Inguinal and Umbilical hernia in 8 week old prem baby

[Jacksmybaby]

8 week old (corrected age 3 wks) DS has inguinal and umbilical hernias. Have read hernia threads and a couple of things worrying me if he has to have an operation (on NHS): (1) how long do you have to starve them for beforehand and how the hell do you cope with a screaming starving baby? Can they be given some sort of mild sedation beforehand to cope with the hunger? and (2) if they have to stay in overnight are you allowed to stay in with them? Also, he has terrible wind and strains / farts all the time - do you think this is making the hernias worse (the tummy button one certainly pops out further when he's straining).

I have no experience of the hernia, but if he has to stay in overnight they will let you stay too (everywhere that I have heard of / had experience of)

Oh - and at alder hey at least - they always try to schedule the littlest babies first because of the starvation issue (usually we have had to starve from midnight, with clear fluids (juice or water) allowed before 7 am.

Hi there JacksMyBaby,

My brother had this when he was born and had an operation, my mum said he was absouloutly fine & you wouldn't have known he'd had surgery or anything.