Tube feeding Mō te whāngai ki te ngongo
Tube feeding is a way of providing nutrition to your body. It is also called enteral nutrition. You might need to tube feed if you have a condition or illness that means you cannot eat, or you cannot eat enough.
The feeding tube
When you tube feed, a special liquid formula (also called feed) goes through a feeding tube into your stomach or upper part of your small bowel (small intestine). The formula provides all the nutrients you need to stay healthy.
Tubes can go to different places along your digestive tract.
- A nasogastric tube (NG tube) goes up your nose and down into your stomach.
- A nasojejunal tube (NJ tube) goes up your nose, down through your stomach, and into a part of your small bowel below your stomach (the jejunum).
- A gastrostomy tube (G-tube) goes directly into your stomach through a hole (a stoma) in your tummy (abdomen) wall.
There are 2 types of gastrostomy tube, which describe how the tube is fitted:
- percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)
- radiologically inserted gastrostomy (RIG).
Your healthcare provider will decide which type of feeding tube is best for you.
Tube feeding using a nasogastric tube or a gastrostomy tube, and showing a syringe used to deliver the feed.
What type of feed you will have
There are different types of feed. Your dietitian will choose one that best meets your nutrition needs.
Your dietitian will prescribe the feed. The feed is fully subsidised, but you may have to pay a prescription fee.
How to tube feed
Your dietitian will give you a feeding plan. This will include how much feed you need each day and the times to have it. There are 2 ways you can feed:
- bolus feeding — larger amounts of feed are given by a syringe at set times over the day, so it is like having meal times
- pump feeding — small amounts of feed are given continuously by a feeding pump.
Your dietitian and nurse will give you all the equipment you need. They will teach you how to tube feed and look after your feeding tube.
If you pump feed, there are also training videos to show you how to use some of the commonly used brands of pump.
FreeGo pump — Abbott Nutritionexternal link