Your healthcare professional may tell you to give yourself feedings using the syringe method. You can also use this method to give yourself extra water or other fluids.
Enteral Bolus Feeding
How Do I Give Feeding or Fluids By Syringe?
First! Very Important:
ALWAYS flush your feeding tube with warm water before beginning any feeding. Discard syringe after 24 hours and replace with new equipment.
Step-By-Step Instructions:
- Remove the plunger from the barrel of the syringe.
- Unclamp/Uncap feeding tube.
- Insert the tip of the syringe into the feeding tube (if needed use blue cath tip for a more secure fit).
- Flush feeding tube with prescribed amount of warm water.
- Pour the prescribed amount of the formula into the syringe barrel. Let it flow into the tube until completed.
- Flush the tube with prescribed amount of warm water.
- Clamp/Cap feeding tube.
- Rinse the syringe barrel with warm water. Then dry complete and store in a clean covered container or wrap in a clean towel until the next use.
