The tube was to be changed once a week. Not so with Dexter!
I think the record was three in one day!
He hated it and I don’t blame him, however it was a necessity.
Initially it emptied his stomach of the bile.
Later on it would provide him with the nutrients required to grow big and strong, because as we know, he was unable to start sucking feeds for quite some time due to his gestational age (sucking reflex generally develops at 32 weeks, he was 31 weeks) and his need for constant CPAP (it apparently quite difficult to breath, suck and swallow at the same time you know!).