Gavage Feeders

[ScammRNC]

How are other units feeding gavage babies? Do you use gravity, slow push or a syringe pump? Does it change from baby to baby or do you do it strictly one way? How about babies that just aren't finishing the bottle yet, do you use the same mode as an all gavage baby?

Has anyone read any studies that compare any of these methods?

[kangarooyou]

We use gravity unless it is a kid with reflux, we use the pump.

Not finishing bottle...the orders we ask for would change. If baby is tired, and not showing feeding ques every feed...then our dr's write nipple every other, or nipple every third etc so the baby has some time to rest and grow a little bit.

If every single feeding is being nippled then gavage the rest...it may be too much for the baby, especially if the weight is not up.

:)

[aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN]

Sometimes it's a nursing call. If we are having a baby who is getting fed say 3mLq3 or even 1mLq3 then we will let gravity do it's job.

Most everyone else gets a syringe pump.

If we have kiddos who are nipple every feed and gavage the rest, if there is a lot left then we put it on the pump. If it's a small amount, less than 10mL, we will gravity it in.