General anaesthetic - freaking out, please help me calm down.

[roomforthree]

DS is having a tongue tie division tomorrow. He is 4.5m so quite old to have this procedure apparently.

The surgeon's secretary has just rung to confirm the details, and has said that the surgeon is considering ga because he is older. I therefore have to starve ds from 5am. The procedure will be carried out at about 11am.

I've stupidly googled breastfeeding & ga because I thought that 6 hours without milk seems too long as bm is digested quickly. The top article returned is about the death of a baby . Even more stupidly,I clicked to read, and this happened in a local hospital, although not the one where ds will be seen.

I'm feeling sick & shaky.

I'm considering asking for the procedure to be carried out without ga, as is usual with younger babies.

Sorry for the ramble. Any advice or words of comfort would be much appreciated.

Anybody, please?

I would take the advice your DS's Dr has given you, although 6 hours is a long time without milk it wont harm your DS or im sure the doctor wouldn't have scheduled it that way.

My DS has had a fair few op's under GA and everytime i worry and cry but it always been very strieght forward and DS is always fine.

Its natural to worry, please speak to the DR's about your worries and im sure thaey can help ease your mind.

Also don't go by anythimg you ever read online none of it is policed or supervised so anyone can write anything.

I hope all goes well.

ovioulsy there are risks with GA.
I think we all feel panicky about our LO's going under GA, I did.
DS2 was absolutley fine, it was me who was a blubbering wreck!

don't know if that helps at all

obviously*

There is a risk with a GA, but it is very very small. Statstically I think you have a higher chance of having a serious car accident this year than of anything going wrong with the GA, if that helps?

If the sugeon wants to do it under GA is it because he is worried your DS might move and increase the risk of something being cut that shouldnt be? I think that the underside of the tongue is an area that surgeons usually like to be precise with.

i'm sure (but may be VERY wrong!! lol) that you can breast feed up to 2 hours before a ga because it is easily and quickly digested.

can you call your consultant and check that out?

also, although the ga isn't nice, they will do lots of local anaesthetic on where they are operating, and just a very light ga to keep the baby calm and still....

i feel for you. hope all goes well. x

Thanks for the replies everyone. I am feeling much calmer now.

my son was 5 months when he had a ga and was told i could bfeed 4 hours before
i also checked with my bfeeding counsellor they told me 3 hours
I did 4 and he was fine
i understand they say 6 for bottle fed babies but breastmilk is much easier digested

That's what I thought lou222. I'll ask when we go in, and hope I can feed him.

good luck