Bolus (syringe) feeding

Hi, I'm Helen and I'm going to walk you through how to administer your formula using the bolus or syringe feeding method.

This is used when you need to give yourself a specific amount of formula over a short period of time using a syringe that connects right to your feeding tube.

There are five steps you'll need to follow and you can jump to anyone at any time using the chapters below.

Let's start by making sure you've got all your supplies ready to go.

Formula at room temperature and the amount and type as prescribed by your doctor.

A bolus syringe, a large clean glass filled with tap or drinking water at room temperature.

Your clean tube feeding instruction mat, also known as your tin mat, plus paper towels or a clean dish towel and a clean work area.

A few other things before we move on.

Be sure to sit upright or in a chair during your feeding session to reduce any possible stomach discomfort or reflux, and remain upright for at least 30 minutes once you're done.

Also, you may have seen nurses wearing gloves in the hospital when administering your feeding, but you don't need to do this at home.

Just washing your hands is enough.

Think of it like washing your hands before you sit down to eat dinner.

Use soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, and dry with a clean towel.

To help keep your feeding tube clean and to prevent clogging, you'll want to flush it with room temperature water before and after each feeding, and before and after you flush medication down your tooth.

So let's begin with the first flushing.

Take your glass of water, making sure it's at room temperature.

Then take your syringe with its plunger still in place and put the tip into the water.

Pull back on the plunger to draw the water into the syringe using the amount of water prescribed by your doctor.

Then remove the syringe from the glass.

If you don't know how much water to use, call us and we'll confirm your prescription.

Next, you'll want to pinch, clamp or fold over part of your feeding tube to stop any liquid flowing out of your port.

Then open the feeding port and connect the syringe tip to the port.

Unfold or unclamp the feeding tube and gently push the syringe plunger down to flush the water through your tube.

When you're done, remove the syringe and close the port.

Now you're ready to administer your formula, which should be at room temperature before use.

First, shake your container formula well and then open it up.

Remove the plunger from the syringe and put it aside on a clean towel.

You won't need it when you're administering the formula.

Once again, pinch, clamp or fold over part of your feeding tube to stop any flow.

Open the end of your feeding tube port and connect the syringe tip to the port.

Unfold or unclamp the feeding tube, then pour the formula into the syringe.

Thanks to the forces of gravity, you can just hold the syringe upright and the formula will automatically flow through your tube.

Hold the syringe higher to speed up the flow, or hold it lower to slow it down.

This is referred to as syringe feeding by gravity or using the syringe like a funnel.

Then continue to add formula into the syringe until you've given yourself the amount you've been prescribed.

If you want more control over the speed of your feeding, you can drop the formula into the syringe the same way you do for flushing, and then you'll push the syringe plunger down, slowly pushing the formula through your tube.

A typical bolus feed should take 15 to 20 minutes, or about the same amount of time it takes to have a meal.

Doing it faster may cause an uncomfortable feeling of fullness or bloating or cramping in your abdomen.

When you're done, remove the syringe and close the port once again.

Once the feeding is done, it's important to flush your tube a second time.

To do this, you'll follow the same steps as earlier.

Take the plunger you had put aside and slide it back into the syringe.

Refill your glass of water if needed, making sure it's at room temperature.

Then take the syringe with its plunger still in place and place the tip into the water.

Pull back on the plunger to draw the water into the syringe, using the amount of water prescribed by your doctor.

Then remove the syringe from the glass.

Next, you'll want to pinch, clamp or fold over part of your feeding tube to stop any liquid flowing out of your port.

Then open the feeding port and connect the syringe tip to the port.

Unfold or unclamp the feeding tube and gently push the syringe plunger down to flush the water through your tube.

When you're done, remove the syringe and close the port.

Now your final step is clean up.

You can reuse your bolus syringe, just be sure to rinse it out with warm soapy water after each use and air dry on a clean dish rack or towel.

If the formula container is empty or you're done using the syringe, you can toss them into the recycling bin or trash depending on the instructions.

You can cover and store any unused formula in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

This may all seem a bit overwhelming at first, but once you do this a few times, you'll feel more comfortable.

And remember, as a Coram patient, our team is here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you'd like to learn more, visit the Resource Center on our website at quorumhc.com and watch our Getting Started with Your Feeding Tube video.

Thank you for watching today.