consistency.  Colostrum is extremely important to a newborn infant while breastfeeding.   Beneficial factors include: easy for the infant to digest, packed with antibodies to help fight off infection and sickness, and acts as a natural laxative of sorts to help the baby with his or her first bowel movements.
Colostrum has a …

Infant breastfeeding provides for the optimal amount of nutrition for any newborn infant, especially in the NICU.  Breast milk is packed with proteins, fats, and vitamins that are crucial, not only to the baby’s health, but to the mother’s as well.
Under normal circumstances, a mother of a newborn infant will have the option to breastfeed her baby.  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly recommends mothers breastfeed their babies until at least 6 months of age.
However, in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), breastfeeding may or may not be an …

Gavage feeding in the NICU is where a small, narrow tube is inserted through the infant’s nostril and is placed down the throat, esophagus, and into the baby’s stomach. This allows for the baby to be fed if it cannot get the nutrition it needs from breastmilk or formula alone (via breastfeeding or bottle feeding).
Reasons for Gavage Feeding

There can be several reasons for feeding a newborn this way. There are many combining factors that can be summed up in one of these reasons:

Babies who lack the sucking coordination required to …

NICU
Infant Formula
Information
Formula is specifically created to be the best possible alternative to breast milk for infants. While formula cannot replicate the antibodies or full nutritional value of breast milk, there’s no reason to feel bad for using it.
There are 3 types of forumla:

Powder
Concentrated Liquid
Ready to Use

In addition to the different types, there are many different kinds of formula as well, each made for a specific purpose or condition. Talk to your pediatrician about what formula is best for your baby, and if you should use powder, concentrated liquid, …

NICU
Breast Milk / Breastfeeding
This information is courtesy of WomensHealth.gov: [Source]
Breastfeeding is more than a lifestyle choice — it’s an important health choice. Any amount of time that you can do it will help both you and your baby. There are many benefits of breast milk for mothers, babies, and others.

Breastfeeding is normal and healthy for infants and moms.
Breast milk has disease-fighting cells called antibodies that help protect infants from germs, illness, and even SIDS. Infant formula cannot match the exact chemical makeup of human milk, especially the cells, hormones, and …