The Value of the NG Tube in Children
Being told that your kid needs an NG tube can feel horrible. You know in that moment that they can’t do something for themselves that should be as easy as breathing. However if your child is unable to consume food at all or can’t eat enough to grow then these little plastic tubes can change or even save their life. As a dad to two wonderful kids who depend on NG tubes, I’ve seen first hand how these little lifesavers work. If you’re here reading then I assume you have a little one who is tube fed.
It’s called enteral feeding and it means liquid nourishment can be delivered straight into the stomach without the need to eat, chew or swallow. Nasogastric tubes, slender and soft, are carefully threaded up through their little nose, down their throats, sliding through the oesophagus and into the stomach. For my two it meant that they could get the calories they need without expending the little energy they had, on eating.
From the get-go, feeding was a mountain of a challenge for them. Why? Well, we’re still piecing that puzzle together. What’s crystal clear, though, is that without these tubes, things would have been bleak. They’ve been our saving grace, stepping in for all their nutritional needs, delivering all the vitamins and things that their bodies needed to be healthy and grow. But, let’s be real – it hasn’t been all smooth sailing.
If you’ve stumbled upon this post with a fresh NG tube experience or you’re in a hospital corridor awaiting its insertion, I’m here to share the raw and real side of it. And hey, if you’re a fellow dad navigating this journey, I’m all ears – drop me a line or catch me on social media. We’re often in the shadows when it comes to support and conversation about this, and it’s time we broke that silence.
The journey begins with the tube’s insertion – not the most pleasant of experiences for our little ones, and definitely needing skilled hands. As parents, you can opt to learn this – it’s tough but doable. Once the tube is in, thankfully, the discomfort eases significantly.
Keeping the tube in place is the next hurdle. It’s got these handy markings to guide how deep it should go and to check if it’s shifted. If it gets blocked or comes loose, you’re looking at replacing it – not fun, but part of the journey.
What, Where, and How?
Ever wondered why the nose, not the mouth? It’s all about precision. The esophagus and lungs are pretty cozy neighbors in the chest, so going through the nose makes sure the tube heads straight to the stomach, bypassing the lungs. Once settled in, the tube becomes this versatile channel for various feeds – from formula to breast milk, and even medication.
The Art of Distraction
Hospital visits and procedures can be scary for kids. That’s where distraction comes in – a tool health play specialists swear by. As a dad, I’ve seen the magic of distraction work wonders during tube insertions. It could be anything – their favourite cartoon, a bubble show, whatever works. Sometimes it’s a two-parent job – one for holding, one for inserting.
And my wife, she’s a star at this. Singing, making funny faces – it’s about making it as stress-free as possible for them. Our own calmness as parents plays a big role too, helping the kids stay relaxed and cooperative.
Each child’s NG feed is like a custom-made nutrient cocktail, designed to give them exactly what they need. It’s a fantastic way to boost their diet, especially if eating enough is a struggle.
The Kit
When you first start with NG feeding, it’s usually gravity-fed. All the bits and pieces fit together like a puzzle – the tube has a female threaded end, while the ‘giving sets’ and syringes are male threaded.
The tube, once in, is anchored with special stickers on the cheek. Choosing the right sticker is a bit of an art – it’s about age, how curious their little hands are, and how their skin reacts. If there’s irritation, a barrier cream like Cavilon No Sting Barrier Film can be really help.
To brighten things up, we’ve gone for patterned stickers from Tubie Cheeks. There’s some really fun patterns they make.
The ‘giving sets’ are single-use tubes connecting the NG tube to the feed. You could be doing gravity feeds or using a feeding pump.
Gravity feeding is straightforward – connect the giving set (a longer plastic tube that attaches to the NG tube for the duration of a feed) to a large syringe, remove the plunger, and let gravity do its thing, dripping the feed through the tube into their little bellies.
With a pump, you prepare a bottle of feed, attach it to the giving set, and mount it on a stand. The pump works in bursts, imitating natural eating. It’s all about getting the right feeding volume and speed, set based on your child’s needs, as advised by a dietitian.
Before feeding, a quick check is essential to ensure the tube’s still in the right spot. This involves drawing up some stomach contents with a syringe and checking it with an indicator stick. After feeding or medication, a flush with cooled boiled water keeps everything in order.
For on-the-go needs like school, there are custom bags that disguise the whole setup. They look like regular backpacks but have clever compartments for the bottle and pump, even standing up on their own when in use.
The NG Tube User Manual: Contact and Training
Bringing your child home with a tube means regular visits from community paediatric nurses, keeping you stocked with tubes and syringes. Supplies like formula and giving sets typically come from companies like Abbott.
Having a solid action plan for any hiccups is crucial. Keep a list of emergency contacts – your child’s doctor, nurse, dietitian, and the hospital emergency department – in an easily accessible place. If you’re child is in school, then a ‘spares kit’ with everything you need to replace the tube might be a good idea.
Then there’s the training. It can be daunting at first. I didn’t go through it, but my wife did, and she’s become quite the pro. Don’t shy away from asking for extra training or clarity from your child’s healthcare team.
If tube feeding is a long-haul journey, your pediatrician might bring up the option of a surgical ‘peg’ or ‘button’ implant. But that’s another story for another time.