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Children's health

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Original poster

Hernia in 13 week baby - does anyone have any experience of this?

10 replies

TheProvincialLady · 23/03/2009 08:50

Last night we had to take DS2 to the out of hours GP because he had a huge lump in his groin, quite suddenly - one nappy change it was normal, the next there was the lump. GP says it is a hernia and will probably need surgery I have to see my own GP to be referred to a specialist but in the meantime, can anyone tell me anything about it? I have learned NOT to google after previous bad experiences

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Raeray · 23/03/2009 12:04

Hiya hope this helps.... www.ich.ucl.ac.uk/gosh_families/information_sheets/hernia/hernia_families.html

Great ormond street leaflets are reliable and informative without being too scary!!
They dont have all conditions etc but luckily they did have this one!!

Hope little one gets sorted soon x

Original poster

TheProvincialLady · 23/03/2009 12:24

That is very helpful, thanks a lot.

OP posts:

Kayteee · 24/03/2009 00:14

My ds had an op on one of these at 6 weeks old (roughly). Very quick op, very tiny scar which they glue up, so no stitches required and he healed up nicely. Basically they "patch up" the weak part of the stomach with a type of natural gauze. He's 12 yrs old now and never had ANY problems as a result. It's very common but worrying for you all the same. hth

Original poster

TheProvincialLady · 24/03/2009 11:06

Oh that is reassuring thanks. I suppose one of my concerns is the general anaesthetic, especially as I react very badly to them myself. Can you remember how your son was Kaytee?

OP posts:

Kayteee · 24/03/2009 11:51

He was absolutely fine. It only took about and hour, and he came round with no problem and just started bfing straight away. I admit to being terrified at the time. I also had to not feed him for 4 hours before-hand, which was quite hard. I had to let his Dad cuddle him so he didn't smell my milk so, if you're bfing then it would be an idea to have someone with you to hold your ds for the time leading up to an op.

If you are worried about any reaction to general anaesthetic you'll be able to discuss your concerns with the anaesthetic team beforehand. Ime they are always VERY thorough when deciding this for little ones and would definitely take on board the fact that you react badly. There are many different ways of using ga and it's probably much more sophisticated now than when we went down that road 12 years ago.
He may not actually need an op btw. Sometimes they leave them to get let the muscles tighten up naturally. Either way, it's very common and he'll be over it it no time. I'll keep this on my watching threads, let us know how it goes

Kayteee · 24/03/2009 12:02

Just an after thought and not meant to cause you more worry but, if the lump turns a bluey/purpley colour, go straight to a&e, or see the gp asap. Also, you'd know because ds would make a loud noise to let you know!

Most hernias are like the one you mention, just a lump. In my ds's case the lump was that colour so he was seen much quicker as it can mean it's got twisted. The doc pushed it back in and ds was operated on the next day.

Sorry to add this as an extra but I thought it best to mention. All the best.

Original poster

TheProvincialLady · 26/03/2009 18:01

Sorry Kaytee, I thought I had replied to you and just saw that I hadn't I appreciate your posts and especially the danger signs. I have an appointment to see the GP next week so hopefully we will be told everything in detail then. Thanks again.

OP posts:

fishie · 26/03/2009 18:06

my ds had this too, had op at 7m. they did him first as he was youngest on the list - do speak to anaesthetist they will reassure you lots. ds was bouncing around afterwards and utterly back to normal next day.

the inguinal hernia is hereditary - dh had a strangulated one as a baby so we knew to look out for it.

if you are bf the starving time before op is different - 4 hours as kayteee said, but more i think for ff. check anyway, hungry baby is def the worst part of it.

Aimsmum · 26/03/2009 18:24

Message withdrawn

elizabethsmum · 26/03/2009 20:41

My DD had bilateral inguinal hernia op at 10 weeks old. She was born 4 weeks early weighing 3lbs 14oz and was only about 6lbs or so when she had the op. She was absolutely fine. Op done as a semi-emergency as one of the hernias had become partailly twisted but as i said, DD was absolutely fine afterwards, you would hardly have known she had anything done. She has two tiny (barely visible) scars now in the groin.

I was a bit worried how we would cope with the nil by mouth bit but they put her on some sort of special drip beforehand, so she wasn't at all hungry.

The staff on the ward were also lovely and very reassurring. We had to stay in overnight but were not even in hosp for 24 hrs.

HTH

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