Co sleeping and General Anaesthetic

[Panzee]

I'm due a GA soon on a day case, not sure how long I'll be under for but can't imagine it being long if I'm expected to go home the same day.

I cosleep with my 8 month old and was wondering when it would be ok to do so again? I am planning to keep him out of my bed that night, is one night enough? Had anyone done this?

Wow. I don't know. I would suggest asking the anaesthetist.

FWIW I had a GA when I had all my wisdom teeth out as a day case, same as you by the sound of it. I went under late morning I think, was awake (but grotty and just wanted to sleep again) by three, home and feeling fine for bedtime, slept normally that night.

But it would depend what time of day the op is, dosage, how you react, what time you wake...

Overall, it's potentially a big risk to take with your DS. Ask the anaesthetist, but I do think you are wise to be making plans to maybe not co sleep with your son that night.

Only one I've had was a brief day case one and I didn't feel drowsy at all.

Won't have crossed my mind to worry about co-sleeping.

I probably didn't because FF DD1 was the biggest fidget on the planet. So we might have had a hug and dozed together for a bit, but sooner or later she'd have been thrown out.

Thanks. I guess it's a case of suck it and see!

I had a GA for dental surgery a year before I had my daughter. I wasn't well afterwards and there is no way had I had a child I could have coslept that night or the next.

When my DD1 was almost two I had an op under local anaesthetic in my breast and was rold not to Co sleep that night to avoid being knocked (soft tissue operation) and because my body needed rest to recover.

The RCA website says anaesthetic drugs leave the body rapidly, but that you should not drive or drink alcohol for 'at least' 24 hours afterwards.

So, I think you're right to rule out the first night, and you need to ask the anaesthetist if you should wait longer than that.

Definitely not the first night. Your alertness will be impaired. Second night see how you feel. You will probably be fine unless you are on any post op painkillers with codeine in them

Yes, it occurred to me last night that I might be on painkillers. I forgot about that! Anything more than paracetamol and I won't be doing it. So I guess the effects of the GA might be a moo point (thank you Joey!) if I'm on drugs anyway.

Thanks all :)

The anaesthetist may be odd about the whole thing, tbh. Afaik, once you are awake and alert enough to remember you have a baby, you are ok to BF, but there's a good chance the anaesthetist may not take the same view. (See here)

I have no idea re: the cosleeping. Your child is not a newborn, so the risks are lower, but if you are feeling distinctly out-of-sorts (which you might, depending on the type of anaesthesia - twilight vs proper ga - and how long you are under, also depending on what the operation is), not cosleeping sounds like a good idea.