G tube dependent

[Katelynn Plyler]

Hi my LCDH son sent home with g tube . Bottles that are tolerated during day tube what was not taking by bottle and night feeds at night . He was doing amazing and taking his whole feeds by bottle other than his night feeding . His acid reflux got worse he started spitting up and bottle feeding got worse from there. He is now no longer taking anything by mouth , he is completely g tude dependent now . I can't even get him to eat baby food or drink some apple water juice . He is getting speech therapy and is being sent for another swallow study to try and figure out what's going on . My question is has any parent ever had a g tube dependent cherub and they eventually start eating on their own ? I can't stand the thought of him never wanting to eat . I'm fine with the night feeds to keep up his weight but I would like to see him eat and drink durning the day . Please help and tell me your stories

[KarlaHolt]

I hope others can offer some help. I've dealt with some feeding issues but not a G-tube. Hang in there!

[Chris and TracyMeats]

Over my years of helping with CHERUBS, majority of gtube babies we do see they will eventually start eating on their own, but in their own time. It varies and each child is so different.

I don't have personal experience with the gtube. The swallow study is good to do, to check out things. Did they adjust his acid reflux meds as he gained weight? Have they tried different reflux meds to see how he responds. When a child relates eating to pain, they are not going to want to eat.

Some states have feeding therapy in addition to the speech therapy, something to ask about.

[Katelynn Plyler]

The is getting feeding therapy and he had a swallow study done along with upper GI stugy all came back fine he been on different meds no change but I was given so e great advice buy a doctor they told me to make things available to him this seems to be helping a lot

[Chris and TracyMeats]

Definitely make things available to him and let him play with his food at meal times too. Try a variety of sippy cups too, he may like one over the other. Hope the feeding therapy helps too.