Enzymes & Feeding Tube

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schmj4910

New member
We have been told to crush the enzymes and put them into the bag at the start of the feed. Then the enzymes break down the fat while it is in the bag, so the formula is already "digested" before it goes into the stomach.
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<br />We crush the enzymes by opening them and pouring them into a small bowl (mortar), then crushing them with a pestle.
 
C

CJPsMom

New member
Hmm...that's interesting about putting the enzymes in the formula - we were told it had to be in an acidic base and formula isn't acidic.

For those of you putting it through the tube - do you have French 20 tubes or 14? Our LO had to have a smaller tube - the 14 - so I'm nervous about putting the enzymes through the smaller tube. But we've got to figure something else out as there was more vomiting this morning.

*sigh*
 
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CJPsMom

New member
Hmm...that's interesting about putting the enzymes in the formula - we were told it had to be in an acidic base and formula isn't acidic.

For those of you putting it through the tube - do you have French 20 tubes or 14? Our LO had to have a smaller tube - the 14 - so I'm nervous about putting the enzymes through the smaller tube. But we've got to figure something else out as there was more vomiting this morning.

*sigh*
 
C

CJPsMom

New member
Hmm...that's interesting about putting the enzymes in the formula - we were told it had to be in an acidic base and formula isn't acidic.
<br />
<br />For those of you putting it through the tube - do you have French 20 tubes or 14? Our LO had to have a smaller tube - the 14 - so I'm nervous about putting the enzymes through the smaller tube. But we've got to figure something else out as there was more vomiting this morning.
<br />
<br />*sigh*
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
My daughters is a 14fr. as well.

Yes, you need to figure it all out, and I promise it will come together. Once you get a system down it will be much better. And I wouldn't mix the enzymes with the formula unless expressly told by your doctor. There are some "predigested" formulats that might help if you can't get the enzymes to work.
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
My daughters is a 14fr. as well.

Yes, you need to figure it all out, and I promise it will come together. Once you get a system down it will be much better. And I wouldn't mix the enzymes with the formula unless expressly told by your doctor. There are some "predigested" formulats that might help if you can't get the enzymes to work.
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
My daughters is a 14fr. as well.
<br />
<br />Yes, you need to figure it all out, and I promise it will come together. Once you get a system down it will be much better. And I wouldn't mix the enzymes with the formula unless expressly told by your doctor. There are some "predigested" formulats that might help if you can't get the enzymes to work.
 
H

hmw

New member
Emily has an 18fr tube. She uses a predigested formula high in mct fat- both of which are much easier for those with cf to digest (Peptamen Jr 1.5) and we were told she likely needs fewer enzymes with this formula than she would need for real food with the same amount of fat and calories.

And speaking as a mom, not as a professional... The whole 'enzymes need to be in an acidic food to work' thing... realistically speaking, parents of babies are told this and much is made of it, but real life and practicality is going to take over at some point. Kids and adults take enzymes with WHATEVER they eat, and they work just fine. If Emily is having ice cream for her bedtime snack, having them in a spoonful of applesauce first vs. taking them with water will not make a bit of difference, it will all get mixed up in her stomach long before it ever reaches the intestine- it's not like those enzymes stay buried in that applesauce until they make it to the duodenum, and the gelatin capsule is gone within a few minutes as well- it's the beads that are enteric coated, not the capsule that holds them.
 
H

hmw

New member
Emily has an 18fr tube. She uses a predigested formula high in mct fat- both of which are much easier for those with cf to digest (Peptamen Jr 1.5) and we were told she likely needs fewer enzymes with this formula than she would need for real food with the same amount of fat and calories.

And speaking as a mom, not as a professional... The whole 'enzymes need to be in an acidic food to work' thing... realistically speaking, parents of babies are told this and much is made of it, but real life and practicality is going to take over at some point. Kids and adults take enzymes with WHATEVER they eat, and they work just fine. If Emily is having ice cream for her bedtime snack, having them in a spoonful of applesauce first vs. taking them with water will not make a bit of difference, it will all get mixed up in her stomach long before it ever reaches the intestine- it's not like those enzymes stay buried in that applesauce until they make it to the duodenum, and the gelatin capsule is gone within a few minutes as well- it's the beads that are enteric coated, not the capsule that holds them.
 
H

hmw

New member
Emily has an 18fr tube. She uses a predigested formula high in mct fat- both of which are much easier for those with cf to digest (Peptamen Jr 1.5) and we were told she likely needs fewer enzymes with this formula than she would need for real food with the same amount of fat and calories.
<br />
<br />And speaking as a mom, not as a professional... The whole 'enzymes need to be in an acidic food to work' thing... realistically speaking, parents of babies are told this and much is made of it, but real life and practicality is going to take over at some point. Kids and adults take enzymes with WHATEVER they eat, and they work just fine. If Emily is having ice cream for her bedtime snack, having them in a spoonful of applesauce first vs. taking them with water will not make a bit of difference, it will all get mixed up in her stomach long before it ever reaches the intestine- it's not like those enzymes stay buried in that applesauce until they make it to the duodenum, and the gelatin capsule is gone within a few minutes as well- it's the beads that are enteric coated, not the capsule that holds them.
 
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