PO Feeding: When Your Baby Begins Feeding by Mouth
What Is PO Feeding?
PO feeding means feeding by mouth. The abbreviation "PO" comes from the Latin term per os, meaning "by mouth."
In the NICU, PO feeding refers to your baby receiving breast milk or formula by breastfeeding or bottle-feeding rather than through a feeding tube.
Beginning oral feedings is an important developmental milestone for premature babies.
When Will My Baby Be Ready for PO Feedings?
Premature babies gradually develop the ability to coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing.
Many premature babies begin showing signs of oral feeding readiness around 32–34 weeks gestational age, although some babies are ready earlier or later.
Your baby's NICU team considers several factors before beginning oral feedings, including:
Gestational age and developmental maturity
Breathing stability and respiratory support needs
Ability to remain awake and alert
Feeding readiness cues
Ability to coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing
Every baby develops at their own pace.
What Does Starting PO Feedings Look Like?
Your baby may begin with small amounts of milk by breast or bottle.
At first, your baby might:
Take only a small portion of a feeding by mouth
Become tired before finishing
Need frequent breaks
Receive the remaining milk through an NG or OG tube
This is a normal part of learning to feed.
As your baby's coordination and endurance improve, the amount taken by mouth may gradually increase.
What Does "PO Percentage" Mean?
You may hear your baby's nurse or provider say:
"Your baby took 60% PO today."
This means your baby received approximately 60% of their measured feeding volume by mouth during the reporting period.
The remaining nutrition was typically provided through a feeding tube.
For babies who breastfeed directly, the NICU team may use additional methods to assess milk transfer and feeding effectiveness.
PO percentages are one way to follow feeding progress, but they do not tell the whole story.
Why Does My Baby Sometimes Take Less by Mouth?
Learning to feed takes energy.
Your baby's feeding performance may vary from one feeding to another because of:
Fatigue
Sleepiness
Respiratory effort
Developing feeding coordination
Changes in medical condition
A baby who takes an entire bottle at one feeding may take much less at the next.
Feeding progress is not always a straight line.
How Can Parents Help?
Parents play an important role in helping their babies develop feeding skills.
You can:
Learn to recognize feeding readiness cues.
Participate in skin-to-skin care.
Practice breastfeeding or bottle-feeding with guidance from your NICU team.
Watch for signs that your baby needs a break.
Allow your baby to feed at a comfortable pace without pressure to finish a specific volume.
Remember: The goal is not simply to finish a bottle. It is to help your baby develop safe, comfortable, and effective feeding skills.
