How to Care for a Premature Baby So They Gain Weight Faster
Premature baby care starts with nutrition. Here are 3 tips for helping a preterm baby gain weight: frequent breastfeeding, formula and avoiding startles.
A premature baby is born smaller than a baby born at full term. This is something to watch closely, because a premature baby who is underweight faces a higher risk of death. So what can you do? Here are 3 tips for premature baby care to help your baby gain weight faster.
How to Help a Premature Baby Gain Weight
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Breastfeed Often
Good nutrition makes a baby's body stronger. If the baby takes in little nutrition, growth cannot be optimal either, and poor growth shows in the baby's size. You should provide all the nutrients your baby needs so that your little one becomes healthier.
One way to provide that nutrition is to give your baby breast milk (ASI). Enough breast milk makes the baby grow bigger. Premature babies in fact need more breast milk than normal babies. For a premature baby, mothers are advised to breastfeed every 2 hours because premature babies dehydrate easily.
Dehydration in a baby can be fatal. A premature baby is in a fragile condition, so even a small problem can have grave consequences. If you struggle to produce enough breast milk, talk to your doctor about it, because the doctor can help by offering solutions.
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Give Formula Only After Consulting a Doctor
Giving formula is one way to care for a premature baby. Breast milk that does not flow well leaves mothers confused. To deal with this, doctors often suggest giving your little one formula.
Read also: How to Care for a Newborn Baby: What You Need to Understand
Formula is only a supplement, so you are still expected to give your baby enough breast milk. Formula has more calories, so with formula the baby will gain weight faster. The baby's calorie needs are met more easily, which in turn helps meet its nutritional needs.
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Avoid Startling the Baby
Premature babies are very sensitive to changes in their surroundings. The slightest movement or touch can startle them. Did you know that being startled can make a baby lose calories? A baby who is often startled burns more calories than a calm baby, even though those calories should go toward growth.
To prevent this, do not startle the baby by picking it up suddenly or touching it while it sleeps. If possible, place the baby in its own crib or bed so it is not disturbed by what you are doing. This is another way to care for a premature baby.
Those are 3 tips for caring for a baby born prematurely so that it gains weight faster. You can find more tips on newborn care on the Mitu Baby Care website, which carries a range of tips that can help you look after your little one.
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