Josephine (Josie) was a full-term, healthy baby born with tongue tie, which made it difficult for her to nurse. After having the tongue tie revision procedure, she was still unable to drink enough breastmilk to gain weight and always refused a bottle. At one month of age, she had an NG tube placed because she was still below her birth weight. At two months of age, she completely refused breastfeeding and became 100% tube dependent. Josie’s parents had a very supportive feeding team in place at home and did everything within their power to help Josie make positive associations with feeding. Unfortunately, she still refused to drink. With the blessing of their feeding team, they attempted to wean Josie with the Notube Netcoaching Program at 6 months of age. Within a day, she began drinking and experiencing hunger. However, there seemed to be too many changes at once, so Josie let her parents know she needed things to slow down. They stopped the weaning process and tried again at 8 months of age. Within days, she was taking in half of her recommended daily intake by mouth and was completely tube-free in two weeks. Over the entire course of the weaning process, she only lost about 150 grams. Six weeks after her last tube feed, Josie is gaining weight beautifully, enjoys drinking, eating and displays no signs of ever being tube-fed! Here’s what her parents had to say at the completion of the program:
From the parents
We are 35 days post-tube. We have FREEDOM! Freedom to leave the house, eat out, eat when baby is hungry, sleep when baby is tired, go swimming and bathe without fear the tube/tape will come off or get wet, free to crawl/cruise without tube getting in the way. We get to see our beautiful daughter’s face without tape and tube on it! She can self regulate and satisfy herself with milk and food. We can have a “normal” life