Adequate nutrition is particularly important during the newborn period and for babies admitted to the NICU. Premature or sick newborns may initially have difficulty coordinating sucking, swallowing and breathing and may require specialised feeding support.

The Neonatology team works with mothers to promote breast milk feeding whenever medically appropriate and provides guidance regarding milk expression, positioning, attachment and maintaining breast milk supply. WHO guidance particularly supports human milk for small, sick and premature babies and recommends helping mothers establish or resume direct breastfeeding when the baby becomes able to feed effectively.

Lactation Counselling & Breastfeeding Support

Mothers receive practical counselling regarding breastfeeding techniques, positioning, attachment, breast milk expression and common breastfeeding concerns.

Feeding Support for Premature Babies

Premature babies who cannot initially breastfeed directly may receive expressed breast milk through alternative feeding methods according to their clinical condition and feeding maturity.

Parenteral Nutrition

Some premature or critically ill newborns may not initially be able to obtain sufficient nutrition through the gastrointestinal tract. Parenteral nutrition delivers essential nutrients intravenously until enteral feeding can be established or increased safely.

Growth Monitoring

Weight, length, feeding tolerance and nutritional progress are regularly monitored, particularly in premature and low birth weight newborns.