G-tube mamas

butterflygrooves · June 2013

Owl's rumination has been awful lately, vomiting everything she eats. She says she wants to eat when I call the kids to the table then forces herself to vomit, it's happening with everything she consumes. Our Dr. had talked about a g-tube last year but let us try Pediasure/a high calorie diet which has gotten her to gain 2 lbs but with the amount she is vomiting now I'm wondering if a g-tube would be in her best interest. We don't see the GI until the end of July but we can see the pedi at any time, should I ask about possibly looking into it? What are the benefits/drawbacks? Will she still be able to vomit the feeds?

DixieNormous330 · June 2013

Unfortunately, she will still be able to vomit the feeds. But depending on when you do them could help that issue.

DD's weak jaw and tongue are a big part of why we ended up going with a g-tube. We need to build up those muscles so she can eat independently. She was very underweight and in just 3 months she's put on 5lbs.

We do over night feeds, supplementing what she gets during the day. That being said, she will sometimes vomit do to getting hysterical if we try to CIO, or if she's very congested/snotty that will sometimes cause her to puke.

Also, a g-tube alters the angle of the stomach making reflux and vomiting a little easier to happen. Doesn't always happen, but it is a possibility.

With a dose of zantac and an allergy med every day, DD has been puking a LOT less.

Did that novel answer your question?

fleurdlis · June 2013

DD has a Gtube because of brain damage suffered from encephalitis. Prior to that, she had an NG tube (nose to belly), and would reflux at the end of feeds. The doctor did a Nissen while putting in her Gtube. She has not had any refluxing since the procedure. She can vomit if she needs to, but it is very hard because of the Nissen. The bad thing about the Gtube is that I feel she has really gotten dependent on it, and there are days she just doesn't eat by mouth because it takes more work.

zoeyandsummersmom · June 2013

G-tube because of failure to thrive/brain bleed/stroke at birth. She would not take enough by mouth to gain weight. She puked almost daily for months with the g-tube and then it stopped. She will spit up a little some times but now it is pretty rare.

Between high calorie formula + duocal - feedings via g-tube since January she has gained over 7 lbs! She went backward in oral feeding for awhile but now is taking whole cow milk from a sippy cup (or straw or toddler cup) and is taking some food via pouch every day. We try to feed her before we do any g-tube bolus feedings throughout the day. We have started to reduce the amount of calories she receives via g-tube and get her to take more orally.

Not sure why your little one is vomitting. Could it be a control issue?

butterflygrooves · June 2013

dcmetrobride:
nbsp; Could it be a control issue? nbsp;

Yes, it's a control issue, this is why I give her a choice to eat when I call the kids to the table. I don't mind if she doesn't want to eat but I do mind that says she wants to eat and throws up to show her control.

babymomma623 · June 2013

DS has had an ng or g-tube since birth because of CHD and oral aversion being severe. The G-tube for us is much better than the NG tube. It isn't too bad to take care of. He does vomit feeds sometimes. The ability to feed during the night may help your child gain weight without vomiting.

We have the Mic-Key button and our first one failed in the middle of the night and we didn't know until morning and luckily the stoma had not closed. I think having a g-tube stresses me out sometimes, but we have no other choice at this point. If I could have avoided it, I would have.

Talk to your doctors and check out feedingtubeawareness.com They have some good info and great success stories.

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