One of the most visible challenges we face right now is Finn’s inability to eat on his own. When we were in the hospital and on the ventilator he had a feeding tube placed to be able to receive nutrition. The goal was (and still is) to feed by mouth again, but his lack of regulation and irritability have made it a bigger hurdle to overcome so he is fully fed by his feeding tube. 

It is an adjustment in a lot of ways! I was always an “on demand” feeder to our two girls, mostly nursing them on their cues. 

Since those cues are not quite there with Finn he is on scheduled feeds day and night to be sure he gets everything he needs. (If you have seen his scrumptious thighs it’s clear he is not lacking!)

This also means we have his feeding pump, feed bag, breastmilk, etc. with us everywhere! We also have backup feeding tube supplies in case his tube comes out (yes, this happens and we have been trained on how to replace it). 

It is a huge learning curve to care for a baby in this way, and honestly not something I think we will ever “get used to”, but we have become less overwhelmed by it all, more confident in going places, and more efficient in our methods!

Breastmilk! I was breastfeeding him before we ended up in the hospital so I switched to pumping and have thankfully been able to maintain that for the last 4.5 months. I’ve always had so much respect and amazement for moms who exclusively pump, never thinking that would be me, but here we are! It feels like a full time job sometimes amidst everything else but it is an honor and brings me joy to do it for my boy. 

I’m grateful we have been able to keep him on breastmilk to further support healing in his body, knowing he is getting exactly what he needs from his mama. 

Our hope and prayer is that Finn will feed by mouth and not need a feeding tube eventually. Thankfully Finn has still shown interest and the ability to suck so as he allows we are focused on practicing latching and bottle feeding in small increments. He also loves his pacifier!

We have done feeding therapy and will continue to do so later. There is a balance right now in which therapies are beneficial, what we can do on our own, and how many scheduled appointments we can actually maintain. 

It was/is an option to switch to a g-button as a nasal feeding tube is not typically used long term. We have weighed this option and have decided to hold off for now. Although it takes work, Finn will drink some from a bottle so we know he can do it! His nervous system is also extremely dysregulated from everything he experienced in his 7 weeks in the hospital and we feel right now that the trauma of another procedure would set him back in his healing. 

We are taking it one step at a time and asking the Lord for wisdom with each decision. 

You can join us in prayer for his nervous system to regulate, an increase in interest and ability to feed by mouth, and a passing swallow study when we are able to do that!

It is our daily prayer for Finn’s body to function in the way we know God created him. Thank you for being a part of the #fighterFinn prayer team!

All for His glory - The Davis fam