The 3 M’s of Breast-feeding the Preterm Infant
Nancy M. Hurst DSN, RN, IBCLC
J Perinat Neonat Nurs Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 234–239
Abstract
Mother’s own milk is considered best for preterm infants. Given the often protracted period between birth and breast-feeding for most preterm newborns, a number of challenges exist for mothers and neonatal intensive care unit nurses in establishing lactation, providing mother’s own milk, and achieving breast-feeding.
This article conceptualizes breast-feeding the preterm infant in the context of the neonatal intensive care unit as a 3-phase process, the 3 M’s of breast-feeding: medication, mother’s milk feedings, and the mechanics of breast-feeding.
