Tube to Table

Episode 29: How to Measure Success

Welcome back for another episode of Tube to Table! This week we are talking about how to measure progress while weaning your child from their feeding tube. We have been hearing from various families that we work with that there is confusion over how progress is measured. This is also a common conversation we find ourselves having with healthcare teams when discussing a child’s progression throughout a tube wean. Last week, we talked about how to initiate the conversation with your medical team and the importance of providing them resources on tube weaning. This week, we are focusing on how to shift the focus from a “number” to the whole child when looking at measures of success. There is confusion when people look at factors that we consider parameters or boundaries, as the way to measure progress. This week’s episode will identify the four measures of progress that we focus on at Thrive and why they are important. Heidi and Jennifer will break down each factor to discuss what to look for and how to identify these measures of success. 

Check out this episode’s show note page (www.thrivewithspectrum.com) for links to the resources we mentioned and more information on what we discussed in today’s episode! Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram, @Thrivewithsp on Twitter, and @Thrivewithspectrum on Facebook!

Episode 28: Doctor Dilemma

On this week’s episode of the Tube to Table podcast, we are talking about the difficulties families face while communicating with their medical team during their tube weaning journey. Jennifer and Heidi sat down with Dr. Katja Rowell, the co-author of Helping Your Child with Extreme Picky Eating as well as a wonderful responsive feeding resource. Katja shares her experience working in a family practice and how she became so interested in the development of feeding as well as the importance of a positive feeding relationship for children. Dr. Rowell dives into what her role is now, how she is continuing to help families, and the importance of working with your medical team. They will discuss how to measure “success” while looking at the whole child and the importance of advocating for your child at the doctor’s office. She will share evidence-based information on where the focus should be when bringing your child to the doctor, as well as what questions to ask to effectively communicate with your team.  

Check out this episode’s show note page (www.thrivewithspectrum.com) for links to the resources we mentioned and more information on what we discussed in today’s episode! Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram, @Thrivewithsp on Twitter, and @Thrivewithspectrum on Facebook!

Episode 27: Blenderized Diets

On this week’s episode of Tube to Table, we are talking about blenderized diets and how they help children who are on feeding tubes as well as those who are in the weaning process. To discuss this topic in detail, we sat down with Julie Bombacino, the founder of Real Food Blends (https://www.realfoodblends.com/).  Julie is telling her story of how she started the Real Food Blends company and her child’s tube feeding journey. Transitioning to a blenderized diet can be very scary for families, especially if they don’t know where to find the resources that will help educate them on this change. Julie discusses how her family transitioned to a blenderized diet, what benefits they immediately saw, and how they started the conversation with their medical team about this transition. Julie and Jennifer will also talk about how Real Food Blends started and what the research shows about the benefits of blenderized diets for the tube-fed population. They will talk about the importance of looking at the whole-child when making a transition to blenderized diets and how that helps the child’s overall health.  

Check out this episode’s show note page (www.thrivewithspectrum.com) for links to the resources we mentioned and more information on what we discussed in today’s episode! Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram, @Thrivewithsp on Twitter, and @Thrivewithspectrum on Facebook! 
 

Episode 26: A Parent's Perspective: Benji's Story

We are so excited for this week’s episode, which marks the start of our series “A Parent’s Perspective”. The Tube to Table podcast will be featuring parents and families who have gone through our Tube Weaning program and can share their experience! In this week’s episode, our feeding therapist, Jamie Hinchey, is interviewing Benji’s parents, Cory and Ivy from New York City. Benji is also here so you may hear him chiming in! Benji’s family participated in our intensive tube weaning program at their home in New York in May 2018. Benji’s parents are sharing a little bit about his history and where their feeding tube journey started. We will talk about how the feeding tube helped Benji in the first few months, when they knew it was time to work towards weaning him off the tube, and how they chose the Thrive Tube Weaning program. Jamie will also talk with Benji’s parents about what was helpful during the intensive portion, a few keys to success for their personal journey, and how follow up was a big part of Benji’s journey. You’ll also hear a few exciting things about where Benji is today and what he loves to eat!  

Check out this episode’s show note page (www.thrivewithspectrum.com) for links to the resources we mentioned and more information on what we discussed in today’s episode! Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram, @Thrivewithsp on Twitter, and @Thrivewithspectrum on Facebook! 
 

Episode 25: Comfort vs. Compliance

Happy New Year! We are so happy to be back in 2020 with new episodes and exciting guests! In this week’s episode, your hosts Jennifer and Heidi, will discuss the difference between when children find comfort in eating vs. eating for compliance. It can be very difficult for families to identify if the success they are seeing is due to compliance. Your hosts break down the evidence behind the reasons why children eat and what strategies help build long-term success. Many families share that it can be easy to fall into compliance “mode” while feeding their child and the focus can easily be on “getting” them to eat rather than giving them space. In past episodes, we have talked about responsive feeding and what that looks like, but we rarely discuss what the other side looks like. How do you know if a child is eating for compliance? What cues should you look for? Your hosts will break down the different cues you may see, and some strategies to try instead to help your child build comfort around food. This episode will also cover what progress looks like, how to reframe the word progress for families, and how to transition from a compliant environment to a comfortable environment. 

Check out this episode’s show note page (www.thrivewithspectrum.com) for links to the resources we mentioned and more information on what we discussed in today’s episode! Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram, @Thrivewithsp on Twitter, and @Thrivewithspectrum on Facebook! 

Episode 24: How We See Ourselves

It’s the holiday season, which means a lot of talk about food! This can lead to more “food noise” around parents and their children. In this week’s episode, we are discussing our own food noise as parents and how our self-body image can directly impact our tube-fed kids. In today’s society, adults are often having conversations about the way we see ourselves, our bodies, and how we relate to food. What a lot of adults don’t realize, is that these conversations are typically overheard by our most vulnerable children and eaters. When there is negative talk that is “diet-focused” or culturally-focused rather than talk around self-regulation or pleasure, children can get very confused. This relates to all children, but specifically those who are tube-fed or who already have a complicated relationship with eating. At first, this may not seem like a big deal, but it has a subtle impact on how children learn to listen to their own body. Children who are tube fed are already trying to figure out their relationship with food and how to food can be trusted. Jennifer and Heidi are going to sort through the common pitfalls that we see in both parents and society related to negative food noise. They will also discuss strategies that you can do instead during this holiday season! 

Check out this episode’s show note page (www.thrivewithspectrum.com) for links to the resources we mentioned and more information on what we discussed in today’s episode! Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram, @Thrivewithsp on Twitter, and @Thrivewithspectrum on Facebook!

Episode 23: The Scoop on Poop

That’s right, we are talking about all things poop in this week’s episode. This includes constipation, poop patterns while weaning, and everything else that comes into play when weaning your child off their feeding tube. This is an important topic to discuss because it can be a large factor during a wean if a child is feeling off. Heidi and Jennifer dive right into the poop talk and discuss what to consider so that your child is feeling good throughout their weaning journey and can continue to move forward. While participating in any weaning program, it is likely that when reducing tube delivered nutrition and hydration, your child may be at risk for constipation. This episode will break down how to have that conversation with your doctor prior to starting your wean. Throughout the Thrive Tube Weaning Program, we always work with your child’s physician during our evaluation, intensive treatment, and follow up.  Your hosts will talk about why it is so important to work with your medical team, how to start this conversation, and tips for being prepared prior to starting your wean! 

Check out this episode’s show note page (www.thrivewithspectrum.com) for links to the resources we mentioned and more information on what we discussed in today’s episode! Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram, @Thrivewithsp on Twitter, and @Thrivewithspectrum on Facebook! 

Episode 22: All The Feelings

It’s the start to the holiday season and although that brings joy, it also brings many other feelings! The holidays are a time that can bring back ALL of the feelings, good and bad. This topic can be a difficult one for many families since it involves digging deep into your emotions throughout all the phases of the tube weaning journey. This is such an important topic to discuss because often the experience of having a child who is tube-fed or weaning from a feeding tube can feel very isolating without the right support. In this week’s episode, Jennifer and Heidi will talk through what these feelings can look like, how to become aware of those feelings, and a few strategies to help manage those feelings. In future episodes, we will feature special guests who will focus more on specific strategies for coping through a stressful event. This episode breaks down the two important steps involved with feelings while weaning your child from the feeding tube. This involves first identifying the emotions and patterns involved with it, then creating a plan to move forward. 

Check out this episode’s show note page (www.thrivewithspectrum.com) for links to the resources we mentioned and more information on what we discussed in today’s episode! Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram, @Thrivewithsp on Twitter, and @Thrivewithspectrum on Facebook! 
 

Episode 21: Winning the War Against Insurance

This week’s episode discusses a topic that can cause stress and anxiety for many families. The insurance battle. Where do you start? How do you start? What information do you need? Jennifer and Heidi will walk you through the important steps for starting the conversation with your insurance provider. Deciding to start a tube weaning program is a significant and life-changing event, but unfortunately many families run up against walls that cause them to stumble and give up while fighting for insurance coverage. Parents report that this battle is frustrating, time consuming, and extremely difficult to navigate. At the Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics Tube Weaning program, there has been an evolution over the last 3 years where more families are able to get insurance companies to pay large portions of the program, if not all of the intensive wean. This is not an easy process though, and at Thrive, we are here to help you through it. In today’s episode, Heidi and Jennifer will break down each step of the process and what you will need to help build your case against insurance. 

Check out this episode’s show note page (www.thrivewithspectrum.com) for links to the resources we mentioned and more information on what we discussed in today’s episode! Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram, @Thrivewithsp on Twitter, and @Thrivewithspectrum on Facebook! 

Episode 20: Getting Real About Reflux

In this week’s episode, we are getting REAL about reflux. Why are we talking about reflux? It affects so many children throughout their feeding tube journey, whether they had reflux before the tube or after tube placement. It also impacts the decision for the timing of a wean, the process of weaning, and the transition to oral eating. Jennifer and Heidi are discussing what is known about reflux, what medical providers use to help diagnose and treat reflux, and how reflux is related to the tube weaning journey. Every child is so different and there is no medical guideline for reflux that would be the same for every child. Throughout our tube weaning program, we see many children who have all been diagnosed with reflux at some point in their life. It can be scary to start this conversation with your doctor, but Heidi and Jennifer will walk you through helpful tips to bring this conversation up with your team. There may be times throughout your child’s journey where you feel that your gut is telling you something doesn’t feel right. If that’s the case, start the conversation! This week’s episode breaks down different reasons for reflux, data from our tube weaning program at Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics, and helpful tips to starting a conversation with your medical team. 

Check out this episode’s show note page (www.thrivewithspectrum.com) for links to the resources we mentioned and more information on what we discussed in today’s episode! Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram, @Thrivewithsp on Twitter, and @Thrivewithspectrum on Facebook!