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Feeding tube

mrshumpmrshump
in Preemies
So today my baby drank 40 mm at his 1:00 pm feeding which was the goal. We were excited. He drank it all and slept hard. At 4 pm he only drank 20 mm. Before his 7 pm feeding , his nurse came to tell me that the practitioner was not happy with the drop and he didn't take 40 mm at his next feeding he was going to have to take the tube.
We tried hard at his next feeding but he was tired and not too enthused about eating. So he drank 15 mm and then i cried as I watched his nurse put the tube in his nose and him screaming.
She told me its normal for preemies to do well the first day or two and then have some regression and just be tired. The plan is to offer him the bottle first and whatever he doesn't finish, he will get by tube.
It's now a reality he'll be in the NICU longer than I expected. And I'm heartbroken because of it. I really wish I could do something, anything to make things easier for him and shorten his stay and just get him home but as helpless as he is, is as helpless as I am. And I'm just so sorry.
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Re: Feeding tube

  • MBB41707MBB41707
    I have been there and it is SO hard! For us feeding was so frustrating. I would want to push him to have bottles because I wanted him to master them to get closer to coming home, and so that I would have the opportunity to feed him. However, I now understand that it was important not to push James to take bottles before he was ready because he needed to conserve his energy and get stronger. Finally one day it was like a light went on and he got it, and he was able to feed from bottles with no problem. I know you want your baby to be at that point now, but he will get there soon. And don't be too down on the fact that the feeding tube is back in because when he gets a feed through it instead of a bottle he is saving his energy and getting stronger, and as time goes on he will need the tube less and less. Hang in there!!
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  • zmosszmoss member

    Hi there,

    I too faced a similar situation when my lil boy was born at 34 weeks (after my water broke at 31 and I was on hospital bed rest for 3 weeks before being induced on October 1st).

    My LJ was in the NICU for 15 days, way better than the month and a half he would've spent if he needed to stay until his EDD (11/12). 

    He too required a feeding tube and it was hard for me to see him like that--let alone leave him in the NICU. Truth of the matter is that it was what was best for him--and like a PP poster said one day the nurses said they were going to try and nipple his feeds and then he just took off from there!

    It really is a matter of them gaining the strength to suck and learn to use their suck/breathe reflex. I know that it is very very hard to spend time in the NICU (although you can't seem to get out or pull yourself away!) but in the end he will come back bigger and stronger from it! 

    In the end--so will you. If you need to talk you can always PM me too! 

     

     

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  • MinaE01MinaE01 member
    I am dealing with the same feeding issues and it is so frustrating. My lil guy was born at 32w3d and is now 35w1d. I am trying to be patient but it's so hard when I just want him home! He's doing so well otherwise. I'm really hoping it's like a light switch, as many say, for us and that our babies will take off soon! Hang in there!

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  • PhillyGal34PhillyGal34 member

    I am so sorry... I've been there.  The good news it that you know your LO CAN do it... they just need to build up some stamina.  this is truly one of those things that happens over night.  My son would take a full bottle and then half feedings by bottle/breast and the rest by tube.  One day he got three full feedings by bottle/breast and the next day he suddenly did them all.  I thought for sure it would be one full feeding, then maybe two and build up slowly but once he got it, he got it.  then he pulled his tube out and they decided to see if he could do them all and he did. 

     So the point is, don't get too discouraged, maybe they are saving up energy for the big day which is right around the corner... someone told me that this is the hardest part because you are so close but there is this big obstacle right in front of the door and it is true. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you! 

     

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    Our little hippo was as impatient as mom!

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    Hoping for a full 40 weeks!! 

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  • starrdiva211starrdiva211 member

    Yesterday when I did my LO's 5 o'clock feeding, he was just refusing to take the bottle. We had been at it for 20 mins and all he took was 11ml. At his 8am feeding, he only took 25ml. I was so afraid that the tube would have to go back down his nose (this is our second time having it out) but he eventually woke up and took 36ml (the minimum they want him to take is 35). The neo stated that if he was to go two in a row without taking the minimum then the tube would go back down.

    It is scary and frustrating but he will get the hang of it!

    Lilypie Premature Baby tickers
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