Author: Sarah Rabstejnek
Author Information and Disclosure of Conflicts of InterestAbstract
Preterm babies face particular challenges when it comes to feeding, as their ability to suck, swallow and breathe is often not yet fully developed. In the first few weeks of life, a nasogastric tube usually ensures that the baby is adequately nourished, and the transition to breastfeeding is a particularly challenging phase for both the child and the parents. Studies show that early kangaroo care, non-nutritive sucking and cue feeding encourage the development of oral skills, mother-child bonding and breastfeeding. Active involvement of parents, targeted guidance from nursing staff and the use of assessments to evaluate signs of readiness support the transition from tube feeding to breastfeeding. Innovative programmes in some hospitals even make provisions to enable a baby to be discharged with a nasogastric tube in place. This article summarises current scientific findings, highlights the practical implications for breastfeeding counselling and care, and emphasises the importance of an empathetic approach tailored to the needs of individual preterm babies and their parents.
Keywords: preterm infant, volume driven feeding, responsive feeding, feeding tube, milk transfer, breastfeeding
How to cite: Rabstejnek S: The Transition to Independent Feeding for Preterm Babies. Between Feeding Tube and Breast: Challenges, Options and Opportunities. Lactation & Breastfeeding 2025;1:05.
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Sarah Rabstejnek is a paediatric nurse in a neonatal unit. She is an IBCLC (2024) working in a clinical setting and in a human milk bank. Sarah is also a lecturer for clinical training courses for the Europäische Institut für Stillen und Laktation (EISL).
The author declares that she has no conflicts of interest or financial relationships with commercial products.