In addition the baby will be fed initially with a continuous drip through a small placed from the nose into the stomach. Prior to this time the baby will have received all the needed nutrition intravenously. The intravenous feedings are decreased and discontinued as the stomach feedings are increased. Once all the nutrition is being given continuously into the stomach, the volume is slowly condensed to a bolus with the goal of transitioning the baby to bottle-feeding. This process, once the infant no longer needs a ventilator, can take 2 weeks to 2 months.
Many mothers seek to feed their infants breast milk.
This is to be encouraged. However, with the uncertainty of the surgery and the time it takes for the feedings to be worked out, this may become frustrating. If breast-feeding does not work it is not a failure. Infant formulas are excellent and yield growing thriving children. At the time of discharge, it is the rare child that needs continued respiratory support.