Hi, Sheila and All: Pacing feeding means that the person being fed (either
by others or by himself) the food is going in at a rate comfortable for
that person - not too fast, not too slow, and a comfortable amount
(bolus). Everytime food goes into a person's mouth, the feeding is being
paced. We all automatically and without prior thought pace our own
feedings, putting the food (either solid or liquid) into our mouths at a
rate that is comfortable for chewing/swallowing. Feeding oneself is easy -
we automatically "pace" ourselves. Feeding another person is an entirely
different story. Last year, myself and our therapists co-presented an
inservice to the staff on what it really means to feed and be fed. We
passed out a sport bottle of water with the squirt top to each nurse, along
with a handful of paper towels. We got laughter and questions as to why
they would need paper towels. The therapsists then did a power-point
presentation on the anatomy/physiology/neurology of feeding, including why
it is important to help a baby pace feedings. We then had the nurses pair
off and feed each other using the squirt bottles. They were not allowed to
put their hands up by their faces, or help themselves in any way (after
all, babies can't) during the "feeding". As protective defensive behaviors
were displayed by the "feedees", the therapists pointed them out and
explained these behaviors. After much laughter, choking/sputtering, and
getting a little wet, the nurses realized how important it is to allow baby-
led feedings and how important paced feeding is for a baby who is immature
or otherwise compromised. They also learned why breastfeeding is so
much "easier" than bottlefeeding!
Pam Hirsch, BSN,RN,IBCLC
Clinical Lead, Lactation Services
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington, IL USA
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