In a 2-day-old preterm infant not yet tolerating oral feeds, what is an appropriate thing for the practical nurse to say to the mother?

In a 2-day-old preterm infant not yet tolerating oral feeds, what is an appropriate thing for the practical nurse to say to the mother?

• A. As soon as the baby is out of oxygen, you will be able to put him to breast.
• B. I will bring you the electric breast pump so that you may start pumping your breasts for when your baby can start feedings.
• C. Your baby will probably need feeds through an intravenous infusion for several weeks and perhaps after that you may be able to provide him with breast milk.
• D. It is best to give premature infants formula when they start feedings as the exact amounts of milk can be determined.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is supporting the mother’s milk production even when the baby can’t yet take feeds. Encouraging expression with an electric breast pump helps maintain the mother’s milk supply and ensures there will be breast milk ready for when the baby can start feeding, whether by bottle or tube in the NICU. This approach respects the baby’s current need for non-oral feeding and sets up the most beneficial option for the infant’s growth and immunity—the mother’s own milk. Pumping now is practical, reassuring for the mother, and aligns with best practice for preterm infants who can’t feed by mouth yet. It avoids promising direct breastfeeding before the baby is ready, it does not assume IV or long-term intravenous feeding, and it supports using breast milk rather than formula when feeding starts.

The main idea here is supporting the mother’s milk production even when the baby can’t yet take feeds. Encouraging expression with an electric breast pump helps maintain the mother’s milk supply and ensures there will be breast milk ready for when the baby can start feeding, whether by bottle or tube in the NICU. This approach respects the baby’s current need for non-oral feeding and sets up the most beneficial option for the infant’s growth and immunity—the mother’s own milk.

Pumping now is practical, reassuring for the mother, and aligns with best practice for preterm infants who can’t feed by mouth yet. It avoids promising direct breastfeeding before the baby is ready, it does not assume IV or long-term intravenous feeding, and it supports using breast milk rather than formula when feeding starts.