In my NICU unit we insert a nasogastric tube in premature infants shortly after admission to keep stomach decompressed. As soon as possible we start feedings even those infants on oscillators. We change the tubing every 3-5 days. We try our best to give expressed breast milk. We start out with intermittent feeds of 1 ml q4h. If the infant tolerates this, and goes to full feeds for gestational age and weight we switch to continuous feeds to prevent reflux.
I think it is cruel and painful to insert a NG or OG tube for each feeding. BluelightRN