Tube Feeding
Kids and adults who need elemental formula may have a difficult time drinking enough of it. To maintain proper nutrition, some require tube feeding to allow the formula to go directly into the stomach.
Tube feeding, also called enteral nutrition, is a way food can get into your body if you are unable to eat or unable to eat enough. Food in liquid form or formula is given through a tube into the stomach or small intestine.
Tubes can be placed in different places along the gastrointestinal tract:
- A nasogastric tube (NG tube) is a tube that is put up the nose and down into the stomach.
- A nasojejunal (NJ tube) is similar to an NG tube except that it is threaded through the stomach and into the jejunum, the middle section of the small intestine.
- In some cases, a Nasoduodenal (ND tube) may be placed into the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine.
- A gastrostomy (G tube), sometimes called a PEG, (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) is placed in the stomach during a procedure. Some PEG’s have a tube always hanging out, and some replacement PEGs are flat (‘profile’, or ‘buttons’).
- A Gastrojejunal (GJ tube) or Transjejunal Tubes are very similar to G-tubes in that they enter the stomach directly through the skin using the same site or stoma as a G-tube. Most have two feeding ports, one into the stomach, and a second tube that extends into the small intestine.
- A Jejunal (J Tube) or Jejunostomy is placed in the middle part of the small intestine, called the jejunum, during surgery.
This information has been sourced from Queensland Health; for practical information about living with a feeding tube please download their resource Tube Feeding at Home.
Find out more about Feeding Tube Awareness Week...
Visit our dedicated website to participate in Feeding Tube Awareness Week (3 - 9 February 2019)...
Useful Links
AMT - Applied Medical Technology supplies enteral feeding devices
AUSPEN - Australasian Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
Aussie Tubie Mates - Feeding Tube Community - Facebook page
AU Tubie Support - Facebook support group
Awareness Critters - colouring in pages
Belly Buddies Australia - Facebook page selling feeding tube pads/covers
Bizaar Bibs n Bums - Facebook page selling pads/covers etc. for feeding tubes
Dr Tessa Taylor - Information Flyer - Supplementary Information
EleCare Family - full of facts, advice, tips and resources to help you care for your child
Family and Friend Guide to Tube Feeding
Flex Training Services - PEG Feeding Courses
Feeding Tube Awareness Foundation (US)
Feeding Tube Australia - Facebook support group
Just Like You Dolls - selling customized dolls with medical devices
Halyard Health - supplies include MIC-KEY* low-profile balloon-retained gastrostomy feeding tube and HALYARD* FARRELL* Valve Closed Enteral Decompression System
Kids Health NZ – Tube Feeding
Lively Eaters Feeding Services
Living with Tube Feeding - website powered by Nutricia which hosts a network of answers and support to help you while living with
tube feeding
Marks & Spencer - Easy dressing adaptive clothing
Medikidetz explain Home Enteral Nutrition written by Doctors for kids! Contact us for your free copy!
My Belly Has Two Buttons - children's book written by Meikele Lee
My Tube Feeding Kid - Nestlé Health Science
NoTube - offers a weaning program for tube-dependent children that no longer medically require tube feeding.
Nutricia Medical - specialises in the delivery of advanced nutrition solutions including the range of age-adapted tube feed devices and pumps
PINNT - Patients on Intraveneous and Nasogastric Nutrition Therapy (UK)
PNDU - Parenteral Nutrition Down Under Inc.
RISA Inc. - Financial Assistance with tube feeding – Australia information page
She So Tubie - Etsy page selling tubie pads
The Adventures of Team Super Tubie - children's book by Kristin Meyer
Tube Fed Kids - Deserve to Eat
Tube Feeding NZ – Facebook support group
Tube Wean NZ Campaign - Facebook support group
Tubie Fun - Facebook page selling button pads and line covers
Tubie Kids (UK) - fashionable, sensory friendly wardrobe staples for children and pre teens with feeding and medical tubes
Tubie Love - Facebook page selling pads/covers, belts etc. for feeding tubes
Wonsie - special needs bodysuits for adults and kids which are perfect for tube feeding
Z & Co Reusable Pouches - Facebook page
selling reusable pouches made from food grade materials suitable for heating
and freezing
Page last modified: 11 February, 2019