Moms whose LO has had surgery/anesthesia - UPDATE: the surgery went great!

Dd is having surgery tomorrow to remove the growth/cyst on her neck area. I'm so nervous.

She is about 10mos old. Tell me what your "night before" was like? What time did you stop feeding? What were your dr's instructions?

They are supposed to call later on with instructions.

The hospital is 90 min from home, so we got a hotel close by, so she won't scream because she's hungry for the car ride there.

---
Update: Woke her up and gave her a bottle around 1 am. Surgery was scheduled for 11 am. Gave her some water mixed with apple juice around 8 am, which held her over.
Surgery started late, at 11:45. She was shockingly so good, for not having eaten.

The procedure was an hour long and we got to see her immediately in recovery. She woke up maybe 20 mins later. They gave her a nursette of pedialyte, we hung out for a bit to continue monitoring her and she was great.

Before long, we were discharged. The surgery didnt even phase her. She was back to her old self once we got in the car. Today she is up and playing, she is not even touching the site where they operated.

I know there are a few FL moms on here - I highly recommend Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, FL. It was such a pleasant experience, state of the art facility, and professional staff. I am a tough critic, and this experience was an A+.
Thanks for all the well wishes.

Message edited 12/31/2011 8:48:33 AM.

Re: Moms whose LO has had surgery/anesthesia

My son just had tubes put in his ears a week ago...he was 1 day short of being nine months. His last bottle is usually at 6, and he usually wakes in the morning between 5 and 6....his surgery was scheduled at 7:30, and I was told that he had to be finished having formula by 12:30. So at 12, I gave him a bottle, literally while he was still asleep. He drank the whole bottle.

He was totally fine in the morning, not looking for anything to eat. I was nervous about the anesthesia too, esp. because he was so young. His surgery was really quick, and he had a light dose, that as soon as they found his binky (honestly, like a minute after we walked in) he was totally fine, and not crying.

My oldest 2 had their tonsils removed when they were 2 yrs 8 mo, and 2 yrs 2 weeks, and I remember they had a hard time with the anesthesia....they were crying for a decent amount of time...what helped them was watching a video, and also an ice (for the pain).

Praying that everything goes smoothly...I understand how unnerving it is

Re: Moms whose LO has had surgery/anesthesia

He was a year and a half and got tubes.. we loaded him up the night before on snacks and dinner.. pretzels...cereal...banannas...kept him up a litte later.. woke him and dressed him realy quick and walked out the door so he wouldn't realize he didn't have his bottle.. he NEVER asked for it.. I was SHOCKED!!

good luck!

Re: Moms whose LO has had surgery/anesthesia

DS was just over a year when he had anesthesia for his recircumcision. I was a wreck !! He was on milk and off bottles by then so I thought things were going to be bad in the morning. I let him have as much to eat and drink right up until he went to bed. In the morning he woke up, I got him dressed and we left almost right away. He didn't fuss much in the car. Even after we got there it was about an hour wait before being called in and another half hour or so before the start of his surgery !! I think with all the new people and surroundings it distracted him enough because he didn't fuss at all!! After he woke up they allowed him to have some water, and he sucked it down QUICK!!

Good move getting the hotel, it will definitely save you hassle in the morning. Good luck with the surgery. It was hard being in the room when they gave my DS the anesthesia, but I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Re: Moms whose LO has had surgery/anesthesia

H. had skull reconstruction surgery at 6mo. It was major surgery so I was a wreck the night before. I didn't sleep at all. I fed him his regular bottle before bed and he couldn't eat after midnight. I thought he would be starving in the morning, but he did fine.

Hope it goes well!

Re: Moms whose LO has had surgery/anesthesia

Thank you everyone for the replies!! I will feed her a lot today, especially later on. I like the idea about waking her for a bottle before midnight.

I hope it's smooth and we are home asap.

Re: Moms whose LO has had surgery/anesthesia

DS had to have emergency surgery at 9weeks... so I have no experience with the prep part of surgery.

But I wanted to let you know that DD will be OK. She is going into the hands of professionals. Just know that when she wakes up, you will be there right next to her, with the biggest smile. And know that everyone there is there to support you.

Lots of for your DD and many to you and DH!

Re: Moms whose LO has had surgery/anesthesia

My DS was 2.5 when he had a cyst removed. The dr told us to stop feeding at midnight, but I think the last thing he ate was around 9pm. I gave him anything he wanted that day. The next morning he wanted to eat and drink, but we couldn't let him and that was hard.

No other instructions other than I think we had to be at the hospital like 2 hours before the surgery.

Based on advice I got from LIF, I wore clothes I didn't care about and I brought an extra outfit for DS just in case he threw up after waking up.

Re: Moms whose LO has had surgery/anesthesia

DS had heart surgery twice. It was hard. I think if it wasn't such a serious surgery, I would not have been such a wreck.

ETA: The night before was not bad for DS. It was the morning of because he was hungry.

Message edited 12/29/2011 9:20:47 AM.

Re: Moms whose LO has had surgery/anesthesia

DS has had a few these past few months. Most have us stop eating 8 hours before, but when he had his tumor removed it was 24 hours before bc it was close to his bowels. (They didn't want any poop in case the bowel tore)

The hunger is hard. Ds is old enough to understand and to eat right up to his last minute.

Our surgeries all happen pretty quick, so our anticipation wasn't too bad (the one we had warning for was removing his tumor, so we were actually excited for that to happen), but the during waiting is torture. After you leave the room (we have always been able to stay until he is under), there is a lot they have to do...get ready, get equipment, find exactly where they need to be. Even laproscopic. Our longest was 2 hours and it felt like an eternity, but eventually the doctor comes out.

Good luck

Re: Moms whose LO has had surgery/anesthesia

Just wanted to add, with my 2 oldest, we were allowed to go in with them until they were put under...with the baby, they wouldn't allow us. They said that under 1, they do not let the parents go back....that was the hardest part for me (not sure why). I went into the bathroom and cried

Re: Moms whose LO has had surgery/anesthesia

Posted by want2beamom

Just wanted to add, with my 2 oldest, we were allowed to go in with them until they were put under...with the baby, they wouldn't allow us. They said that under 1, they do not let the parents go back....that was the hardest part for me (not sure why). I went into the bathroom and cried

Re: Moms whose LO has had surgery/anesthesia

DS had to have his circumcision redone at 13 months old. I nursed before bed and then again at around midnight (to make sure he wouldn't be too hungry in the morning.) He was totally fine once he woke up which I thought was going to be torture since he always nursed first thing in the morning. I just had DH wake and hold him instead of me. He didn't fuss while at the hospital waiting to be taken in. All he wanted to do was run around but we had to keep him contained since it wasn't a safe place for him to roam.

Waking from the anesthesia was hard on him and I was able to nurse right away, which I think helped calm him down. Bring a bear or lovey to have your LO snuggle with afterwards.

It's harder on you than on them, so try not to lose too much sleep over it.

Re: Moms whose LO has had surgery/anesthesia - UPDATE: the surgery went great!

update at top

Re: Moms whose LO has had surgery/anesthesia - UPDATE: the surgery went great!

Glad it went well!

Re: Moms whose LO has had surgery/anesthesia - UPDATE: the surgery went great!

What a great update! She is such a trooper!!!