03/11/2026
NICU moms… this one is for you. 🤍
Breastfeeding in the NICU can feel overwhelming. There are monitors, schedules, medical teams, and sometimes it can feel like your breastfeeding journey is out of your hands. But I want you to know something important: your goals still matter, and they are still possible.
Even when a baby starts their journey in the NICU, breastfeeding can still happen when baby is stable and ready. Sometimes the start looks different—pumping, skin-to-skin, practicing at the breast—but those moments are still building your breastfeeding relationship.
As an IBCLC, one of the most powerful things I encourage NICU parents to do is watch their baby. Look for their cues. When baby starts showing readiness, those little signs matter. And trust your mama heart—it often knows before anyone else when your baby is ready to try.
NICU beginnings may look different, but they do not mean the end of your breastfeeding goals. With patience, support, and time, many families reach the place they hoped for.
You are doing an incredible job. Keep going. 🤍
-Flavia Hass, IBCLC