Uggg!!! That Alarm Again.

Sigh, the late night pump alarm that still causes immediate stress at the sound, even if it is simply telling me to turn the pump off.  For those of you who have heard this high pitched, monotonous "beep, beep" of a feeding pump alarm you know what I mean.  It's so annoying, especially in the middle of the night when you desperately need sleep.  The stumbling out of bed, half dazed shuffle to the g-tube pump  because the annoying alarm woke you becomes routine. However this routine happens every single night without a break and yes, it always disrupts a parent's sleep and absolutely adds up over the years.  

At first when the pump was so new to us, before Mason even got his g-tube and only had an NG (nasalgastric) tube at 2 weeks old, I had to figure out this new piece of machinery that would constantly beep.  Was it beeping because he was out of food in his bag?  Was it beeping because there was a clog in the tubing?  Was it beeping because the NG tube migrated into a place that was blocking the flow?  What about migration to his lungs, oh how dreadful!!  That beep always reminds me of being tired, stressed, and needing to figure out what is wrong, again.

I have placed in the pages section definitions for all the different types of feeding tube placement meanings and another page with tips on how to figure out what is wrong causing your child's pump to beep.  I hope this will help the newest members to the g-tube family.

However, when you are tired and your child's pump is beeping, remember you are not alone in this.  There are doctors and nurses who are only a phone call away who can help you work these problems out.  Also, remember that although it doesn't feel like it, there are millions of children who have feeding tubes in this world and you are not alone.  Remember that you have a living child thanks to that feeding tube and pump that is causing you so much trouble.  Remember you are doing a job most parents or caretakers will never know and that makes you special.  You have the ability to learn and overcome problems whether it is late at night, when you are on vacation, or just trying to have a normal day.  Feeding tubes and pumps give us freedom to have a child home with us and alive!  Although, yes, very annoying.