Feeding Clinic

Overview

The Feeding Clinic is for children and youth living in Manitoba, Nunavut, and Northern Ontario. We see children with a variety of feeding problems, including:

Enteral feeding: children and youth who require gastrostomy, jejunal or nasogastric tube feeding.

Oral feeding: children where there is a concern about feeding safety due to signs/symptoms of aspiration and children with neurodevelopmental conditions who require adaptations to their oral feeding plan for reasons of safety, efficiency, or significantly restricted eating with concerns of effect on growth and/or nutrition.

Depending on your child’s needs, they will be assessed by one or more of our team members including our feeding physicians, nurse, occupational therapists and dieticians. This assessment may include a review of current nutrition and food choices, feeding issues, positioning and eating environment.

What To Expect During Your Visit

Check with front reception at SSCY Centre should you need directions, and then go to Clinic Crossing for check in. Your child will have their weight and height measured. You will then be taken into one of our clinic rooms. Our team will ask you about your child’s feeding issues, and if needed watch your child eat. You can ask any questions you have during the visit. Together we will make a feeding plan for your child. We have food for your child to eat, but you may bring your own food if you want. Please bring your own food if your child has any food allergies or specific dietary requirements. If your child is on formula, please bring some to the appointment, as well as the usual bottle or cup that they drink from. The first assessment visit is usually one hour long. Follow-up visits are usually 30 minutes long.

Meet Your Team

Our feeding team has feeding specialist physicians, occupational therapists, dietitians, a nurse clinician, a social worker, and a clinic coordinator. Depending on your child’s feeding concern, you may have an appointment with one or more members of the team. Our team members work together to make sure your child gets what they need.

Our physician will ask about the history of your child’s feeding issues. Our occupational therapist or physician will do a feeding assessment. Our dietitians make sure the plan will meet your child’s nutritional needs and discuss food choices and options. Our nurse clinician is involved with children and youth who are enterally fed and manages tube issues and supplies. Our social worker is available to help with a variety of issues that families may have and can provide resources. They also provide transition assessments for our youth who are tube fed when they are getting ready to transition to adult services. Our clinic coordinator books and confirms appointments, checks you in when you come for an appointment, makes sure your information is correct, and measures your child’s height and weight.

How To Access The Program

Referrals are to be completed by a physician or nurse practitioner on our RCC clinic intake form.

Fax: (204) 474-2387

Program Funder

This program is funded by Manitoba Health, Shared Health, the WRHA and the Rehabilitation Centre for Children.

Contact Information

Clinics run Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 AM-4:00 PM in Clinic Crossing at SSCY Centre.

Feeding Clinic Coordinator: (204) 258-6564
Fax: (204) 474-2387