母乳喂养对早产儿重要吗？ Is Breastfeeding Important for My Premature Baby?

The simple answer is YES! Babies that are born pre-term have a special need for their mother‘‘s milk. If your baby was born earlier than expected, you are probably awash in a storm of feelings. Feelings of protectiveness come over you when you see your baby‘‘s tiny body. You may be feeling afraid, angry or guilty. The busy, bustling medical team may be making you feel out of place and question your role as a vital partner in your child‘‘s care.

答案很简单：是的！早产儿对母乳有特别需求。如果您的宝宝比预期要早出生，您可能一时会有”百感交集”的感觉。当看到宝宝幼小的身体时，您会有保护她/他的欲望。您也可能感觉害怕、生气或愧疚。而且身旁来来往往忙碌的医生护士们会让您觉得自己是个多余的人，怀疑自己作为照顾宝宝最重要人物的角色。

You are needed, and have a unique gift to provide: your milk. The milk from your breasts is something you alone can provide for your baby. It contains invaluable nutrients and immunities that can make a big difference in the health of your baby and in his development.

宝宝需要您,您可以给它一份特殊的礼物：母乳。您乳房流淌出的乳汁是只有您自己才能够给予宝宝的。它含有对宝宝健康和成长非常重要的珍贵养份和免疫物质。

The milk produced by the mother of a pre-term infant is higher in protein and other nutrients than the milk produced by the mother of a term infant. Human milk also contains lipase, an enzyme that allows the baby to digest fat more efficiently. Your breastfed preemie is less likely to develop infections that are common to babies fed breastmilk substitutes. He will be protected by the immunities in your milk while his own immature immune system is developing.

早产儿妈妈的母乳中含有的蛋白质和其他营养成分要比足月儿妈妈乳汁中含有的成分高。人乳中还含有脂肪酶（一种让宝宝更有效消化脂肪的酶）。母乳喂养的早产儿感染几率低，而这种感染在用母乳替代品喂养的宝宝中很常见。当宝宝在发育其尚不成熟的免疫系统的过程中，您的乳汁将为宝宝提供免疫保护。

Your fresh milk is best for your baby. Donor milk must be pasteurized, which kills the infection-fighting live cells (though it is certainly the best alternative when a mother is unable to provide her own milk).

您的新鲜母乳对宝宝来说是最好的。别人捐赠的母乳必须用巴氏消毒法，但这种方法也会杀死抗感染的活细胞（妈妈自己不能提供母乳的情况下，巴氏灭菌后的捐赠母乳仍是最好的选择）。

Research has found that breastfeeding is less stressful than bottle feeding for babies, so let your doctor know you prefer to put the baby to the breast when he is ready, instead of using a bottle. To encourage a reluctant baby, you may want to try a special tube feeding system on your nipple or finger. An LLL Leader or lactation consultant will be able to help you obtain one and learn to use it.

研究表明，对宝宝来说，母乳喂养的宝宝跟奶瓶喂养的宝宝相比，压力水平更低，所以让您的医生知道您倾向于用乳房喂养宝宝而不是用奶瓶。为鼓励不情愿吃奶的宝宝，您可以尝试一种特殊的叫饲管的方法，把细管粘在你的乳头或手指上。一位国际母乳会哺乳辅导或者其它哺乳顾问可以帮您获取或者教您如何用。

Providing your milk, either directly at the breast or by pumping, benefits you and your baby in other ways. The loving bond you feel as the milk flows is good for your relationship. When you pump milk for your baby or breastfeed him, you secrete hormones that enhance the bonding process. It helps you to think of your baby as a person first, your very own beloved child, and not just the doctor‘‘s medical case. This bond will sustain both of you through any difficulties that lie ahead.

不论是直接喂还是吸出来再喂，母乳喂养对您和宝宝还有其他方面的好处：随着奶的流动，您会感觉到爱的涌动，这有助于增进亲子关系。当您为宝宝吸奶或直接哺乳时，您分泌的荷尔蒙能增强您与宝宝的亲密感。这有助于您将宝宝看成一个人，一个属于您的深爱的孩子，而不仅仅是医生的病例。这种紧密感将有助于您和宝宝克服日后的困难。