Feeding Tube Awareness Week

It's feeding tube awareness week again. Time to spread awareness as well as facts. Time to break the stereotypes.

What do I hate most about the feeding tube?
The stares I get from strangers when I take my son out in public while on his feed. He's only 18 months now but soon he will be old enough to recognize the looks of strangers and those looks are going to make him feel different, out of place, and maybe even like a "freak". As it is I get glares, questioning looks, and looks of distaste from strangers who see Liam on a feeding tube. No child, or parent should have to deal with this stress.

Commonly asked questions:

Why does your child need a feeding tube?
The requirement of feeding tubes can vary from a medical condition, failure to thrive or many other reasons. In Liam's case he was Failure To Thrive (FTT). He couldn't eat enough orally to keep up with the additional calories his body required to grow and thrive. He would get tired halfway through a feeding, be breathing fast and just fall asleep on me. This is the case for many infants with or even without other medical conditions.

How long will your child be on a feeding tube?
This is a question I get asked a lot. Its hard to say how long a child will require a feeding tube as it depends on the child. Every child is different and has different needs. In Liam's case it started out with the doctors thinking he would only need his feeding tube for a year. Then the time line changed to possibly age 2 when he got his Gtube. Now that he has a GJtube and has a oral aversion to food theyre thinking he will need it 4 more years. When I get asked this question I simply respond "He will need the feeding tube until he is able to eat by mouth and gain weight without using the tube." There is no set timeline as to how long a child will need a feeding tube.

How many types of feeding tubes are there?
NG
G
NJ
ND
GJ
J
TPN
(Click here to find out more about these)

The Feeding Tube Awareness Foundation offers a lot of information about feeding tubes and spreading awareness.

Lets use this week and spread awareness any way we can. Post on Facebook or Tumblr. Tweet about it, post pics on instagram about spreading awareness. Examples of hashtags you can use: #feedingtubeawareness #i<3atubie #tubielove

If you have any tips on how to prevent feeding tubes from being pulled out, how to keep an active child near their pump or any other tips please share with us. You can post in comments, email us your tips or post on our Facebook page.

NG (Naso Gastric): Runs from the nose to the stomach