Oral Feedings

Hayden had more fun playing with his pudding than he did eating it.

Every day, we spend some time with Hayden practicing eating pureed food or solid, mashable food. Some days we do both. It depends on what the day's schedule brings and what Hayden is willing or able to do that day. We also try to sneak in the sippy cup at least once. Hayden is definitely not a fan of the sippy cup, so it's a brief attempt. I also try to work with him for at least one feed a day with a bottle.

Hayden has not allowed us to feed him with a bottle for quite some time. No way is he letting a nipple in his mouth!! Thankfully, Hayden's speech therapist gave us a special bottle last year called the Haberman feeder. It's a really neat bottle that allows me to squirt Pediasure in his mouth from a distance. Sometimes he does great and we get an entire 5oz bottle down orally. Most of the time, we get just an ounce or two down. Of course, he can't just snuggle in and cooperate. He spends most of the time moving his head from side to side and putting his hands in his mouth--even lefty hand--to try to keep me from getting a squirt in his mouth. He has recently resorted to kicking his legs to make it too hard to get anything down him. As a result, the bottle hasn't been going too well lately.

Food is going so-so. Pureed food is hit or miss. We have to work with foods that are only 1 texture at a time. The slightest lump causes him to gag. This week we tried pudding and yogurt for the first time and they went better than the foods we have been trying. I don't know if they are easier for him to handle since they are thicker, or if he actually likes them so he doesn't move the food around in his mouth as much. It seems the more he moves the food around in his mouth, the more likely he is to gag on it. He seems to be most interested in eating foods that he can control himself such as the arrowroot cookies and puffs made by Gerber. These all dissolve in his mouth easily, so we are comfortable giving this to him under close supervision. Every feeding session involving food involves vomiting at least once at this point. That is why we only try foods with him no earlier than 30 minutes prior to his scheduled Pediasure feeding. By that time, most of his previous feed should be digested so he won't lose as much.

Hayden's schedule for his Pediasure feeding only has one hour of play time a day in it. Many days this is a challenge. Since he is on the pump for 10 hours at night (9pm to 7 am) and needs 4 feedings during the day that are 3 hours apart, we have to be very conscious of the day's schedule as well as the next day's to make any adjustments as necessary. With all of the therapy and doctor's appointment, not counting any special outings, this can be rather challenging in itself. Then, Hayden's reflux has to be factored in. Once he eats, there is no moving him for at least 30 minutes afterwards. Thankfully Nicholas loves to eat. Trying to figure this out for 2 boys...I can't imagine.

Well, there is a stack of bills that needs to be paid and laundry that needs to be put away before I go to bed. That 4:30am alarm is early so I better get to it.