Posted by Kelly
on 1/20/2011, 10:31 am, in reply to "NGtube Spitting Up"
204.237.67.66
My 6 month old son Travis has had a similar journey. He was never taking much by bottle and it became such a fight that I quit when he has around 3 months. He was also gagging to the point the he would spit up. I made the decision to get the G-tube. It was explained to me that the NG tube prevents the sphincter at the top of the stomach from completely closing as it normally would. This allows stomach acid to escape, causing reflux and making them aspirate. This will make feeding painful, and probably the reason why Travis didn't want to do it anymore. The moment we decided to get the G-tube I quit trying to bottle feed. I figured I had 2 months till our appointment which may be enough time for him to forget about the negative experiences he had feeding by mouth. After a week I started 'playing in his mouth'. I'd brush his gums, let him bite my finger's, anything to get him comfortable with things being in his mouth. He had his G-tube insearted on Dec 09/10.
The week after we got home I started putting small amounts of watered down rice cereal in his mouth. He was 5 months and was able to swallow. I slwoly started uping the amount's to what he could handle and then adjusting his tube feeds accordingly.
It has been six weeks and he is almost up to eating as many solids as other 6 month old babies! I am now experimenting with different sippy cups to try to find one that will allow him to drink in a couple of months without having to suck a whole lot. For now I just let me bite on mouth pieces with no liquid in the cup. Maybe next month I'll start with a tiny amount of apple juice. I never gave the other two sweets first, but with Travis I give him the good stuff first to start him off and then have worked over to healthy.
The g-tube comes with it's own set of issues; not so much the tube itself but the area around the tube. Regardless I would still recommend it. We were told that Travis will not have his palate repaired until he is 18-24 months. Replacing the ng-tube twice a day would have been too stressful on both of us. Travis is doing well and thriving. I realize every child's case is unique. We have been blessed that he has done as well as he has. Good luck with your son!
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