Tube feeding in the Neonatal intensive care unit

Equipment you need before you start

• Breast milk or formula at the right temperature, approximately 37 °C
• A 5 ml or 10 ml syringe for checking the tube position
• A 20 ml syringe for giving the feed through the tube

Before you start

• Wash your hands.
• Sit comfortably and make sure the baby is lying comfortably with the upper body slightly raised.

Check that the tube is in the correct position

• Is the number of centimetres marked at the nostril the same as the agreed measurement?
• Is the tube securely attached with tape?
• Use a 5–10 ml syringe, pull back the plunger and check whether you get milk or mucus into the syringe.

If you are unsure whether the tube is in the correct position, you can breastfeed the baby first and check the tube afterwards, before starting the tube feed.

If you feel resistance or get a vacuum, it may help to put 1 ml of air into the tube and then try pulling back the plunger again.

If you are unsure, contact a nurse.

How tube feeding is given

Start the feed by gently pushing the plunger. After this, the milk will flow by itself. The speed at which the milk flows can to some extent be adjusted by raising (faster) or lowering (slower) the syringe.

A tube feed should usually take 10–30 minutes.

Possible complications during tube feeding

The baby may get milk into the airway if the tube has moved too far out of position. It is therefore very important to check that the tube is in the correct place before starting the feed.

If milk enters the airway, the baby may start coughing, develop a darker skin colour, and have more difficulty breathing. If this happens, contact the nurse responsible for your baby or bring the baby into the ward.

Do you have any questions?

Please contact the staff in the neonatal intensive care unit if you have any questions.