Each container needs to be clearly marked with the name of the mother, name of the baby, date and time the milk was collected. Mother needs to be sure that a hospital staff member transfers the milk directly to their freezer unless it is to be used within 24 hours. It is important for the parents to have contact with the hospitalized baby. Even if they can only visit once a day or less, baby benefits from hearing the mother's and father's voices and feeling their touch. It may be difficult to visit as often as the parents would like if the mother is recuperating from the birth or if the family has other children whose needs must be taken into consideration.
Some hospitals have accommodations for parents either in the hospital or nearby.
Parents will need to check with their insurance company to see if these arrangements are covered. Many hospitals and medical professionals are increasingly supportive of the parents' need to form an attachment to their baby and encourage closeness with the baby by regular visits where parents can touch and stroke baby, talk to him using his name, and sometimes help with baby's care. Until sucking ability develops in the premature baby, he will be fed intravenously or by tube feedings. Once sucking develops, mother can offer the breast even while baby is being fed by tube. Research by Gene Cranston Anderson, PhD, shows that babies who are allowed to suck while being tube fed gain weight faster.