Feeding Tube Awareness

February 2-8 is feeding tube awareness week.  

Tube feeding is where essential feeding support is given via a medical feeding tube, whereby food, fluids and or medication goes directly into the stomach or intestine. 

Tube feeding is common in people with Rett syndrome due to lots of different factors including but not limited to;  

• ensuring adequate nutritional intake
• difficulty chewing and swallowing safely
• aspiration (when food or fluids goes into the airway)
• ensuring adequate fluids/medication intake

Not all people with a feeding tube are nil by mouth, some can still eat and drink orally. This depends on the individual’s medical situation. 

Listen to our parent experts share their experiences of tube feeding in Rett syndrome at this Reverse Rett Bitesize session: