Keep head raised at 30 degrees or more while 7. If your health care provider has told you to administering tube feeding. DO NOT lie flat take extra water after feedings, pour the during your feeding, and wait for 1 hour after prescribed amount into the syringe. your feeding before you lie down (lying down 8. Flush tube with water per prescription can cause you to vomit or cough). Vomiting after the feeding. or coughing up small amounts of liquid can be dangerous, causing you to inhale extra water or Push Syringe Method: formula into your lungs. 1. Flush the tube with water per prescription Syringe (Bolus) Feeding before the feeding. In syringe feeding, formula flows slowly into the 2. Use the plunger of the syringe to draw feeding tube, or it can be injected gently into the formula from the measuring cup into the tube. Follow the syringe feeding method the syringe. recommended by your health care provider. 3. Place the syringe tip into the feeding tube. You can also use a syringe to give extra water 4. Inject the formula into the feeding tube or fluids. slowly and gently until gone (about 10 to Before each syringe feeding: 15 minutes). This may take multiple syringe fillings based on your feeding prescription. 1. Ask your health care provider how often 5. If your health care provider has told you you should check the tube position. to give extra water after feedings, use 2. Flush the feeding tube, per your health the plunger of the syringe to draw the care provider orders. prescribed amount into the syringe. Gravity Syringe Method: 6. Inject the water into the feeding tube slowly and gently. 1. Remove the plunger from the barrel of After each syringe feeding: the syringe. 2. Place the syringe tip into the feeding tube. 1. Flush the feeding tube with the amount of water prescribed by your health care 3. Hold the syringe above your stomach. provider. 4. Pour measured formula into the syringe. 2. Close the cap on the feeding tube until the This may take multiple syringe fillings based next feeding. on your feeding prescription. Ask your health care provider about care of 5. Slow the flow by lowering the syringe, or the container and syringe, and if/how often speed the flow by raising the syringe. the syringe should be replaced. 6. Allow the formula to flow into the feeding tube until gone (about 10 to 15 minutes). Guide to Adult Tube Feeding | 7