What to Expect
When you have an appointment with the Cardiology Tube Wean Clinic, we assess your child’s readiness to eat without a feeding tube. We provide concrete steps toward that goal. If your child has the oral skills and health to wean from the tube, we will take you through the process. If your child is not yet ready, we will give you goals and advice about next steps. We will be available to reassess your child again in the future.
Most children tube wean within two weeks, but how long the process will take depends on your child’s readiness level. Some children complete a tube wean in five or six days while others need ongoing physical and swallow therapy over several weeks.
Before the Appointment:
- Our nurse will call to confirm your telehealth or in-person appointment.
- Our nurse coordinator will collect your child’s medical information and test results from you and your care team.
- Your child’s case will be discussed at a weekly meeting.
- Plan to bring your child’s feeding supplies to the appointment.
During the Appointment:
- We will assess your child’s heart, nutrition and safety of swallow/oral skills.
- We will complete a medical history, physical exam, vitals and watch you feed your child.
- Your child will be seen by a doctor, nurse, registered dietitian, speech therapist and lactation specialist if needed.
- Appointments last about one hour.
- We will discuss next steps, diet changes, follow-up appointments and weekly check-ins.
After the Appointment:
- We will contact your child’s referring doctor and pediatrician to summarize the appointment.
- We will follow up with you as needed.
As You Start to Tube Wean Your Child, You Can Expect:
- Regular emails from us to check on your child’s progress
- To keep a daily log or use the remote patient monitoring app to track your child’s weight and how much they eat, drink and void
- Weekly check-ins as needed with phone calls and video visits, and in-person visits as needed
- Support from a parent advocate when and if you need it
