He also explained that if she doesn't start to show some improvement with the bottle over the next week, he would consider placing a gastronomy "button". It is basically the same tube she has now for feedings but, instead of running it down her esophagus and into her stomach, it is placed surgically through the skin on her belly. The logic behind this is that feeding would be the last obstacle keeping her at the hospital. Apparently the button it easier for parents to manage, so she could be sent home and we could continue working with her on bottle feeding but still have a way to give her full feedings when she won't take a whole bottle. If they do put in the g-button, they might also do another procedure at the same time that would cut down on her reflux.
So it seems like this is her last obstacle before coming home. We both would like it if she could avoid another surgery, but we are also very ready for her to come. The doctors have said that being at home is much better for her developmentally than being in the NICU, which is why they wouldn't want to wait for her to master bottle feeding if that is the only thing keeping her there. With everything she has been through it seems like this should be the easiest task but the staff says this can sometimes be the biggest hurdle. Either way, in the next week we should have much better idea of when she will be coming home.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
With our preemie we did not want to get a g-button. We fought it for a long time, but ended up with one at 16 months. She had it until 3 1/2 yrs, but it was the best thing we did. Feeding times became so much less of a battle for me. The button was MUCH easier to use than the NG tube (which she had learned to pull out multiple times a day!) Before the button I remember spending so much time crying because she wouldn't eat and it scared me. Now, at 5 yrs. old, she is a normal size and eats like a horse! :-)
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