DD 2 year old having anaesthetic tomorrow

[elm26]

Hi everyone

DD (just turned 2) is having an MRI of her back tomorrow due to complaining about it for the past few months.

They have to give her anaesthetic to keep her still but I’m really nervous about it for some reason (I’ve had lots of GA’s for operations).

Can anyone tell me what to expect?

Thank you!

You should be able to be with me while she falls asleep and it can look unsettling as she will one moment be awake and then suddenly fall asleep. I think she'll be able to have a teddy to hold while she's being given the anaesthetic too to give her some extra comfort. Then you go and wait somewhere (I waited in the cafe) and they'll probably call you once she's awake, or then give you a time to come back. DD had a GA for an MRI when she was 18 months, another about a year later so they could remove a coin stuck in her throat, and one for a gastroscopy when she was 4 and that was my experience. It was very unsettling the first time because I didn't know what to expect.

They go under very quickly and without much drama in my experience. They might be a bit distressed when they wake up although DS was less upset at 2 and a half than at 3 and 3/4 (he's had two sets of grommets).

My youngest has had a GA twice.
They blew bubbles for him while I held him and used the gas to put him under. One thing I wasn’t expecting that was quite normal was that he started twitching quite strongly while going under! that can be a bit shocking if you don’t expect it but like I said it is normal 🩷

My DS had a general at almost 2 years old. They let me hold him, and one nurse blew bubbles for him to watch while they put the mask on him. He found the mask a bit distressing at first, but he was out like a light, very quickly. Afterwards he was groggy and grumpy for a bit but was fine within a few hours.

I hope it all goes well.

If the investigation isn’t first thing, try to find something fun to do first to distract from possible hunger.

DD needed surgery just after her second birthday. The anaesthetist was lovely and chatted to her before she went down to be anaesthetised.

I don’t really remember that bit, but I remember her absolutely raging when she came round. The racket! (Apparently it isn’t that unusual and luckily the nurse warned us before we went down to see her).

Fast forward 15 years and DD is fine with dentists etc (needed to have 6 stubborn baby teeth pulled out and braces fitted/removed) and multiple jabs for her forthcoming Africa trip.

My DS had GA a few months ago. He is being investigated for autism/ PDA and I was worried about it. The staff were great and he went to sleep very calmly with gas. They didn't even put a cannula in until he was out. I know it's horrible as the parent but the team will so experienced and calming. Hope all goes well.

Thank you all so much, was really helpful reading all of your replies. DD is all done and home now! The hospital were great and it was a quick and smooth process. X

If they anesthetise them on your knee, expect them to go floppy. That’s the bit that usually upsets parents. Someone will say, give him a kiss. And that is your signal to leave. Most parents cry. It’s absolutely fine. If he wakes up distressed and won’t settle for anything. They usually just need to go back to sleep and wake up in their own time. (Paediatric nurse)

Thanks again!

They wrapped her arms down in a blanket whilst she sat on my lap having a cuddle and one of the team put Winnie the Pooh on her phone whilst the anaesthetist held the mask in front of her face, at one point I was breathing it in! She fought for a bit and cried but anaesthetist said although it’s not nice to see, it helps them go out quicker as they are breathing heavily when crying.

We gave her a kiss and left, they put cannula in once she was asleep and an hour later we were called to the recovery area where DD was upset and confused as the nurse was removing the cannula. Once she saw DH and I, she perked up, we went to the ward and she had 2 lots of obs 45 mins apart, had some yoghurt raspberry bites and a lot to drink, played in the playroom for a bit and then we were sent on our way.

They were fab, relieved it’s over though! I was getting a bit of anxiety leading up to it.