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Homemade Blendarized Tube Feeding
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Introduction

Homemade Blendarized Tube Feeding

Feeding tubes have been around in some form since ancient Egyptian times. With improved understanding of anatomy, the digestive system, nutrition, and tube delivery systems, the feeding offered through these tubes have changed considerably. Several decades ago gastrostomy tube feedings were all homemade with blended whole foods and liquids. Tube diameters were bigger, allowing thick homemade mixtures to be offered successfully. Today, feeding tubes have become narrower, and technology now supports more efficient bolus and continuous drip delivery systems.

Improved nutrition research provided the basis for the production of commercially produced formulas. These formulas became the nutritionally balanced., convenient, and safer formula option for most tube feed individuals. For years commercial formulas have successfully provided most of the nutrients and energy needs for children and adults with feeding tubes. However, there are a number of families who have asked. “Why can’t I make my own food for my child? Why can’t I provide meals for my child just like I offer the rest of my family?” This article explodes some answers for those families who wonder why.

TUBE FEEDINGS ARE MEALTIMES

Tube feeding are mealtimes, too!

Parents and health care professionals are beginning to look past the medical, procedure-oriented aspects of these feedings in an effort to create tube feedings that incorporate the closeness of the feeding relationship, as well as the social and “togetherness” aspects of mealtimes enjoyed by orally fed children. One way to help families who are endeavoring to accept the feeding tube as a method pf providing some or all of the needed nutrition for their child, is to help them find the similarities with oral mealtimes…rather than the differences. They CAN:

Hold the baby close and look into the baby’s eyes while giving the tube feeding
Pace the feeding by watching the baby’s cues
Tube feed the toddler in a highchair at the table with the rest of the family
Provide the tube mealtimes in a variety of different settings just as oral meals and snacks are offered in different places
Consider offering some or all homemade tube feedings with your own foods, prepared with love

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Testimonials

Prior to speech therapy at Clear Speech, it was hard for my child to communicate. He also was combative and frustrated. He now is able to speak in sentences and describe what it is if I didn’t understand the first time. He also has more confidence. Lucas is no longer combative. With any child that has delayed speech, you should seek speech therapy and any help before school will be a huge benefit.

Kevin 
Kevin

Before going to Clear Speech, my son didn’t understand language receptively nor could he express his feelings in words. He was getting frustrated very easily. Now, our son can understand and has started talking to us about how he feels and what he wants. This makes our daily life a lot easier and less stressful.

Kim T 
Kim T

Prior to getting therapy at Clear Speech, I noticed my kids had a hard time telling me and others what they needed. They would become very frustrated so most days they had tantrums, they would hit, and when unfamiliar were around they would be very quiet and interact. Our day-to day routines have improved significantly since starting speech therapy. When they couldn’t communicate, we spent hours each day managing their frustrations and trying to understand their needs. Now we can move through our day with little to no frustration. When frustrations do happen, they can use their words to solve the problem. Clear Speech has been a great experience for all three of my children. I recommend to families who need speech therapy to get started as early as possible. Commit to the therapy process and soon you will be able to better connect with your kiddo and hear what they need!

Skye C 
Skye C

My son has a limited amount of words, was hard to understand when he did
speak, and was sensitive to loud sounds. After starting therapy I can
understand him better, he rarely covers his ears for loud sounds, and has a
larger vocabulary. The most important advice I can give is to follow your
instincts. Our pediatrician did not think my son had a delay, therefore we
did not pursue therapy in a timely fashion. I wish I would have followed my
gut sooner.

Anonymous  
Anonymous

My son, Zach, began speech therapy in 2015 with great success. His annunciation became clearer and more understandable in just a year. Once he graduated from speech therapy, he continued on with writing comprehension to further his language understanding. Now, a middle schooler, his writing has improved to grade level and in some cases above level. Thank you Clear Speech therapists! Because we needed help with annunciation and writing, I would recommend their SLPs to any parents whose child could benefit. With their 1:1 ratio, kids get faster results than the SLPs within the school districts as their ratios are higher and sessions are shorter.

Jenni A 
Jenni A

My son could not say his “g” and “k” sounds. Melisa Aar has been so fantastic with my son. He is able to say all his sounds now and is more confident when he talks to people. The therapists are so personable here and we would give Miss Melissa 5 stars for being so awesome!

Christina B 
Christina B

Both of my kids had speech delays and would get frustrated due to their lack of language development. Now I can carry on full conversations. They both are a lot more focused! They love coming to their sessions and have had progress in their behavior and attitudes! I would highly recommend Clear Speech to any family needing speech services. The progress I’ve seen in both my children has been amazing since we started coming here! The therapists are so friendly and professional!

Anonymous  
Anonymous

Before I came to Clear Speech therapy my child was not speaking. No
sentences or anything. Life was challenging not just for me but for my
child as well. I noticed my child is now saying more sentences, has
improved eye connection, and is a better listener. I would recommend to
another family that it is very important to get your child into speech
therapy as soon as you can because it’s like a tool, not only for your
child, but it also helps the parent work with your child on speech and
learning to communicate.

Deborah H 
Deborah H

We were looking for supplemental speech for articulation concerns during the summer. Not only did we get help in articulation, but help with his Sensory Processing Disorder. The Safe and Sound Protocol helped in ways I didn’t realize were available through speech therapy. My son’s speech is more intelligible and many of his sensory phobias have dissipated. Clear Speech is great at addressing the child’s needs in the usual ways as well as introducing the newest most innovative therapy treatments available.

Anonymous  
Anonymous

When we first joined Clear Speech we had been using the birth to 3 program. Maddie was making some progress but she was still so delayed. Because of her new therapist, Michelle, Maddie has discovered her voice. She is still delayed but able to communicate so much more. Our son, Camden, also has Apraxia and he is becoming better since working with Michelle. It has improved so much. Maddie and Cam are both able to communicate more with us which has greatly helped our day to day lives. We now have tools as parents to help with the two of them and the stress has gone down. Don’t hesitate to seek out speech services. It is never too early to at least have your child evaluated. Once a line of communication is opened between you and your child, it is like a whole new world.

Ana D 
Ana D

My daughter’s pediatrician recommended speech therapy services for our two
year old. Although was able to follow directions and understand others, she
wasn’t speaking as much as she should have been. After started services, he
speech has gotten clearer and she seems much more confident talking,
communicating, and identifying. her breath control has gotten better as
well as her tolerance to having her face touched. After the Safe and Sound
Protocol, she has gotten much more patient, willing to share, and follow
directions. Her melt downs from not getting her way are at a minimal as
well as she takes more to time to understand why something is the way it is.

Samantha M 
Samantha M

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Feel free to contact us by phone, fax, email, or standard mail delivery. We try to return communication within 24 hours. If we’re out of the office, attending a conference, or conducting therapy it may take up to 48 hours. We appreciate your patience and look forward to serving you.

Location: 3602 Everett Ave
Everett, WA 98201

Telephone: (425) 785-3342

Fax: (425) 259-6317