When you think of feeding a baby you might think of a bottle, formula, or someone saying "breast is always best". However, you probably don't think of syringes, tubes, pumps, or an IV pole. While it is not the norm, it isn't that weird.
Our little ninja was struggling so much when he was eating orally. The doctors gave us a choice, put in the feeding tube during the exploratory surgery or wait and if needed we would do a separate surgery for it. However, they suggested that Easton would probably still need it. I was apprehensive about the tube at first because we saw it as foreign and weird. However, there really is no downside to the feeding tube. If he needed it, we had it. If he didn't need it, all we had to do was flush it with water for a few months and they could take it out. We decided to do it all during one surgery to avoid anesthesia twice.
I struggled with the tube at first. I struggled when the doctors said Easton would probably never use a bottle again. He will probably never nurse again. Most likely, he would move from the tube straight to solids and a sippy cup. One of our fantastic nurses in Children's ICC really helped me come to terms with it. She told me that in kindergarten, no one will know if he ate orally when he was an infant. No one will know if he had only formula, or supplemented breast milk or pure breast milk. However, what will matter in kindergarten is that he is there and thriving. This changed my perspective so much.
While it is still strange sometimes, I am coming to embrace Easton's feeding tube more and more each day. When I see him thriving and happy, it makes me feel so much more secure in our decision to put the tube in right away. I would say that the feeding tube isn't ideal, but it really doesn't hinder us at all. It doesn't slow us down at all! While some may say that breast is best, I say for us...
(TUBE) FED IS BEST
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