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Emily was born at 32 weeks gestation and weighed 4lbs. 1oz. Here she is at 6 days old with her feeding tube through her nose. Emily needs a feeding tube because at her birth gestation, she had not yet learned how to coordinate her ability to suck, swallow and breath (these activities become coordinated between 32-34 weeks gestation). A feeding tube allows Emily to receive her daily nourishment and save her strength to grow stronger. Emily has a difficult time digesting her food (including breast milk) and is on a special formula, which she receives in small daily increments in order to allow her stomach to properly digest it. She is now 5 months old, weighs nearly 8 lbs. and has learned to suck, although her digestion challenges continue. |
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