Gavage feeding in the NICU is where a small, narrow tube is inserted through the infant's nostril and is placed down the throat, esophagus, and into the baby's stomach. This allows for the baby to be fed if it cannot get the nutrition it needs from breastmilk or formula alone (via breastfeeding or bottle feeding).
Reasons for Gavage Feeding
There can be several reasons for feeding a newborn this way. There are many combining factors that can be summed up in one of these reasons:
- Babies who lack the sucking coordination required to feed from a breast or bottle.
- Babies who are born premature and may not have the ability or strength to suck from a bottle or breast.
- Babies with conditions or anomalies involving the esophagus or stomach.
Hospital and Home
Infants can be gavage fed in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit, but can also be gavage fed at home. This requires a parent to learn how to do the gavage feedings themselves. A very helpful .pdf article can be found here on gavage feeding newborns. As always, this is considered educational information, and a physician should always be sought for medical advice and application of treatment.