If your baby had surgery, did you have to follow the no food or drink after midnight rule?

lsufan

My 4 month old is having surgery on Wednesday to repair hypospadias.  I just spoke with a nurse from the hospital, and while she was going through the list of instructions, she mentioned no food or drink after midnight.  I don't even know the time of the surgery yet, and someone from the surgeon's office will call me tomorrow.  The nurse today said the surgeon may have different instructions for babies, but that she has to tell everyone the no food or drink rule just because of the anesthesia.

DS has never gone more than 4 hours overnight without nursing.  I can't imagine the hellish night we would have if I didn't nurse him after midnight.  So, just curious from those with experience.  Do they normally bend that rule with babies?   

lsufan

Oh, I'm not going to go against what our doctor tells us.  The nurse today just seemed unsure and acted like there might be different instructions from the doctor when I talk to his office tomorrow.  I guess it makes sense that it's an aspiration risk even with babies.  I just hadn't thought about having to do that and now I'm even more nervous about the surgery.

KoriBrett

Yep, both kids.  But for DS they allowed some liquids b/c he was fairly young.  Definitely ask, I think it was bmilk/formula up to 6hours before and then water up to 2hours before ? Something like that.

amiamish

Yes you HAVE to follow it. DS had surgery earlier this year, they try to schedule the order for the day with the youngest first. So he was in at 10am, it was SOOO hard not letting him have ANYTHING to eat/drink when he woke up. (and he was kinda grumpy). But please-follow that rule.

We will cancel surgeries if the pt doesn't follow that rule-it's a big one.

true_norskie

Both girls had tubes surgery at 10 months and were breastfed.  They schedule the babies first thing for the fasting reason.  So their surgeries were at 7:30 am.

I don't remember the rule about when to cut off formula, but I know it is before breastmilk (like 5 or 6 hours) because it takes longer for their bodies to digest it.  I think they could have breastmilk up to three hours before and water up to two hours before.

Don't quote me--go by the information you're given, but there are specific rules on breastmilk so make sure you get that information.

And good luck!

soyaddict

We had to stop formula/breast milk 6 hours before sugery but could give apple juice up to 2 hours before. DS was 5 months old at the time. He'd never had apple juice and we didn't need to give it to him anyway. They tend to take the youngest babies first for surgery. We were at the hospital at 6am with surgery at 7 and DS did great. 

suzymarie

I have heard some docs say bmilk is a "clear fluid".  So ask about that.

I would ask him how many hours you have to go, not the whole "night before" crap.  Is it 8 hours or 6 hours, or what? 

Zenya

suzymarie:

I have heard some docs say bmilk is a "clear fluid".  So ask about that.

I would ask him how many hours you have to go, not the whole "night before" crap.  Is it 8 hours or 6 hours, or what? 

YES.  

American Society of Anesthesiologists Sedation Model Policy (from Shands Hospital, University of Florida) September 2002

From the policy: (under NPO guidelines) For elective procedures, the child shall receive no solids or non-human milk for 4 hours before sedation unless the risk of nutritional deprivation outweighs the benefit of NPO in the estimation of the physician.

Small amounts of clear liquids or human milk are acceptable up to 2 hours before sedation and analgesia.

 

toadnfrog

Hi,

 My son had the same surgery...actually twice, unfortunately.  I stressed BIG time about the no liquids rule...only to find out that I COULD breastfeed him up to two hours before.  Double check with the doc/nurse, but they originally told me in a blanket statement that he could have nothing for 8 hours before....I was so distraught about it, but it turned out fine.  Also, they prioritize the youngest babies for surgery....at least that's how they did it at our hospital, so he should be one of the first in line.  You're lucky that you are doing it so early...we didn't know till 9 mos, then another couple months for the first surgery.  Let me know if you have any questions about it.