Feeding tube

Beth - posted on 04/01/2011

We had the NG tube and then a Gtube placed with bolus feedings once we went home. Take each day at a time. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Peyton now eats fresh veg and fruit and loves pizza. She is 5 and has excellent eating habits. GL

Carrie - posted on 03/29/2011

My son had one. We had a feeding pump too and NO ONE could tell me how to use it or the Farrel bags....I became an expert and taught nurses. It isn't easy but once you learn how to do it you will be great at it. I know it's a overwhelming but make friends with it....that is the way you baby gets his/her nourishment. Just look at it and say, OK, we are going to be friends. I remember the first couple weeks fumbling around and nearly pulling it out.....oh and then going to the ER to make sure I didn't do something to it. I went to the ER several times because I freaked out because Colby decided it was a toy and he needed to pull on it. And then one day I made Peace with it....my life was better and so was Colby's. I think we make things harder than they need to be, I know I did. It's been 3 years since Colby had his removed and I can look back and see that now.

Cheryl - posted on 12/15/2010

Anabelle is 9 and a half months corrected now and we have given up hope that she will ever take a bottle and have moved to a sippy cup, I have her at 5 feeds a day and we have had poor weight gain all the way along as well. I understand your frustration we had the ng tube taken out and had a g tube put in which has made things easier on her

Mia - posted on 12/15/2010

Sorry Jennifer you're having such a hard time with it. My boy did have the tube in while he was in NICU/SCN but he was a brilliant feeder & had good weight gains for the first 3.5months. We did have to fortify his formula and at 18months still do due to poor weight gain still. It's a shame your paed/dietician can't suggest other methods than 3hrly during the night still.

Jennifer - posted on 12/14/2010

Hi my baby was born at 28 weeks was in the NICU for 2.5 months and came home on a feeding tube. I have tried and tried to get her to take a bottle but she is not interested, she will nurse but as you know she needs to have the fortification in order to grow so nursing alone will not work. My husband and I "hate" the feeding tube it is not only unsightly but a real pain in the neck. We are constantly having to keep our daughter's hand covered in mittens so she does not pull the tube out and that is bad because she needs to learn fine motor skills. She is 4 months corrected now and still will not take a bottle. I am up every 3 hours to hang her feeds it truly is alot of work. How about you how is your feeding regimen?

Iysha - posted on 12/14/2010

my daughter just had hers in the hospital...i never had to put it in and most of my stress was getting her to eat so she didnt need to use it. Once it was out, she went home.

Mia - posted on 12/13/2010

My little fella didn't come home on his but had one put in at 5 months as he refused to feed. So we got set up with the pump etc, very hard to get your head around at first but we had good support from the hospital. I refused to put it in myself if it came out, couln't bare to do it to him as he was on oxygen as well but luckily the tube wasn't in for long till they did some tests to find out why he didn' want to feed. My husband and I were stressed at first and a bit nervous but we had to keep talking to each other about the situation and got through it. good luck!