At Sunshine Pediatric Day Centers, we understand that learning your child needs a G-Tube Feeding can be an overwhelming diagnosis and that being informed about your child’s treatment is important for you as a parent. A Gastrostomy Tube is a medical tool used to treat children with severe medical conditions. In this blog post, we hope to provide some understanding of what a G Tube is and why it may be necessary for your child.
A gastrostomy tube involves surgically inserting a tube through the abdomen and into the stomach to deliver nutrition. This surgical option is used when children are not able to eat enough food by mouth to maintain or gain weight or have difficulty swallowing or tolerating different textures of food. A G Tube allows for liquid nutrition, such as formula or breast milk, to be given directly into the stomach, providing essential nutrients necessary for growth and development. 
Feeding via a G Tube can happen in many different ways: Continuous feeding is when a continuous stream of nutrition is delivered throughout the day with the use of a feeding pump. Intermittent feeding involves infusing short amounts of nourishment at scheduled times with breaks in between the feedings with the use of a feeding pump. Bolus feedings involve delivering large amounts of nutrition in a short period of time via a syringe without the use of a feeding pump.
When deciding if G-Tube Feeding is necessary for a child, the medical team will take into account the child’s health history, current medical condition, and health goals. Factors that can make a G Tube necessary include failure to thrive, decreased appetite or difficulty eating/drinking, food allergies or sensitivities, chronic vomiting or frequent episodes of aspiration pneumonia (lung infection), and developmental delays that make it difficult for the patient to consume enough nutrients through oral feedings alone.
Our team is available to help guide you through every step of your child’s diagnosis and treatment. We work with families to determine if a G Tube placement is an appropriate course of action for your child’s individual needs. If it is determined that your child needs a G Tube, our team will help you to understand the process and provide helpful tips for using a G Tube and your child’s new equipment. We are here to ensure that you have the knowledge and resources necessary to give your child the best possible care.
At Sunshine Pediatric Day Centers, we value every child’s individual health needs and strive to provide our families with comprehensive care. If your child has been diagnosed with a condition that requires a G Tube, we are here to help. Our team is available to answer any questions you may have and provide support every step of the way. 
About Sunshine Pediatric Day Centers
From medical administration to tube feed and tracheostomy care to physical, speech, and occupational therapy, we provide the essential special needs child care you are looking for while also incorporating enriching educational activities. Additionally, our program offers stimulation and safe interaction with other children. Rest assured that our medical team focuses on helping your special needs child achieve as much function and independence as possible. Our mission has always been to enhance the growth and development of each child with an individualized Plan of Care that sets measurable goals for progress. This involves clinical care, therapy services, and enriching educational activities. Under our medical director, our pediatric registered nurses follow an individualized plan of care developed in coordination with each child’s physician and family. Contact us today by calling 972-882-9498 or emailing us at Info@sunshinepediatricdaycenter.com. 
Sources:
https://www.stlouischildrens.org/conditions-treatments/g-tube-feeding 
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007179.htm 
https://www.chocchildrens.org/health-library/gastrostomy 
https://www.hopkinsallchildrens.org/GastricTubeFeedingParent