| Nasogastric (NG) tube: Feeding your child | 2457.00000000000 | Nasogastric (NG) tube: Feeding your child | Nasogastric (NG) tube: Feeding your child | N | English | Gastrointestinal | Child (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | Nose;Esophagus;Stomach | Esophagus;Stomach | Non-drug treatment | Caregivers
Adult (19+) | NA | | 2017-06-08T04:00:00Z | | | | | | 5.20000000000000 | 80.5000000000000 | 524.000000000000 | | Health (A-Z) - Procedure | Health A-Z | <p>A guide on how to feed your child through a nasogastric tube, when to flush the tube and how to clean the equipment.</p> | <p>The following information provides instructions on feeding your child through their nasogastric (NG) tube. When at home, feeding through the NG tube should be done by gravity.</p> | | <h2>Key points</h2><ul><li>Flush the tube at the end of every feed and after each medicine.</li><li>Clean the feeding bag and tubing with warm soapy water.</li><li>You must check the placement of the NG tube each time it is inserted, used for feeds or to give medications.</li></ul> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | <h2>Feeding your child through the NG tube</h2><div class="akh-series"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-12">
<figure><img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/NG_tube_feeding_by_gravity_EQUIP_ILL_EN.jpg" alt="Connect tubes and roller clamp on infusion tubing for attaching a feeding bag to a child’s NG tube" /> </figure>
<ol><li>Gather the following equipment:</li><ul><li>adapters</li><li>5 or 10 mL syringe</li><li>prepared formula</li><li>feeding bag</li><li>infusion tubing</li><li>IV pole</li></ul><li>Wash your hands.</li></ol></div></div><div class="row"><div class="col-md-12">
<figure>
<img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/NG_tube_check_placement_acid1_EQUIP_ILL_EN.jpg" alt="Two millilitres of liquid in a syringe attached to an NG tube" /></figure>
<figure>
<img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/NG_tube_check_placement_acid2_EQUIP_ILL_EN.jpg" alt="pH test papers and a pH colour guide" /></figure>
<ol start="3"><li>Check the correct tube placement.</li><ul><li>Attach the empty 10 mL syringe to the adapter and gently flush with air to clear the tube. Then pull back on the plunger to withdraw about 2 mL of stomach contents.</li><li>Wet pH testing paper with the stomach fluid and compare the color with the label on the container. For the majority of children, the colour on the strip should be less than 4. For children who are on stomach acid suppressing medications or who have just fed, the colour on the strip should be less than 6. Ask your health-care provider what colour to expect. The colour on the strip should match a number no higher than _____.</li></ul><li>If you believe the NG tube is not correctly placed, remove it and try again. If you have trouble pulling back some stomach fluid to do the pH test, try the following:</li><ul><li>Use a larger syringe and draw back more gently to prevent collapsing the tube.</li><li>Push in 1 to 2 mL of water or air through the NG tube into the stomach and gently draw back on the syringe.</li><li>Change your child’s position by having them lie on their right or left side for a few minutes to move the position of the tube in the stomach.</li></ul></ol></div></div><div class="row"><div class="col-md-12">
<figure>
<span class="asset-image-title">Closing the clamp on the infusion tubing</span>
<img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/NG_tube_infusion_tube_clamp_EQUIP_ILL_EN.jpg" alt="An open clamp and a closed clamp on infusion tubing" />
<figcaption class="asset-image-caption">Roll the wheel downward on the clamp of the infusion tubing to close off the tube. Roll the wheel back up to open the tube again.</figcaption> </figure>
<figure><span class="asset-image-title">Handling the feeding bag</span>
<img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/NG_tube_feeding_bag_EQUIP_ILL_EN.jpg" alt="Pouring formula into feeding bag and closing the seal on the feeding bag" /> </figure>
<ol start="5"><li>Close the clamp on the infusion tubing.</li><li>Pour the prepared formula into the feeding bag, close the seal tightly and hang the bag on the IV pole.</li><li>Open the clamp to allow the feeding solution to push all the air out of the infusion tubing. Close the clamp once you see the fluid drip out of the end of the tubing.</li><li>Connect the tubing to your child’s NG tube. The air in your child’s NG tube will not cause problems.</li><li>Open the clamp far enough to get the desired rate of flow. To do this watch how fast the formula drips - a faster drip means the feed will go in quicker.</li><li>When the feed is done, close the clamp and remove the infusion tubing from the NG tube. Set it aside.</li><li>Cap off the NG tube.</li><li><p>If your child keeps their feeding tube in, flush the tube with 5 mL of water to clear any formula residue between feeds. Use the attached plug to close the tube.</p><p>If your child does not keep their feeding tube in all the time, about 30 minutes after the feed, hold up the end the tube so that it can drain into the child. Remove the tape and gently remove the tube.</p></li></ol></div></div></div> | <h2>When to flush the tube</h2><p>Flush the NG tube:</p><ul><li>At the end of every feed</li><li>After giving medication</li></ul><h2>Cleaning your equipment</h2><ul><li>Flush the feeding bag and tubing with warm soapy water. To rinse well, let the water flow through the tubing and into the sink. Allow the tube and bag air dry. Throw away the bag and infusion tubing into your regular garbage bin every seven days and get a new one. </li><li>Take apart the syringes and wash syringes with warm soapy water. Rinse well with warm, clear water and let air dry. Use a new syringe every seven days. Throw away used syringes into your regular garbage bin.</li><li>Syringes and feeding bags can be discarded in regular garbage bins.<br></li></ul> | | | | | <p>For more information, please see <a href="/Article?contentid=984&language=English">Nasogastric (NG) tube: How to insert your child's NG tube</a> and <a href="/Article?contentid=2456&language=English">Nasogastric (NG) tube feeding: Common problems</a>.</p> | | | | | | | | | https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/NG_tube_feeding_by_gravity_EQUIP_ILL_EN.jpg | Nasogastric (NG) tube: Feeding your child | | False | | | | | | |
