Nutrition is an essential building block for every baby’s health, and it’s even more important for babies with health challenges. Texas Children’s neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have the resources and expertise to ensure your baby receives the best possible start in life.
The NICU’s multidisciplinary team, including doctors, neonatal dietitians and other specialized health care professionals, ensure your baby receives optimal nutrition through human milk. In fact, all preemies weighing less than 1,500 grams (about 3 pounds) at birth receive either your milk or are offered human donor milk. Research has shown that feeding babies human milk helps prevent the infections and bowel disease that can occur in preemies. It also most closely mimics the nutrition a baby would receive if still in the womb.
Texas Children’s is one of the only hospitals in the Houston area to offer human donor milk.
Milk Bank services
Providing breast milk to hospitalized babies requires special effort, but it is well worth it. Our Milk Bank is a state-of-the-art facility that stores and prepares pumped breast milk to feed infants in our NICUs.
Lactation services
Science has shown that a mother’s milk is the best food for babies. However, for a variety of reasons, it’s not always easy for a mother to breastfeed. Our specially trained lactation consultants understand the unique challenges of breastfeeding a hospitalized infant. They offer encouragement, support and equipment so you can provide this important gift to your baby. Our lactation consultants are also available to help once you take your baby home.
