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Helping tube-fed kids become happy and healthy eaters.
Episodes
Thursday Dec 19, 2019
Thursday Dec 19, 2019
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!
Thursday Dec 12, 2019
Thursday Dec 12, 2019
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!
Thursday Dec 05, 2019
Thursday Dec 05, 2019
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!
Tuesday Nov 26, 2019
Tuesday Nov 26, 2019
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!
Tuesday Nov 19, 2019
Tuesday Nov 19, 2019
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!
Thursday Nov 07, 2019
Thursday Nov 07, 2019
This week’s episode is talking about weight. Why is it such a stressful topic? How can you handle conversations about weight? What else should we be looking at? Throughout our tube weaning process, we receive so many questions about the role that weight plays in child receiving a tube, preparing to wean, or while weaning. Weight is a topic that causes stress for families of children with feeding tubes, children with general feeding difficulties, or children who have had a complicated medical history. In this week’s episode, Heidi and Jennifer are unraveling what we know about weight and its importance on feeding and growth from the medical literature, as well as from their clinical experience. This episode discusses how weight becomes the main focus when looking at a child’s wellness and what other wellness parameters are being looked over. Heidi and Jennifer also dive into growth charts and what they really mean, how to start conversations with your medical team about your child’s weight, and the importance of starting this conversation during your feeding journey.
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!
Thursday Oct 31, 2019
Thursday Oct 31, 2019
Happy Halloween! It’s time for a celebration!! Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or even a birthday party. These are all exciting celebrations in families that are a time to be together as a family and enjoy each other’s company. For tube-fed children, it can be hard to remember that these days are special and are about so much more than just the food. These are days where you can celebrate your child! Even if your child might not be able to enjoy certain foods, or if food is a challenge, it doesn’t mean the fun is gone. Your hosts discuss the importance of celebrating birthdays as so much more than a “cake smash” party. Jennifer and Heidi break down WHY the holidays or birthday parties are so important to celebrate with tube-fed kids and some strategies for how to do this. This can seem like an overwhelming task for many families who feel discouraged in their journey, but we are here to tell you that it’s time to stop comparing yourself to other families, take control of the mindset, and find other ways to enjoy these special days with your child! They will also discuss a few tips and tricks for Halloween and how to build responsive feeding strategies into this fun celebration!
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!
Thursday Oct 24, 2019
Thursday Oct 24, 2019
When you hear the words “oral motor therapy” what comes to mind? Has this been a recommendation for your child? When is it appropriate? This week’s episode of the Tube to Table podcast will answer all these questions and more. Your hosts, Jennifer and Heidi, will break down what oral motor therapy really is, when it is appropriate, and when it doesn’t make sense. For some children, strengthening and range of motion exercises may be necessary and helpful, but for many others, this type of therapy happens at the wrong time and in the wrong context. Heidi and Jennifer discuss the foundations that need to be built and focused on within a responsive way, prior to working on oral motor skills. It is so important to take a step back and look at your child’s relationship with food, their motivation for the skills they are learning, and the context where they are learning those skills. This episode will also look briefly at the Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics Tube Weaning program’s outcome data for how oral motor skills develop throughout our program.
Check out this episode’s show note page (www.thrivewithspectrum.com/blogs) 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!
Thursday Oct 17, 2019
Thursday Oct 17, 2019
Picture this: You’re starting a tube wean and you’re at the grocery store...what do you buy? On this week’s episode of the Tube to Table Podcast, Heidi and Jennifer are discussing a topic that is on every parent’s mind when starting to wean their child from the feeding tube. Making food choices while weaning can be very overwhelming for families. Parents are always asking for that “magic food” and although we wish we had that, it doesn’t exist. There is no one food that will help your child eat, but there are factors to consider when choosing certain foods. Helping parents with food choices during a wean can help eliminate some of the focus on the volume of food. It can feel complicated feeding a child who eats very little or who has never eaten before. We’re here to help! There are a few important factors to consider when shopping for food choices. These include ability for independence, consistency with food, texture/taste, and familiarity within the family. Heidi and Jennifer will also talk through some factors that should NOT be considered. You’ll hear a few of their favorite tips and tricks when they are helping families choose foods during a 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!
Thursday Oct 10, 2019
Thursday Oct 10, 2019
We’re back for Season 2! Thank you so much for listening to Season 1 of the Tube To Table Podcast, we are so excited for you to hear our upcoming season! Your hosts, Jennifer and Heidi, are back and ready for a great season! This week, Jennifer and Heidi are discussing the tools and tricks of the trade. What does that mean exactly? They are answering all your common questions including, “What cup should I use?”, “When should I introduce spoons?”, and “Is there a magic food?!” When starting treatment or preparing for an intensive tube wean, parents often ask these questions in order to feel prepared for getting started. While these are all great questions, it is hard to pick just one tool or utensil, so this week your hosts will discuss the spoons, cups, forks, and other utensils that might be helpful for your little one! There are three specific factors to consider when choosing these tools: familiarity, novelty, and control. Since the tool you choose will depend on your child specifically, this week’s podcast will discuss guidelines for where to look and how to choose.
Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram, @Thrivewithsp on Twitter, and @Thrivewithspectrum on Facebook! Please feel free to message us for our shownotes as well and we can email them to you!