Tube feeding’ is a term that at times may cast a negative light upon an already complex medical situation. However, what is not commonly known are the benefits a tube feeding can provide a growing child. By providing nutrition through the use of a feeding tube, a child that may not be able to obtain adequate or any nutrition by mouth would still be able to grow, thrive, and develop.
PHS is excited to be celebrating this awareness week and wanted to share with you some resources that our Dietitians pulled together. The links below have information for adults and kids alike. Do you know of any other resources? We’d love for you to leave us a comment here to keep growing our list of resources.
Your child needs nutrition and good calories through his or her enteral feedings—not excess air bubbles. A key part of a feeding system is a Farrell Valve bag, which removes excess bubbles for more reliable feedings. Your child has less bloating and is more comfortable during and after feedings.
Watch PHS Dietitian Janelle Peterson show how to set up, use, clean, and store a Farrell Valve bag:
Of course if you have any questions about any aspect of your child’s feeding system, contact any PHS clinician.
Do you use a Farrell Valve bag in your system? Any tips to share? We welcome your input.
If your child uses a feeding tube, you know it helps conveniently provide necessary nutrition and sometimes medications. But not when it’s clogged. Clogged feeding tubes interrupt important feedings and can cause frustration and discomfort. To keep lines clear, PHS and many of our families use the Clog Zapper .
Clog Zapper is convenient and easy to use. In this video, PHS Dietician Janelle Peterson, RD, LD, CNSD, takes you step-by-step through using the product to keep your child on track and avoid replacing feeding tubes.
PHS is celebrating National Nutrition Month and this year’s the theme is “Eat Right with Color.” Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of vitamins and minerals thus providing many health benefits such as:
Fiber: Promotes regularity
Folate: Prevention of neural tube defects
Potassium: Regulate blood pressure
Vitamin A: Eye and skin health
Vitamin C: Healing of wounds and gum health
Best of all most fruits and vegetables are low in fat! Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is important; therefore, beginning on Monday, March 7th PHS Registered Dietitians will explore the fruits and vegetables by color in more detail on the PHS facebook page.
We’d like to see your colorful meal either at home or work. So, we’re asking you to take pictures of you favorite colorful, healthy meal and submit them to dmakerson@pediatrichomeservice.com by the end of the day on Wednesday, March 9th. We will compile them, share them on the PHS facebook page, and vote on the healthiest, most colorful meal Friday, March 11th. The winner will receive a PHS water bottle to help you stay hydrated and healthy along with all of your fruits and veggies.
For most parents, a mealtime challenge is getting a child to eat his or her vegetables or clean the plate.
For parents who tube feed children with special needs at home, making sure a child is getting the proper nourishment is much more complicated. There’s a lot to learn, and they may worry about doing it right—which is why PHS dietitians work closely with families to provide education, assistance, and advice that can help put their minds at ease.
Here’s one example:
Watch PHS Dietitian Gwen Pritchard, RD, LD, demonstrate the proper techniques for preparing powdered formula at home for use in feeding pumps.
Eight easy steps
Before you begin, make sure you have everything you need: your child’s formula recipe, standard measuring cups, a liquid measuring cup, your child’s physician-prescribed formula powder, a blender, and your child’s tube feeding bag.
Consult your recipe and put cold tap water in the liquid measure (PHS recommends using cold water, but be sure to check the instructions on the formula can in case the manufacturer recommends a different temperature for the formula preparation).
Pour the water into a blender for mixing (PHS recommends using a blender to ensure the granules are thoroughly dissolved; powdered formula granules may set off alarms with the food pump).
Measure the proper amount of powdered formula—leveling with a straight edge to get an accurate measurement—and then add the powder to the blender.
Blend until well mixed and the powdered granules are dissolved—this may take a little longer at home. You should see some frothy bubbles when formula is completely mixed.
Set the blended formula aside and let it rest for about 15 minutes to allow the bubbles to settle (bubbles, like granules, can cause errors in the tube feeding.)
Once the mixture has settled, you are ready to give your child a tube feeding. Pour the desired amount into your liquid measuring cup, and then pour that into your tube feeding. Connect the tube feeding to your child’s extension and pump and begin the feeding.
Put any extra formula into a storage container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
If you have any nutrition concerns, be sure to call PHS at 654-642-1825 and ask to speak to any of our registered dietitians.
Do you have any strategies that may help other parents whose children have feeding challenges? Is there a story you’d like to share or any advice or thoughts about formula preparation or recipes? What kinds of experiences have you had with tube feeding your child at home? We’d love to hear from you.
Tube feeding’ is a term that at times may cast a negative light upon an already complex medical situation. However, what is not commonly known are the benefits a tube feeding can provide a growing child. By providing nutrition through the use of a feeding tube, a child that may not be able to obtain adequate or any nutrition by mouth would still be able to grow, thrive, and develop.
