The Chicago Feeding Group is excited to welcome Hema Desai, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, as she shares her knowledge and insight into how congenital heart defects impact pediatric feeding. This article reviews the unique feeding challenges faced by children with CHD and strategies for supporting them.
Children with congenital heart defects (CHD) face unique challenges when it comes to feeding. These challenges can begin at birth and persist throughout infancy and childhood. Understanding the relationship between CHD and feeding difficulties is crucial for parents, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
Feeding difficulties in children with CHD can be attributed to several factors, including fatigue during feeding, increased caloric needs, oral motor difficulties, and the impact of medical interventions such as intubation and surgery. These children often require more calories per day than their typically developing peers, yet they may struggle to consume adequate amounts due to the physical demands of eating.
Strategies for supporting children with CHD during feeding include monitoring for signs of fatigue, offering smaller and more frequent meals, optimizing positioning during feeding, and working closely with a multidisciplinary team that may include cardiologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and dietitians.