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Original poster

Any experience of baby going under anaesthetic?

41 replies

Birchtree4 · 22/02/2022 20:23

Hello,
My soon to be 6 month old is going for a fairly straight forward facial op under anaesthetic. I'm really anxious about the anaesthetic though on reading I know the serious risks are quite rare.

Have anyones little ones of similar age gone through this? Would love to hear experiences.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

ASimpleLobsterHat · 22/02/2022 20:34

DS had to have a general anaesthetic at 3 weeks old. It was a bit scary but I didn’t actually see anything as he was taken away from me by the nurse to be given it in a different room. Another nurse came and gave me a big hug, which was just what I needed at that point. His operation was quite quick and then we were taken in to see him once he had come round. He didn’t suffer any side effects. To be honest, I wasn’t concerned about the anaesthetic as without the operation he would likely have died, so all I could focus on was him getting the operation and getting better.
Your little one will be in the best of hands. Good luck for it all

Morechocmorechoc · 22/02/2022 20:39

Yes a bit younger than yours. Its way worse than you think and they recover so fast. Try not to stress or read too much!

Morechocmorechoc · 22/02/2022 20:39

Complete typo sorry, opposite to what I wrote, it's nowhere near as bad as you think!! Sorry about that

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Ncforthistonight · 22/02/2022 20:41

Ds was 20 months. Felt like I was signing his life away signing that form!!

LefttoherownDevizes · 22/02/2022 20:45

Mine did. As he went under he was gasping and making a not very nice noise which I think can happen until they are ventilated. It was distressing for us to see as we hadn’t been warned, but I think it’s not unusual.

We were also warned that he may be really upset when waking up after and he was beside himself (could hear him before could see him) but as soon as I put him on the boob he was fine. He has been nil by mouth for hours so no wonder he was cranky.

Hope all goes well

ofwarren · 22/02/2022 20:46

My son had a liver transplant at 4 months old and was under for 12 hours and my other son had a general for at MRI at 4 weeks.
They were both fine.
I was in the room with the first one while he went under and with the second one, they just took him away to do it.

Dinoteeth · 22/02/2022 20:49

Mine was a lot bigger (3yo) with an emergency operation so little time to think about it. But the thing that got me was them putting him under, the second he was out he was swiftly removed from my arms and I was quickly removed from the room, no hanging around for cuddles.

Wowcherarestalkingme · 22/02/2022 20:50

Both my boys had ops under general when they were 4 months old. My youngest had it during covid so I wasn’t there when he was put under. My eldest though was laid on a bed while I held his hands and they put a little mask over his mouth (which he proceeded to lick) while a nurse blew bubbles for him to look at. He was absolutely fine. It’s hard as a parent but the hospital did really well at answering my questions and were sensitive to the fact I was handing them my small babies which I really appreciated

RosieBdy · 22/02/2022 20:57

Our DS had 2 ops at about 9 months and 26mths.
He was fine but I did really worry until he'd come around from the first one...
I didn't really know what to expect, even though the hospital had done almost like a 'walkthrough' with us. The worst bit/ most unexpected bit was how floppy he suddenly went after having the anaesthetic. I was allowed in with him and was cuddling him as they gave it to him and he just suddenly 'flopped' as he went to sleep and they whipped him away from me... Obvious when I thought about it later, but at the time it was quite distressing.
Best wishes for your little ones operation.

AlicethroughtheSpookingGlass · 22/02/2022 20:58

My baby had an operation at the same age and is about to have another one at the weekend at just under a year. I held him while they anaesthetised him - they offered to let me do that or to anaesthetise him on the bed in the theatre but I wasn't ready to let him go so I asked to hold him - and when he actually went under I did go a bit wobbly but the nurse whisked me straight out and basically talked at me until we got back to the wards to distract me, which was ideal for me.

One thing they warned me about (which I was grateful for) was that he would have a sore throat from the tube so he sounded very hoarse when he came round, and for a good few days after.

Sending you the very best wishes, and to your little one.

BestZebbie · 22/02/2022 21:11

My DS had gas through a mask before an operation, they blew bubbles to distract him and then held the mask to his face while I cuddled him and sang and he went out very quickly. He was fine, and not distressed.
However, me singing a lullaby to DS as he was put under did traumatise my husband, who felt as if he was watching me “say goodbye” and DS dying/being killed, even though obviously he had also consented to the operation and agreed he should have it - so watch out for that!

Muststopeating · 22/02/2022 21:18

My DD had GA when she was 14 months. The worst bit was having the cannula inserted. We had to hold her while she screamed. Then the damn thing fsiled anyway.

For the GA itself they gave her a gas, which also made her cry but they said that was good as it meant she was taking it in. She conked out pretty quickly. They whisked her off, I left and then wept.

It wasn't fun. But she was absolutely fine. Slept a lot for the next few days (was on a constant combination of ibuprofen and paracetamol) but straight back to herself.

She is a bright, sassy 4 year old now.

Thewindwhispers · 22/02/2022 21:21

We have a family member who had a general anaesthetic nearly every month for a year starting at a couple months old. Ceased to feel like a big deal.

She’s fine now 😀 but it was a tough year.

Best wishes xx

Original poster

Birchtree4 · 24/02/2022 08:38

Thank you everyone, I feel lots better reading everyone's experiences! X

OP posts:

Dinoteeth · 24/02/2022 09:08

Do be prepared for the whisking your baby from you the instant they are out. It's sort of unnatural but it makes perfect sense.

SleepingStandingUp · 24/02/2022 09:17

It's hard letting go once they're initially sedated but the team are amazing and are used to having very little ones with them. I've often walked into recovery to find DS cuddling a nurse

DS always bounces really quickly out of anaesthetic but some kids can be groggy longer.

If it's for cleft lip, I was always amazed how quickly the babies were back and feeding after surgery. Depending on your hospital, that surgery almost seems to be the daily "usual"

WigglesWaggles · 24/02/2022 09:19

My LO had general anesthetic at a similar age. I was worried too but he was fine x

WigglesWaggles · 24/02/2022 09:21

Sent too soon, they distracted him with bubbles and he was under really quickly. Quite peacefully there was no crying or anything (accept mine when I left the room). He was groggy for a while when he woke up as expected but no issues.

postpartumagony · 24/02/2022 09:37

Mine had a GA at 13mo. I held him while they gave him the anaesthetic and it was horrid to feel him go all floppy in my arms. He was absolutely fine afterwards - was sick once but up and about v quickly.

Recycledblonde · 24/02/2022 09:41

My DS had one at 6 weeks, they administered it in my arms then swapped him for a box of tissues! He went on to have quite a few GA's until he was about 5 and was fine each time, in fact he bounced back so quickly they sent us home early as he was so noisy.
Younger DS had a facial lump removed aged 2 and again was fine and was sent home very quickly afterwards as soon as he'd eaten and had a wee.

Original poster

Birchtree4 · 24/02/2022 11:17

So nice to hear more positive stories. I am quite anxious about having him in my arms when it happens, it sounds quite upsetting but good to know to be prepared for that!

@SleepingStandingUp yes it is for cleft lip and part of palate! Did your LO have the same?x

OP posts:

Dinoteeth · 24/02/2022 11:25

It will be fine, and you've had some time to prepare for it. But that's not necessarily a good thing as that also means time to worry.

My son was a injury, he did it one day, op the next day. So I had no real time to think about it.

Have you got someone going with you, to chat / have coffee with while LO is in theater?

Itsthemaybelline · 24/02/2022 11:36

My baby had multiple open heart surgeries. The anasthetic was the least of her problems, honestly, it will be fine. Anasthetists are highly trained and prepared for all scenarios, however unlikely. I hope the op goes well and baby recovers quickly.

SleepingStandingUp · 24/02/2022 11:39

No but we lived in Birmingham Children's Hospital on the surgical ward for four months, we saw a LOT. I was always amazed as our surgeries were invasive so long recoveries (bowel resection and diaphragm repairs) and it was amazing to see them bounce back so quickly

dunkery · 24/02/2022 11:46

I spent 9 weeks in total in a plastic surgery ward for babies with my daughter for 8 ops when she was between 1 and 4 years old. They have a local anaesthetic cream put on the back of their hand beforehand covered with a clear sticker to deaden the feeling (magic cream). I held her with her arm behind my back while they stood behind me so I didn't see the needle. As pp have said they go to sleep very quickly and you are taken out. My dd often cried as the anaesthetic went in but she didn't remember afterwards. I used to go and have a coffee or something to eat immediately after she went down. Then came back and chatted to together mums in the ward till dd came back. Don't be alarmed if it takes longer than you think, they will tell you when they are out of theatre and in recovery, which could take an extra hour.

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