Toddler needs minor operation, but with General Anaesthetic - staying in hosp questions

[crokky]

GP is 95% sure DS will need an operation on his foot, but we are just waiting to see specialist at Childrens Hospital.

He's 2.7 - presumably they will let me stay with him overnight? Do you get to stay in the same room with them? He's never been away from me (apart from when I was in hospital having DD and he was scratching at the front door in the middle of the night looking for me!) and still sleeps in our room.

I'm also worried about my 6mo baby who also sleeps in our room - she still bfs about 3x a night and is hysterical at anybody else picking her up in the night (although fine with this in the day). Do you think there is any chance she will be allowed to stay the night in the hospital or is that really bad even to ask?

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My baby had an operation for an inguinal hernia (had GA) when he was 7 weeks old. We all stayed overnight in his room (sofabed, bed and cot accommodation). I don't know whether we had our own room because he was a baby (the other children were on the ward) or because it was a private operation (NHS teaching hospital).

Not all surgery involving GA requires a stay overnight.

In the hospital my DS was admitted to, acute conditions (injuries, operations etc) were in open wards and mums slept on an armchair next to the bed. For chronic conditions or where the children are very sick then there are sometimes beds.

I would think it's very unlikely you will be allowed to take your DD and definitely not in an open ward.

But hopefully he won't need to stay overnight

God, sounds ghastly for you.

Have no experienec/advice, but will say that, if it were me I would make a big deal out of needing to breastfeed my baby -since they are supposed to bend over to support bf mothers- as they might feel more inclined to find you a private room with some sort of put-you-up bed for you.

Same as Saskia - my DS had hernia op at 12 weeks and I stayed in his room on camp bed thing.

Are you sure you'd want a small baby in hospital with you really, even if you could? Having been through it all it's not as bad as you dread but is still not enjoyable experience and I just wanted to concentrate on my poorly child, happy to know that DD was with grandma being spoilt rotten. Can you get someone to watch DD during the day and you return at night leaving DH in hopsital to do the night feeds and go back first thing next day?

Whoever does go into hospital take a reading light. They switch the lights off early at kids hopsitals, so unless you fancy going to sleep at 7.30...

DS had an op a few months ago where he unexpectedly had to stay overnight. It was never questioned that one of us would stay with him. We had a sideroom and there was a chair bed in there which they made up for me. As far as I can remember the beds in the bays had these beside them too. DS was 20 months old and it was fine (his op was on his foot, webbed toes).

Originally DS wasn't going to stay overnight as it wasn't a serious op but they changed their minds as they wanted to give him antibiotics late. Even if he doesn't have to stay I would definitley take an overnight bag to keep in the car just in case. We also found having a pushchair a great help as he couldn't walk and got far too heavy to carry around and didn't want to just lie in the cot.

I really don't know about your DD though sorry.

It depends a bit on the hospital and the type of ward. However you should definitely be able to stay our local hopsital (which we know well) has camp beds available next to the beds in all the wards for parents to stay, in fact it's almost expected! With regards to your DD I would make a big deal about bf her and needing to do that during the night, she's still very little. They may let you have her in, I know some do but others don't.
Ring the ward you will be going in to, they are very used to lots of questions and much better to ask and be sure well in advance of going in. Also take food and drink for yourself, again provision is very variable, the best offer a parents room to make tea and toast in the morning, others (most) offer nothing, you may find it very difficult, if not impossible, to get to the cafe during your stay, even if you manage it you will not be allowed hot drinks on the ward. I also take food, a packed lunch, for my DS (now3.5) as when he's recovering from the GA he wants familiar food. He quite likes hospital food at other times though
Good luck, I'm sure it will all be fine

Just read that you are going to be at a children's hospital, it's much more likely to be better equipped, both for beds and facilities for you, and more sympathetic to bringing your DD.

Our local hospital also does camp beds and you are very much expected to stay. It's an open ward, so you couldn't really bring a baby in though.