GI Study????

jennifer1w

My DS is going to be having GI study done in Feb. I was wondering what exactly happens in GI study. Do they put the baby under? What do they give them to see if everything is working? How long do they take? Do they do it in the hospital or just in specialist clinic? Just curious so we know what we are going into. Thank you!

kck329

I was nervous about it too but its actually a really easy procedure. Basically, they have the baby drink barium (a dye) mixed with milk (so ask if you should bring your formula or breastmilk). Then the baby has to lay still on the table while the tech takes series of scans watching the barium work its way through the digestive system. I think our appointment took a good part of the morning from start to finish but it wasn't long as far as hospital stuff goes. We did it at the hospital's GI outpatient clinic.

Its kinda of cool because you get to watch the dye work its way down and then see if there is any reflux or other issues.The worst part is that your baby can't eat before the exam and that makes for a pretty unhappy baby while you are holding them still for the scans.

Good luck!

 

JeepersWife

DS had this done...not too bad a procedure, but I will say I didn't like it. DS was strapped to a table bored like a mummy where all you could see was his face...and they had to turn him over so he was face down, he started refluxing and barium was coming out of his nose and mouth. I was so worried because his scream/crying was in distress and I could tell he wasn't breathing well. But the nurses and doc were there (not that it made it easier on this mama). Then they literally had to cut him out of the bindings that held him to the bored. In the end, it wasn't too bad...but I didn't like it one bit! And...just a "warning" of sorts so you'll be prepared. The nurses didn't tell me ahead of time what they would do. OH!! And...the barium made him SO constipated that his GI literally had to pull crumbling, hard as rock poo out of his bottom! That was awful! I suggest giving prune juice or mylanta ahead of time to keep things going...I was not warned about this and when I tell you he was pooping cork like rock hard plugs I am not lying...ok...I think that about covers my experience!