My 3 1/2 month old is having surgery on a hernia. He can't eat after midnight the night before his surgery. We need to have him at the hospital between 6 and 7:00 am. He can usually go 5 hours without eating again, but not 6 hours. Does anybody have any suggestions on what I can do to get him through the night without eating. Should I ask my doctor for some kind of medicine that will help him sleep through the night? The reason I'm so concerned is that we are staying in a hotel. If we were at my house I wouldn't be that concerned.
2007-07-23 08:34:37 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
You should be able to give him fluids like apple juice and water up to 1-2 hrs before the surgery. You should ask your doctor about the specifics because I can't remember anything.
Maybe you should make him go to bed later so he'll sleep thru the times he'd normally be up and hungry.
2007-07-23 08:47:35 · answer #1 · answered by ♥☺ bratiskim∞! ☺♥ 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Are you breastfeeding?
My son had Open Heart Surgery at under 1yo. I was given a list of different reccomendations depending on the food.
For solid foods it was definately nothing after midnight the night before surgery. Formula was about 6 hrs and breastmilk was allowed 4 hrs before.
That said, hospitals all have different policies and the type of surgery can also have an effect. I would call your surgeons booking nurse (not your family doctor, they aren't always up to date on new regulations) and see what suits your situation best.
I don't think you'll be given any sleeping aids, he'll get enough of that pre and post surgery.
**In my situation, thankfully I was nursing. I was able to feed him 4 hrs before surgery. Once we arrived at the hospital I carried him in a sling and swayed around to keep in occupied. Once they put the IV's into his hands, they gave him a sedative and then he was totally fine. If your son seems really upset, ask for something to calm him. It won't do you any good to be dealing with a hungry and upset baby right before you have to hand him away for surgery either.
All the best to you, I know how you feel~~
2007-07-23 13:17:32 · answer #2 · answered by Gr8fulmom 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My son had surgery for a hernia just before his 3rd month, and i was so worried that my baby would be screaming cause he was hungry but i tried to plan it out and it worked great. His surgery was also at 7am so i figured he usually ate around 1am or 2 am i tried to let him get hungry till the latest he could eat so at 1am he ate and i gave him maybe 2oz or more that way he would stay full and asleep longer.I also made sure he was dressed before he fell asleep so we wouldn't wake him up when it was time to leave. Then the good part is the car ride most babies sleep in the car so that helped. Once we got there he had to be weighed and needed his temp checked but I just held him and rocked him back to sleep. He cried maybe once for a min or two and never was it a hungry cry (which was my worst fear) and about you being in a hotel just bring anything that will make him feel as if he was at home I doubt he'll even notice. He'll be fine it was not as scary as i thought my son was laughing and playing with in hours of us coming home.
2007-07-23 09:55:47 · answer #3 · answered by inga8511 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
talk to your doctor... my baby was a little older when he had to get tubes in his ears, so it was the same deal. They actually let me feed him formula up until 4am I think it was. Then after that I was allowed to give him water, which he didn't really like, but it was better than nothing. And of course a pacifier can help bide time. I would ask your doctor though for tips or any leniency on this, as I can't even fathom going through that with a 3 month old, it was hard enough with an almost 6 month old!!!
Good luck!!
2007-07-23 13:14:50 · answer #4 · answered by Mom 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, not that big of a deal, Feed him right before midnight so he is finishing right at 12 maybe try to get him to eat a little extra. Then at 5 when we would wake up to eat again get him in his car seat and go for a drive, you could always go to the hospital a little early or just drive around, hopefully the driving will put him back to sleep but if not at least you aren't in a hotel with a bunch of angry sleepy guest.
2007-07-23 08:47:03 · answer #5 · answered by mjoy2685 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I would defiantly talk to the doctor about that because I have a 3 month old as well and he does not go all night with out eating. Good luck and I hope that the surgery goes well.
2007-07-23 08:37:49 · answer #6 · answered by RainCloud 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know first hand what you are going thru. My son was older, but it was still an awful feeling. I kept my son up later than normal, and offered him a bottle of milk about 15 till 12 which he drank it all and it held him over. Also by keeping him awake longer, he seemed to sleep sounder. He never took a pacifier, so that was not an option. Everything worked out good for my son and I pray the same for yours. Best of Luck!
2007-07-23 17:03:32 · answer #7 · answered by scoggins32fan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
looks like a advance spurt to me. in many cases a advance spurt happens around 12 weeks or so. My son did this as properly as replaced his slumbering types around this age. He additionally exhibits a great urge for meals advance whilst he's on the verge of hitting a "milestone". stable luck! Edit: I accept as true with a prior placed up with regards to the solids. At approximately 4 months my son acted like he could no longer get adequate to consume and my pediatrician gave the ok for some cereal mixed with formula (very runny) or mixed with applesauce. A warning that apples and applesauce and apple juice might properly be a constipator.
2016-10-19 06:50:36 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is hard to hear your little one cry and not be able to do anything about it. They don't want you to feed him or give him anything to drink cause when put under anesthetic, he would possibly vomit into his lungs and aspirate and die. Just tell your self that it is only a few hours and you and he will get through it. Just sing and play and talk to him but no matter what you do he is going to be upset. You can try feeding him with some cereal in his formula a few minutes before midnight to help get him through a little better. Hope everything goes as planned and he feels better soon.
2007-07-23 09:02:27 · answer #9 · answered by MJ 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Feed him at midnight and then if he gets cranky before time to go to the hospital give him some water. He should be aloud to have water before he has surgery so give him that and it should help him to feel like he's eating until time for the surgery. Good luck
2007-07-23 08:49:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋