You are now ready to look after your own feeding.
The nurse will help you learn how to feed yourself using your feeding tube.
If you have any questions or concerns, please ask your nurse.
We want to help you feel your best and learn how to care for yourself.
At the hospital you have a feeding tube inserted into your stomach.
Here is another example of a feeding tube.
In order to begin your feeding you will need to collect these items first: here they are
one by one.
There are a variety of feedings and formulas.
Here are some examples.
The feed or formulas should be stored at room temperature.
The feeding bag with tubing consists of a plastic bag, a drip chamber, a roller clamp,
and tubing with a tip.
You will also need a sixteen inch catheter type syringe, a glass of warm water to flush
the feeding tube; you will also need an IV pole, or something to hang the bag from.
Some ideas include a coat stand, a hook in the ceiling, a clothes hanger over a door,
or a laundry hook over a door.
A gizmo clamp is next and finally a clean paper towel.
Now you have everything to begin your feeding.
Once you have these items before you begin feeding make sure to wash your hands well
with perfume free soap.
And remember when you dry your hands to use a clean towel and to work on a clean surface.
Shake the can of feeding formula and open it.
Now take your feeding bag and make sure your feeding clamp is closed.
All in one hand hold the bag and tube in an upright position.
Open the top of the feeding bag and pour the formula in.
Close the top of the feeding bag.
Now hang the bag so that it is secure and above the level of your shoulder when you
are feeding.
You must squeeze and release the drip chamber until it is half full of formula.
Remove the cap of the feeding bag tubing and place the end into the now empty formula bag.
Slowly open the roller clamp and let the formula run into the can to get rid of any extra air.
Close the clam again when the liquid reaches the end of the tube and put the cap back on
the end of the feeding bag tubing.
Now you are ready to begin your feeding by pre-flushing the feeding tube with water.
You begin each feeding by checking that your feeding tube is working well and is not blocked.
Flushing the feeding tube with water is the first step.
First, fill a cup with water.
Remove the cap of the syringe and place the tip into the waterline to make sure no air
gets into the syringe.
Fill the syringe with 60 milliliters of room temperature water.
Put the tip of the syringe into the air and squeeze some of the water out of the tip so
that there is no air left in the syringe.
Clamp the tubing with the gizmo clamp.
Don't worry; the gizmo will not cut the tubing.
Another way to close the tube is the kinking method demonstrated here.
Next remove the cap of feeding tube and cap of syringe.
Insert the tip of the syringe into the end of the feeding tube.
Now remove the Gizmo that will unclamp the tubing and flush the feeding tube with the
water in the syringe.
Next, clamp your tube again with the gizmo.
Remove the syringe and replace the cap back on the tubing and the syringe.
Now that you've successfully flushed the feeding tube with water you are ready to begin feeding.
Remove the cap of the feeding bag tubing as well as the cap of your own feeding tube.
Insert the tip of the feeding bag tubing into your feeding tube.
Now unclamp the gizmo on the tube.
Adjust the roller clamp so that the feeding formula drips at whatever rate you were told
by your nurse or dietitian.
Moving the roller clamp up will make the drip go faster and moving the roller clamp down
will make the formula drip slower.
You can sit up in a chair or sit up in bed for the feeding.
Make yourself comfortable but do not lie down.
As long as the feeding bag is above your shoulder you can participate in non-strenuous activities.