Why may my baby need a gastrostomy tube?
Your baby may need a G-tube if has trouble eating or swallowing. He also may need a G-tube if he has trouble keeping food down. Your caregiver may want your baby to have a G-tube to help him get a lot of calories. Your baby may have feeding problems with any of the following conditions: • Birth defects: Your baby may need a G-tube if he has a birth defect. A birth defect is a part of your baby’s body that was not correctly formed when he was born. Your baby may have a feeding problem if his mouth, jaw, throat, or stomach is deformed. He also may have a heart defect or other problem that may make him too weak to swallow. • Brain problems: Your baby may have a problem with his brain that makes it hard for him to swallow. Cerebral palsy is a brain condition that makes it hard for your baby to eat. • Diseases: There are many diseases that may make it hard for your baby to eat or swallow. Cancer may make it hard for your baby to eat. Your baby may have heart or kidney problems that might ca
