Tube Feed 101

Tube feedings aren't as simple as they seem. Here's a minute by minute rundown of procedure:
- 0 mins - Heat up the Glucerna. It apparently can't be microwaved and hence the tin goes in a hot water bath or large cup.
- 5 mins - Prop up the Daddy at a 45 deg angle. This helps with the food going down the tube. Check mittens and restraints.
- 6 mins - Prepare a empty small bowl for the acid test and another of water for bubble-bubble-toil-and-trouble test. Place an acid test strip nearby. Also have drinking water nearby.
- 7 mins - Wipe large syringe and feeding tube end. Insert syringe into feeding tube end. Pull out a few ml of stomach contents.
- 8 mins - Remove syringe from feeding tube. Cap the tube end. Squish out stomach contents (or whatever comes out of the tube in layman terms) into empty small bowl. Dip acid test strip to regurgitate.
- 9 mins - Check used acid test strip with colour chart on back of acid test strips box. At this time, one needs to visually match the regurgitate test strip with colour chart to determine acidity or pH level of stomach contents. If match shows a pH of 7 or less, it's half OK to feed the Daddy.
- 10 mins - Get the small bowl of water. Put open end of feeding tube into the water. If there are bubbles, call the doctor. It means that the tube is compromised! It leads to the lungs! Otherwise, it's a clear signal to begin the feeding.
- 11 mins - Retrieve the Glucerna. Give it a good shake and open the tab to expose the goodness to the germs in the air. Seriously, that's what happens doesn't it.
- 12 mins - Re-insert the syringe into the feeding tube end but kink the tubing nearest the end so that air doesn't get in. Hold the syringe up in the air. Pour 50ml of Glucerna down the transparent syringe of measurement, release the kink and let gravity and stomach pressure take care of the flow.

(All this while I have to ensure Daddy isn't being naughty and attempting another prison-break of the tubular kind.)

- 14 mins - I have found that it takes about 20 secs for 10ml to flow down the hatch. So at about 14mins, I pour in another 50ml.
- 16 mins - See 14 mins entry.
- 18 mins - See 16 mins entry.
- 20 mins - It's generally consumed by now and to top off the vanilla-flavoured beige-coloured thick liquid, I have to kink the tube again and add 20ml of drinking water. This helps to remove any clogs in the tube, a quick wash of sorts.
- 21 mins - Remove syringe and wipe down feeding tube end and cap well.
- 22 mins - Wash the syringe and bowls. Throw away acid test strip and other tissue paper casualties.
- 24 mins - Entertain the Daddy for half hour (or so) in the angled position so that digestion proceeds well and good.
- 54 mins - Return Daddy to pre-feeding alignment. Check mittens and restraints.

Woof.