The challenges of feeding a preterm baby

Significant developments occur daily for both mother and baby during pregnancy and therefore when a pregnancy is cut short major challenges arise. Compelling evidence supports the need for every infant to benefit from mothers’ breast milk. This is especially true for a preterm infant or extremely low birthweight baby, but the combination of the mother’s underdeveloped breast tissue and an infant with a weak sucking reflex makes it extremely difficult to initiate feeding. This article looks into these challenges, supports the role of breast milk for a preterm and discusses the latest developments and technological advancements being made to support this vulnerable pair.