[arkansas parent]

I just got home after being gone all day (left at 3:45a.m got home at 8:15pm)And we had an email about 2 possible matches(not related). Our only concern is one little girl has a feeding tube. Her doctor said she should out grow it. I will be emailing/calling tomorrow for more info. What are the reasons a child might need to be tube feed? (she is 3yrs)

The other litttle girl is 6yrs old and has behavior issues in the past but is doing better. I will be asking alot of question about her.
I was so tired from hiking all day. Now I don't think I can sleep.

[SuzBerg]

I am NOT an expert on feeding tubes (there are a few on the boards who are so hopefully they will post). My daughter has not had a feeding tube but we thought she might need one and I've done a little bit of research and talked to doctors about it.

I would think the reasons for needing a feeding tube might be (again I'm not an expert), Failure to Thrive, Severe Reflux, other GI issues, Feeding Issues (my daughter hated to eat) among other things.

[athikers]

My foster son is tube feed for several reasons.

One: He was a 25 weeker and was intibated (sp?) for so long that his palate is malformed and he cannot suck as well as a typical child. So... he couldn't drink his bottle well enough to take in enough calories to grow.

Two: As a young infant he was aspirating his formula when given orally

Three: He has gastoesophageal reflux disease (he refluxes in the form of projectile vomit, which makes it painful and uncomfortable to eat - so he does not want to).

Four: He has a lung disease which makes it difficult for him to gain weight, so even now that he is eating some orally, he needs the supplementary calories he gets through the tube to gain/maintain his weight

And Five: He hates to eat (possibly due to #3).

I will tell you that Teeter's feeding issues are what finally made us decide we could not parent him forever (remaining a straight foster placement now that he is very likely going to need an adoptive home). It is very challenging to sit down to meal after meal and have your child kick, scream, throw their food, vomit, etc when you just want to have a peaceful family meal. So, it is my hope for you that your foster child LIKES to eat and there is some other underlying issues as to why they need the tube.

[devildogwife]

My son is again on a feeding tube for a variety of reasons. When he was born, he was on an NG tube for a few weeks, but was able to bottle feed finally. He is now on an NJ tube (and has been for a while) for many of the same reasons that athikers stated:

-after being intubated for over 6 weeks, he developed severe reflux and aspirated last week. His reflux is very dangerous

-he has a paralyzed left vocal cord (from surgery) and cannot protect his airway due to that

-severe lung disease

-after all he has been through these past 9 weeks, he just does not have the energy to eat. Sometimes, too many calories are burned through a normal feeding and the child can't gain any weight. My son's hypoallergenic formula is supplemented with oil so he can gain weight.

After my son's next open heart surgery, we will have to look at more permanent feeding options, most likely. He'll probably be needing a G button with fundo.

[Lylac]

Abbie is tube fed, and I can honestly say that it's the easiest thing we've ever done..as far as things to take care of our kids...and like some other moms have said to me before ALL kids should have feeding tubes, so that when they don't wanna eat or they are sick, you can fill em up and not worry about nutrition.

Abbie is on one because she asperates on everything(goes straight to her lungs)..even thicker foods. She has GERD and other various dx.

Our new son that will be coming home sometimes this Summer is also tube fed.

So if it was "MY" choice between the two children that you are being offered...hands down! I'd choose the tube feeder

Abbie is by far our easiest baby now, since getting her fundo & tube. She's amazingly progressing in weight and development.

[arkansas parent]

Here is what I found out.
3yr old has possible Russell Silver Syndrome, Asthma (controlled), prone to upper respitory infections. She had a G-tube put in when she was around 2mo old. She does eat by mouth, but not alot

6yr old. Has ADHD. Most of her problems are school related. No history of aggression toward other children. Use to have meltdowns in former foster home. But is doing better in her current home. (fewer kids) Goes to therapy 2x's a week due to her ADHD.

Lylac, We are fairly active people. Would a tube fed child be o.k going out camping, hiking, swimming.

[athikers]

Tube feeders can swim as long as their tube site is healed and well-fitting.

Lylac... good point, its not the tube feeding itself that is difficult and I may have come across that way. If we could JUST tube feed Teeter, that aspect of his care would be easy as can be. But alas, we are trying to teach oral feeds too and it is not so easy. So, when I said "feeding issues" I was more referring to the constant struggle to try to encourage him to eat without making him hate food more.

[JessicaBaker]

I have a tube feeder (foster) who will turn one in a week. I would choose the non-aggressive 6 year old with ADHD in a heartbeat.

But that's because of my personality. I don't do well with struggling everyday to make sure a baby gets enough to eat. Sometimes I lie awake at night wondering how on earth I'm supposed to get the 30+ ounces the doctor ordered into him the next day.

To make it worse, he can now vomit up the contents of nearly an entire bottle at will. At first I thought it was coincidence, but it's happened enough that I'm fairly certain it isn't. Trying a new flavor of baby food elicits the same response.

Sorry for rambling. Anyway, you need to make your decision based on what you feel most comfortable with. Try to talk to the previous foster parents to get a feel on how manageable the behaviors (for both kids) are. Then go with your gut.

About camping etc. you'll want to find out if the child has "bolus" or "continuous" feeds. Bolus means one big feed a time and is often done during the day. Continous feeds usually happen at night. A feeding pump is necessary for continuous feeds and the battery doesn't last that long (I think only a couple of hours). It may be hard to find a place to plug it in while camping.

[Lylac]

Ath, I knew exactly what you meant. I know the trials that you've had with Teeter

With my lil tubbie, I'd have no problems at all taking her camping, swimming (if her site was healed) or any other activity. But thats just me, I'm used to always managing things..no matter what we want to do.

I've given Abbie a bolus walking down the aisles of WalMart, and think nothing of it...nor the folks starring at me while I do it. For me it's no different than giving her a bottle..if she was bottle fed.

Abbie has a Kangaroo ePump for continuious at night, and it stays charged for at least 24 hours. I know alot of folks hate the Kangaroo..but so far it's been fine.

AP when it comes down to it..your the one that has to weigh all the pro's & con's for each child, then make your own mind up.

I've laways said that I'll take a medically fragile/dev delayed/disabled child over an emotionally disabled child anyday...I just can't do it. BUT I bow down to ALL the parents that can and are doing it.

[arkansas parent]

We are not going to accept the 3yr old. We feel we can not provide for her needs. We are going to move forward with the 6yr old. TPR will be on Tuesday.Her AS is going to fax the adoption summery to my AS.
She seems to have a lot of the same behavior issues T has/had.

[Lylac]

Congrats on making a decision!! And since you've already experienced simuliar issues, I'm sure you'll feel more at ease. Thats why I only take kids with the same problems. I'm comfortable with it.

Good Luck and keep us updated