Stoma care for new baby

[Sunnyday14558]

My baby had to have a stoma the day after he was born. It looks like we might be going home with it before his reversal procedure.

Ive been changing his bag at the hospital but always have a nurse on hand to hold his arms and legs and generally be on hand if he starts wiggling.

I’m apprehensive about how to manage his stoma care, particularly changing the bag, on my own. I’ve no idea how I’d manage if we were out and about and needed a bag change.

does anyone have any tips/advice they can share? Thank you!

Try these OP. I’m surprised the hospital haven’t given you more support.

https://www.colostomyuk.org/

Congratulations on your new baby!!!

I can't help with the baby side of things, however, I do have a stoma so I can comment from that side. Assume it's a colostomy or ileostomy? If so this may put your mind a t rest a bit. If it's a urostomy, I have no experience of that so apologies, hopefully someone will be able to help.

Firstly, it's unlikely you will need to do a full bag change when you are out. The bags stick on very securely, and if you empty it and check the seal just before you go out, there's a high chance that the most you will have to do is empty it if it gets full. As your baby will also be wearing a nappy, any leakages would be contained until you managed to get home with a bit of luck!

Regarding the wiggling situation - is there any way you could swaddle baby just leaving their tummy out so you can do what you need to do? I feel for you on that score! Good luck x

Thank you ☺️ It’s an ileostomy so we have to cut the hole carefully to fit around the two stoma ( or stoma / fistula?). I’ve found the bag does have a tendency to leak, I think mainly because he’s so wriggly. I’ve been putting gauze in the bag to soak up any watery output and using putty rings (cut down to baby size) and a Cavilon stick but it’s all a bit hit and miss as to whether it lasts more than 24 hours. If I don’t empty the stoma bag each three hours it will almost certainly leak.

thats a good idea about the swaddle. I just tried with the arms which worked well. I may need to get another muslin to swaddle the legs. The main thing is trying to get his body flat/straight when I place the bag on. I think that would be really tricky to do on my own.

the nappy doesn’t cover the bag but I’m wondering if I should double nappy, possibly putting an oversized nappy on top to contain the bag..