Homemade Tube Feedings HTF What to Expect in the Hospital (1498)

Homemade Tube Feeding (HTF) is made with real foods.  During a hospital stay, you can bring in your own homemade tube feeding or at Children’s Wisconsin-Milwaukee the hospital food service can make it. 

What happens when Children’s makes homemade tube feeding (HTF)?

• It can take up to 72 hours (3 days) for the hospital to get the right foods and then make your child’s first feeding.  During this time, your child may:
  – Use HTF that is made at home and brought in.
  – Get Enfalyte or a formula substitute.  Your admitting doctor will work with you to decide on the best substitute. 
• A dietitian will meet with you. The dietitian will:
  – Ask questions about your HTF recipe.
  – Tell you if the hospital has all the ingredients, or if substitute foods need to be used. 
• If Children’s does not have a substitute ingredient, you may be allowed to bring in non-perishable ingredients from home. Ingredients brought from home must be unopened and in the original container.  Containers must be clean and labeled.  They will be labeled with your child’s name and delivered to Nutrition Services.  When your child is discharged, no opened containers of ingredients will be returned to you.
• Final recipes with any substitutions will be reviewed with you before they are made.
• A 24 hour supply will be made once each day.  This may include up to 3 different mixtures. These same mixtures will be used every day while your child is in the hospital.
• Tube feedings will be delivered to your child’s unit.  They will be labeled and refrigerated until use.  They will be thrown away after 24 hours if not used.

What do we need to know so we can provide your HTF?

• How do you prepare each of the ingredients that are in the recipe?
  – Example: If using flax seed, do you grind it first?  
• Once you have prepared each ingredient, do you use a blender to mix it together?
• What type of blender do you use at home?
• How long do you blend the mixture?
• Do you add the ingredients in any special order?
• Are there any special instructions or tips you have when making your recipe?