700 Children's® – A Blog by Pediatric Experts

Posts About NICU

Posted by: Karen Rachuba, RD, LD, CLC on Apr 28, 2026

Having a baby in the NICU can make breastfeeding feel harder—but there are steps that help. Learn why human milk is especially important for premature babies, how skin-to-skin and early pumping support supply, and practical tips for collecting colostrum and maintaining milk production during your NICU journey.

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Underproduction of Human Milk: How to Increase Your Supply

How much is “enough” human milk? The answer is not a number, because it is different for each parent. “Enough” is the volume needed to feed your baby.

young child with a pacifier
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Helping Your Preterm Baby Learn to Eat: Why Early Oral Stimulation Matters
Learn how skin-to-skin time, pacifier practice, and non-nutritive breast/chest feeding help preterm babies in the NICU develop coordinated sucking, swallowing, and breathing so they can transition from tube feeds to successful oral feeding.

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About this Blog

Pediatric News You Can Use From America’s Largest Pediatric Hospital and Research Center

700 Children’s® features the most current pediatric health care information and research from our pediatric experts – physicians and specialists who have seen it all. Many of them are parents and bring a special understanding to what our patients and families experience. If you have a child – or care for a child – 700 Children’s was created especially for you.

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Latest Posts

Dear New NICU Mom

Jan 12, 2026

At 24 days old, my little girl developed necrotizing enterocolitis and was transferred in the middle of the night to Nationwide Children’s. It was at that moment that I became eternally grateful to have a top neonatology department so close to home. Read More

The Power of Skin-to-Skin Care: Why Kangaroo Care Matters for You and Your Baby

Nov 26, 2025

NICU babies, like all babies and all humans for that matter, are very complex; but that’s what makes them so phenomenal. There’s more to them than just their physical being. Read More

Dear NICU Mom: You Are Finally Going Home

Oct 08, 2025

First published November 2013 Updated October 2025 I am a NICU mom. For 175 days, I was a NICU mom. I watched my daughter grow and thrive inside the walls of Nationwide Children’s Hospital. I rode the NICU rollercoaster, with all of its ups and downs, and it was a tumultuous, bumpy ride. Read More

Baby

5 Questions Every NICU Parent Should Ask

Sep 12, 2025

Having a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can be overwhelming and it can take a while to adjust. Here are 5 questions you might find helpful to ask as a NICU parent. Read More

Woman playing guitar on the floor to children.

Music Therapy: Sounds of Love in Early Childhood

Jun 27, 2025

Singing to your baby can actually help development. Growing evidence shows that babies whose parents sing, read, or play with them to music have a greater chance of reaching developmental milestones on time. Read More

Hands cradling infant baby

Breastfeeding: Changing the Plan Does Not Mean Failure

Aug 11, 2023

Some new mothers experience their birth plan exactly as expected and nursing comes naturally. Everything is perfect. But, then she goes home and things change. Read More

Premature Baby

Can a Premature Baby Grow Up to Be a Typical Kid?

Nov 10, 2020

Every preemie who spends time in a NICU is unique and, therefore, their journey home may also continue in a "non-traditional" way. Read More

infant baby being cradled

Babies and Senses: Your Questions Answered

Sep 14, 2020

In honor of her appearance on the Netflix show “Babies,” we collected questions from our community for Dr. Nathalie Maitre, neonatologist and Principal Investigator of Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Baby Brain Optimization Project (BBOP). Read More