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A place to call home, where you are never alone
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A place to call home, where you are never alone
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Feeding Tips from ParentsBrandi's experience with an NG tubeMy daughter started out having a ng tube placed when she was first
transferred to the NICU, after she was born. We did go home using the
Haberman bottle and no ng tube. After about a month she just could not
increase enough in her fluids to grow or stay hydrated, and it didn't
help that she was also vomiting every few days from reflux and food
allergy issues.
She was readmitted in the hospital at a month old and we received our
training in using and placing a ng tube. It seemed so scary at the
time. We did gravity feeds with the two ounce syringe, which were a
pain and we spilled them many times. We were taught and had to place
her ng tube before we were allowed to go home. She really hated it
being placed and just cried, so it was hard. Plus, her crying made it
hard to hear with the stethoscope, the popping noise you listen for in
her tummy. We were also taught how to figure out the length and to mark
it so we always remembered, that did make it a lot easier.
After time, she no longer really cried placing her tube and we got used
to doing it ourselves. Our biggest challenge was the tape being so
rough on her face and her getting bigger and wiggling around and pulling
it out. We found that tegaderm tape was the least irritating tape for
her. We used another different kind of tape, that looked similar to a
band aid, we placed this close to he nose. We also rotated sides when
we changed it to give her cheek a break. I also learned to cut the tape
and place in various places on her cheek. We would put Aloe Vera on her
raw cheek throughout the day, which really helped it heal faster.
We always kept an extra ng tube, 2 ounce feeding syringe and all the
other supplies associated with her feeding in a diaper bag that stayed
in the car. We then would pack the same supplies in her diaper bag we
took everywhere. We usually didn't need the extra ones, but they came
in handy a few times.
We did a couple of swallow studies with her and it showed she did best
on thickened liquids, so while using the ng tube, we also used thickener
and the Haberman and tried feeding her every feeding. We never moved on
to a g-tube because she did slowly improve with her feedings throughout
time. We used the ng tube, less and less, over a period of six months.
We finally were able to wean off it, using an open top cup for her
liquids.
There were many days I wanted to scream and pull my hair out having to
use the ng tube. It was tough, took time, frustrating and all. Most
people didn't know what it was, and would stare or ask. I didn't mind
if they asked, I wasn't offended, most thought it was for oxygen,
although I will admit it there were days I didn't feel like explaining
about it.
We are now past those days and she successfully drinks regular liquids
with no thickeners from a regular sippy cup. When we were using the ng
tube, I never thought we would see those days, but she did it and we
made it through it all.
Lauren's experience on breastfeeding
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Pierre Robin Network
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