10 month old having a minor op next week - how to survive the no food/milk thing?

[IlanaK]

He is having tongue tie divided under general. He can't have food for 6 hours before, breastmilk for 4 hours before and water for two hours before.

The op is at 2:30pm. So he will miss lunch and one milk feed. He uses breastfeeding for comfort and sleep too. I think he will be really distraught and have no idea what I will do about it. He will not take a dummy either.

Any ideas???

[mad4myboys]

why cant he have water for 2 hours before?? My ds2 is 6 months and had 2 operations both under general but could have water as and when he needed it...does he have a favourite toy you can take? Also new toys, distractions etc

[FrannyandZooey]

so you could give him milk at 10 am? a nice big feed then. would he go to sleep after that maybe? what time is his usual sleep?

he could have breakfast at 8 am - a big filling breakfast - porridge and banana etc
encourage him to have more than normal

obviously you will be fretting but you know, i think it might be ok
with some jiggling and a bit of luck

does he ever go to sleep in a sling or in the pram instead of on the breast?

[FrannyandZooey]

or in the car?

[pointydog]

dd2 had her first minor op at 14 months and as it turned out she really didin't notice not having food or drink. We didn't eat or drink around her (obv) and there was so much to distract her at the hospital it didn't seem to cross her mind. It was like this with all her minor ops.

TRy not to worry, he might be ok. I'd give him a very early breakfast and then stay busy.

[IlanaK]

Ok, no car as we live in central london. Yes, he will sleeep in the sling, but usually only on a nice full tummy. Not sure why they say no water, but they did definately say that.

Maybe I can keep him awake in the morning until he has a big feed at 10 and feed him off to sleep. Then he will probably sleep for 2 hours until we need to leave for the hospital. He will probably stay distracted there for an hour or so. It is the last hour when he will be hungry that will be a problem I think.

[pointydog]

It's just to reduce the chance of vomiting, I think, after the ga. No liquids either

[mad4myboys]

odd isnt it how diff areas/hospitals have diff rules when it comes to operations!