Continuous Tube Feeding
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A person who can't have very much food at one time needs to be fed continuously. Some people are fed day and night. Others are fed only during waking hours or only at night. Start the feedings at the same hours. Before feeding, make sure the food is at room temperature. After each feeding, cover and refrigerate any leftover food.
Start the first daily feeding with a clean feeding bag. After the last feeding, run warm, soapy water through the bag and tubing. Rinse them well and hang to dry.
1. Filling the Feeding Bag
Turn the pump to STOP/OFF.
Close the clamp on the feeding bag tubing.
Pour the prescribed amount of liquid food into the feeding bag.
Hang the feeding bag on the pole above the pump. Make sure the bag tubing hangs straight.
Open the clamp slowly. Let a small amount of food run through the end of the tubing into a measuring cup or bowl. This clears air out of the tubing and helps prevent gas.
Close the clamp on the tubing.
2. Connecting the Feeding Bag
Put the feeding bag tubing through the front of the pump.
Put the tip of the feeding bag tubing into the feeding tube port.
Open the clamp on the feeding bag tubing.
3. Turning on the Pump
Check that the settings on the pump are correct. (You may want to write the settings on a piece of paper. Attach the paper to the pump.)
Turn the pump to START/ON.
Checking Residuals: You may be told to check the amount of feeding left in the stomach (residuals) at given times. If so, you'll be told what to do for different amounts of residuals you find.
Discover leading-edge gastroenterology care. Call Digestive Disease Consultants of Orange County at 949.612.9090 or simply use the Request an Appointment form.
