Home Enteral Nutrition (HEN) Program

Your baby may need to go home with tube-feeding as part of their daily routine. You will be supported during this time by The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) service called the Home Enteral Nutrition program or ‘HEN’. Prior to discharge you will meet with your Dietitian who will register your baby on the HEN program and organise training, equipment and review following discharge. Your Dietitian will also work with you to wean tube-feeds at home if/when your baby is ready.

If your baby's main medical care is moved to another hospital, the dietitian will liaise with the new hospital to plan future HEN supplies with them.

When you go home you will be given a list of equipment you will be entitled to each month, your baby's formula recipe (if required), a booklet about your baby's tube-feeds and relevant contact numbers. 

If your baby is eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), your Dietitian can work with you to ensure that your baby’s tube-feeding equipment needs are included in their package.

Other supports

There are other supports available in the community (outside of hospital) to help you monitor your baby’s feeding and growth.

These include: the RCH Hospital-in-the-Home (HITH) and Post-acute Care (PAC).

HITH and PAC nurses can weigh your baby at home and provide general advice on feeding. The Wallaby team can help if your baby has been having tube-feeds at home and is ready to transition to full suck feeds.

Before your baby goes home, our staff will talk to you about what additional supports you may need and will arrange these for you.