After reading a bunch of older posts on aspirating and swallow studies..I have a bunch of questions. Lakai my ex 24 weeker who is now 4 months corrected came home with a G-tube because he aspirated on all liquids.
He has had two follow up studies and while he is doing better, he is still aspirating on even thickened liquids.
Is anyone out there who has a preemie who aspirated on even thicken liquids avoided a gtube? Were you able to continue orally feeding your baby even though they still were aspirating?
Is this safe?
I am really frustrated because Lakai is an avid breastfeeder (I am allowed to put him on a pre pumped breast) and lately I have been putting him on a less than pre pumped breast because one side produces a LOT less milk and comes out very slowly..eight months of pumping lets you really get to know your milk/supply/breasts. He is doing just fine. In fact he now expects it anytime he is in the cradle hold (even with his 12 year old uncle! LOL) and roots like a mad man. I feel so guilty I cannot provide him with more.
I want to push for a chance to do this more, but I am not sure its best for him..or what.
Since the NICU he has had only one health issue (aside from the dirty ENT scope *sigh*) which was basically momma freaking out over nothing. And he also had very little issues with his lungs in the hospital.
Over the last few months his reflux has settled out and he has not spat up/refluxed in at least a month now. From doing it almost once daily! *knock on wood*
I really want to start feeding him more orally, even the neonatal doc at his 4 month follow up said and I quote "I would like to see him feeding more orally and I do not put much weight into feeding/swallow studies, but its up to your ped". We have a ped appointment after our next swallow study (the 7th) and I want to be armed with info about why I should be allowed to try to breast feed him more...or at least bottle him on thickened liquids.
My little man is an eater and I dont want to get to a point where he isnt interested anymore. Right now he is a monster with his oral skills..and I do not want to lose that. Plus it sure would be nice to have him have a normal feeding exp as a baby!
So please help arm me with info/your stories/research..whatever you have!!
Already a member? Sign in
Welcome to Inspire!
What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.
Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.
How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!
Aspirating, swallow studies, g-tubes oh my..
- By LakaisMom
- Posted July 3, 2009 at 4:28 am · 4 replies
- In Open discussion
- Shared with the public
4 replies
- Oldest first
- Newest first
- By mominpa
- Posted July 3, 2009 at 12:26 pm
- Report post
I was told not to feed by mouth if aspiration is happening because of the risk of getting pnomonia (sp) My daughter also aspirated but only thin liquids. They should be hooking you up with EI with an OT and you should be seeing a feeding specialist, atleast thats what i do here. Her ped wont touch her feeds even though he specializes in special needs children because he feels better with the doctors, speech theropist etc that do that kind of stuff daily. I would not feed orally but i would do oral stimulation. Good luck
- By joy2dizzy
- Posted July 4, 2009 at 10:48 am
- Report post
hi my daughter who is 2 mos chronologically but 4 weeks corrected is going through almost a similar situation. she was aspirating and the developmental ped suggested rice cereal to thicken breast milk. it worked for about a week then i started seeing cues of her being under distress--her body wriggling, teary eyes, pulling away. they then suggested to blend the rice cereal to make into powder and gave us the "red nipples" from nicu which apparently are softer and slower flow for thickened milk. she is a bit better but at times she looks like she has aspirated some liquid. i asked if we could purchase simply thick but they were against it since it may lead to nec. im hoping she will get better as well b/c we want to avoid the g-tube at all costs. maybe you should ask your doc about rice cereal too...good luck. keep us updated
- By stephca
- Posted July 4, 2009 at 1:16 pm
- Report post
My son developed aspiration pneumonia in NICU and they put him on pulmicort. The pulmonologist said that this was a preventive measure since aspiration is more common in babies with cleft palates. No one ever suggested we get a Gtube. However, my son's barium swallow study and milk scan showed no aspiration. He aspirated while recovered from surgery. (Pushed him too hard, too fast). Aspiration has not been a problem for him since (or the pulmicort has taken care of it anyway). He is still on pulmicort at 1 year old.
- By seo
- Posted July 4, 2009 at 2:12 pm
- Report post
I don't have any words of advice, but I wanted to let you know that I'm praying for you and Lakai. I hope the feeding and breastfeeding work out for you guys. I know that I wanted so badly to nurse Gideon, and have been lucky. I hope you can too!
Add to the discussion