Early Birds & NICU Grads
Breastfeeding support designed for premature babies and their families — from the NICU to home and beyond.
Every Early Bird Has a Different Story
Early birds can range from late preterm babies born between 35–37 weeks and ready to go home, to babies who had to spend time in the NICU. These babies (and their parents) can have a variety of challenges in initiating their breastfeeding journey.
Some babies need to be separated from their mothers in the early days and weeks. Some babies are extra sleepy and lack endurance to reliably show hunger cues needed for responsive breastfeeding. Some mothers may have their own health complications, which led to a pre-term birth that can make breastfeeding more challenging.
Common Challenges for Early Bird Families
- Separation from mother in the early days and weeks
- Extra sleepiness and lack of endurance for feeding
- Difficulty showing reliable hunger cues for responsive breastfeeding
- Maternal health complications that led to pre-term birth
- Exclusively pumping to provide milk during a NICU stay
- Transitioning from pumping to nursing at the breast
Pumping, Transitioning & Beyond
A majority of these parents need to start their breastfeeding journey by exclusively pumping to provide milk for their baby. Whether your goal is to provide expressed breast milk during a NICU stay, maintain your exclusive pumping routine at home, or to transition to nursing at the breast after primarily pumping, each of these situations needs support and guidance.
Get Support Early
The best thing you can do to reach your goals and feel less alone is to get lactation support early. Some parents who are able to get lactation support with the NICU staff benefit from a month of messaging with Julie to be an extra layer of support and to prepare to bring your baby home.