A flow control apparatus adapted to load a feeding set, said flow control apparatus comprising: a housing capable of receiving at least a portion of the feeding set; a pumping device for contacting the feeding set when the feeding set is received by the housing so the pumping device acts on the feeding set to produce fluid flow in the feeding set in a patient direction for delivery of fluid to a patient; a sensor arranged with respect to the pumping device to produce a signal indicative of pressure in the feeding set when the feeding set is loaded on the apparatus for determining a flow condition in the feeding set, wherein the sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor including a receiver and an ultrasonic transmitter, the transmitter being configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal through a downstream side of the feeding set to the receiver for determining a downstream flow condition of the feeding set when the feeding set is loaded on the apparatus; and a control circuit in communication with the sensor for receiving the sensor signal from the sensor and in communication with the pumping device to control operation thereof, the control circuit being configured to operate the pumping device in an operational state in which the pumping device is adapted to contact the feeding set to produce a peristaltic pumping action of fluid in the patient direction through the feeding set, in a hold state in which the pumping device does not produce a peristaltic pumping action and blocks fluid flow in the feeding set in a backflow direction opposite to the patient direction, the pressure in the feeding set being detected and recorded for a period of time when the pumping device is in the hold state, further comprising means for determining an occlusion in the feeding set based at least in part on a peak sensor signal indicative of the pressure in the feeding set during the operational state and a dissipation sensor signal, indicative of the pressure in the feeding set during the hold state after a predetermined period of time, relative to a dissipation threshold amount, and wherein the control circuit is configured to find that a first occlusion condition is satisfied if the dissipation sensor signal is not less than the peak sensor signal by more than a dissipation threshold amount. a housing capable of receiving at least a portion of the feeding set; a pumping device for contacting the feeding set when the feeding set is received by the housing so the pumping device acts on the feeding set to produce fluid flow in the feeding set in a patient direction for delivery of fluid to a patient; a sensor arranged with respect to the pumping device to produce a signal indicative of pressure in the feeding set when the feeding set is loaded on the apparatus for determining a flow condition in the feeding set, wherein the sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor including a receiver and an ultrasonic transmitter, the transmitter being configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal through a downstream side of the feeding set to the receiver for determining a downstream flow condition of the feeding set when the feeding set is loaded on the apparatus; and a control circuit in communication with the sensor for receiving the sensor signal from the sensor and in communication with the pumping device to control operation thereof, the control circuit being configured to operate the pumping device in an operational state in which the pumping device is adapted to contact the feeding set to produce a peristaltic pumping action of fluid in the patient direction through the feeding set, in a hold state in which the pumping device does not produce a peristaltic pumping action and blocks fluid flow in the feeding set in a backflow direction opposite to the patient direction, the pressure in the feeding set being detected and recorded for a period of time when the pumping device is in the hold state, further comprising means for determining an occlusion in the feeding set based at least in part on a peak sensor signal indicative of the pressure in the feeding set during the operational state and a dissipation sensor signal, indicative of the pressure in the feeding set during the hold state after a predetermined period of time, relative to a dissipation threshold amount, and wherein the control circuit is configured to find that a first occlusion condition is satisfied if the dissipation sensor signal is not less than the peak sensor signal by more than a dissipation threshold amount.