Surgery at GOSH - 8mo baby

[Monket]

My baby is having an operation at GOSH shortly, which will require general anaesthetic and an overnight stay. I’m pretty worried about the whole thing, although I know they’re the experts and he’s in safe hands. Any tips to get through it?

Hello @Monket

Hand hold - you’ll get through this. It’s so hard though and your child going under a GA is not something you’d want to experience if it could be avoided. Our little one has been under a general six times - so my only encouragement is that they are safe & clearly necessary.

Keep on keeping on.

Gosh is a fantastic hospital, my dd has had 3ga operations there over the years and also clinic procedures.

My experience is that they are very organized and streamlined, the cubicles are large and there aren't any other patients family's shoving their chairs through the curtains as the cubicles are not on top of each other or anything like that.

It's probably the same in every hospital but the parents go into the anteroom for the anesthesia to be administered and only leave after the child is asleep.

They give you a buzzer so you can go to the cafeteria if you like and then call you back to your cubicle in time for your child arriving back and coming round.

Try not to worry (easier said than done) and I hope it goes smoothly for you.

Thank you both for your quick replies - I wasn’t sure how popular this board is.

Bumping gently - any further experiences? We’ve got the anaesthetic preop this week.

I have spent a fair few nights at GOSH over the years. My tips are to take your own pillow (they are often in short supply), some slippers, an eye mask (like you get on a long haul flight) and ear plugs - so you get some rest!
Also, assuming your LO is allowed to eat/drink after coming round from surgery - make sure you have their preferred food to hand. They can wake up hungry (also angry sometimes, that's normal).

My boy has had many GA's at GOSH and they are brilliant - follow the directions to the letter of when to cut off feeding etc before the OP.

When your LO comes around and they say it's fine to eat, try little and often - sometimes too much with the GA withdrawal can make them vomit (only happened once in about 20 GA's - over 14 yrs).

Take a couple of changes of clothes, food / water for you both and a book. If you can a pillow for you and a familiar blanket and toy for LO.

Thank you, I appreciate the helpful tips. We spent a week at another hospital and three nights at GOSH back in the summer, which was when the issues were discovered which now require surgery. But that was very much crisis-mode so grateful to have the time and advice now to hopefully make it a more manageable experience.

No specific experience of GOSH but my little one has had a few procedures done at another hospital and I found the GOSH guides really helpful in helping me to prepare for them. If you haven’t already found them have a look on their website there’s loads of really helpful, sensible information there and if you’re anything like me I found knowing exactly what was likely to happen really helped me. Sending good luck to both you and your little one.