Thickener

Feeding and Swallowing Clinic

We went to Salt Lake City on Monday for the Feeding and Swallowing Clinic. A GI doctor, Nutritionist, and Feeding Therapist observed us and collaborated for Henry’s care plan.

After the g-tube surgery and being on continuous night feeds, Baby Henry has started drinking basically all his daytime feeds orally!! We are thrilled that he stopped projectile vomiting, and is getting hungrier sooner or wanting to eat more.

The doctors determined that his total feeding volume should increase. The goal is to work towards moving the feeding volume to his daytime feeds until there is no need for night feeds (and therefore a feeding tube).

The Feeding Therapist strongly recommended thickening his feeds. He showed “soft signs” of respiratory distress like fast breathing and taking extra breaths to catch up. Even though other providers have suggested thickening before (including in his swallow study), it was not strongly advised and only now is it possible for us. He’s now keeping food down and my mental health is improved enough to be able to add to our daily routine.

Baby Henry refused the milk they tried thickening with bananas. We will be thickening with gel mix instead which is tasteless and odorless, so it shouldn’t change his milk except for the texture.

To prevent overworking his lungs and airway, he will get an extra 5th feeding but only through the g-tube instead of a bottle.

He is almost 6 months adjusted when we can try solids, but any of that food would be for enjoyment and not count towards his daily nutritional needs.

My sister met us at the hospital, and was a wonderful helper holding Baby as I answered all the providers’ questions. We caught up over lunch before heading home.

Thickening at Feeding Therapy

On Friday our feeding therapist walked us through thickening Baby Henry’s feeds. I can prepare thickened liquid for the day in one batch and just add formula powder to it. The prepared thickened liquid can sit at room temperature for 24hrs until ready to use. It’s not too much more work but it does take longer, which Baby doesn’t always appreciate when he wants his milk right this second.

Now I can use our travel warmer every day since it shows me the temperature of the water being warmed, making thickening easier.

Using thickener is not meant to be a long term solution, just enough for Baby Henry to learn the rhythm and muscles needed to eat properly. The goal is to wean off the thickener as soon as possible.

For now our food prep counter looks like this.

-Kat