How to Prepare for Upcoming Surgery for My 13 Month Old?

I agree with SH's answer. I just wanted to add that it is likely he will be in a crib, so you don't have to worry about keeping him in bed. Ask your dr. about this. And I also emphasize that you should be advocating for good pain meds - many drs tend to wean babies off too soon, when they need more time for healing without pain. Good Luck.

Hi A.!!

First BIG HUGS!!

Crazy as it sounds...stock up on BUBBLES!

They can be blown by YOU...or your little one when he feels better...and can even help him 'stretch' to pop them...when he is ready...

FOR YOU...snacks...drinks...and something 'mindless' to do. For me...I crochet or knit...I can focus...yet 'not'...if that makes sense.

For me...reading took away from my focus...(eavesdropping? lol) and the 'project'...what ever it was...at least kept my fingers busy.

Often there is a 'shower' on the floor for parents...so IF you stay...may want to pack some 'toiletries' for you...

a SHOWER always made me feel better...

Best luck...and PM me if you'd like!!

Prayers and positive thoughts to you both!
michele/cat

Well my daughter had a hernia surgery, but she was 7 at the time.

Just be there.
Pack all his comfy loveys and anything else that is his favorite.

The Surgeon/Nurses will inform you of after-care information... and what he can/cannot do after and about recovery. And what to do to tend to him after the surgery.
- ALSO, he may not be able to have a 'bath' for a bit of time or be submerged in water, after. Depending on how the incision was closed and his surgery... and if it can or cannot get wet. SO ask about these things too.
And if you can give him a sponge bath, and when.

Ask any questions you want.
They are used to that.

Yes, bring a bag for yourself too.
And cash/money.
The hospital has a cafeteria.

Do NOT expect to have boatloads of visitors... you probably do not want that AND the hospital may forbid that, being he is in ICU and a young child.
NO one who is sick...should go visit him etc.
I would keep 'visitors' to just you and Daddy.

Ask them, what to do per keeping him relaxed after. BUT, being he had surgery, he probably will not want to be all active right after.
He will probably be groggy or in pain.

Ask about pain management. In case.

ASK the Surgeon.
The Surgical team & Anesthesiologist Doc, in my daughter's case, ALL met with us, first. And answered ANY and all questions.

Don't change up any of his routines, for now. It is not the time.
Let him recover in his own time.
Don't force sippies on him, yet.
NO rush for that.
Especially now.
He is young.
MANY babies his age, are still on bottles.
NO harm in that.
Let him have his bottle.
This is not the time or place, to take away his bottle.

I was able, per my daughter's surgery, to be in the operating room with her, initially, as they started the anesthesia. Then, I had to leave.
We could be with her as they rolled her out of surgery and into the recovery room.
ASK your Surgeon, if you can be there or what the routine is.

just be with him always, ask if u can be in icu when he wakes up. bring someone with you, your gonna need a shoulder to cry on and yes bring a light bag, bring lunch for urself or make sure you have money for eats, drink water. bath him and feed him. he will cry and so will you.

Oh how difficult this must be for you! My little guy had surgery at 10 months, but he was only there one night.

Just wanted to mention a couple of things I didn't see below. At our hospital I was able to order food (just like room service) from a menu in my son's room. I'm pretty sure we just paid for that when we got the hospital bill. The hospital where he was born had my husband pay cash for any food that he ordered. At any rate, ask the nurses about that. You might want to walk to the cafeteria for a break, but you also might like the idea of not needing to leave your son.

Because your son is still taking a bottle, you can use the top to give him meds if you need to. One of the nurses showed us this trick. She had us take the top off his bottle, then she squirted his meds into the nipple. He drank it down just like he would his formula!

Hang in there! It probably won't be easy at all, but the good news is years from now he won't remember a thing!

Surgery on little kids is so hard to deal with! My oldest had heart surgery as a newborn and then another surgery at age three.

The first surgery, we were in there 30 minutes after they had her in the PICU. She was kept sedated for a couple days. They kept her on pain meds really well. We were allowed with her all the time even though we couldn't hold her for several days.

Second surgery, they told us we'd be back there before she woke up. But I'm pretty sure they lied to us to make us be happy about it (just the way the nurse acted afterwards made me very suspicious that she was purposefully lying when we requested to be there before she woke up). My daughter was totally freaked out and screaming her head off when we walked in. I was pretty irked at the nurses because it seemed obvious she'd been upset for a while...and we were sitting, waiting in the waiting room - not that far away! (stuff like that makes me very frustrated and upset) They kept her pain managed quite well. She was quite miserable, though, just because she hates hospitals. We were allowed to snuggle with her. They had her in a full size bed, so we could lay next to her.

As for you, bring a change of clothes (if you're not trading off w/hubby at all and can't go home). Bring whatever you'd need with that. Make sure you have a steady supply of food to eat. A friend brought us a snack basket, and it was so helpful. There is the cafeteria, but you'd have to leave to get the food. At night you'd need your own food.

As for the baby, bring favorite toys. Maybe even buy special toys for him so that they are new to him while there. Bubbles are a great suggestion. My daughter loved having those.

Odds are he'll be somewhat sedated, I would guess. They wouldn't want him moving much, would they? If not, they'll have him sedated somehow, to some degree. It's almost easier that way because they are more out of it and aren't suffering as much.

It's NOT easy as a parent to watch your baby go through stuff like that. So, be ready for any and all emotions. You'll probably have times where you feel really strong and then other times where you feel really broken. Plus, it'll depend on how he recovers and how the medical staff treats you! Hopefully all will be good.

((((HUGS))))

None of my little ones have had surgery (other than tubes). I had my first surgery at the age of 6 months. My second was at 18 months and it just goes on from there.

I know the things that made me feel better as a child, and I remember my mom did.

Take a small bag for yourself if you can't get away for a few hours. Make sure you have change for the vending machines. Take a book to read and something like a sudoku or something like that.

For the little guy, you have listed everything I would recommend taking. I don't know how they would keep him still. I would assume they would sedate him.

Everything is going to be ok mama.

*hugs*

First of all, Children's Hospital (Maria Ferreri, right?) is a great hospital so you are in really good hands.

When my son was 4 months old, he had an atrial flutter and was in heart failure by the time we discovered it. He spent a week in the PICU (pediatric intensive care unit) at Children's Hospital at Montefiore (another amazing facility). He stayed in a crib (it was metal and not sure there were bumpers but my little guy wasn't moving around too much at that age. I brought a boppy for him to be propped up on so he could see out better during the day. With spine surgery, I'm sure there will be some pillow precautions, though. He did have an IV and it was splinted to his arm so he couldn't pull it out.

There was a bed for us so my husband and I rotated who stayed over with him. The weird thing was that one of us had to be there at all times because, aside from him being on heart monitors and having them check on his vitals every hour or so, no one was with him. So if he cried or needed a diaper changed or needed to be fed, we had to be there to do that. The hospital provided medical care, but not the regular normal mommy care. It made it hard when I even wanted to go down to get food b/c I was afraid to leave him alone (also feared someone would steal him.... I know... sick thought....) The nurses did say they would watch him while I ate, though, so they were wonderful about that.

I brought him a security blanket (Katie Little brand makes a small square that is really soft and has satin edging.... my twins boys STILL sleep with them every night and they are turning 6 next week!) I brought pacifiers, a mobile to hang over his head so he could "play with it". We also brought a CD player to put on soothing music (or fun music if he was in the mood). You will need to find out about the food situation. My son was still taking formula at the time and they provided us with the small glass bottles to feed him so I didn't have to bring formula. You should check re: baby food and other food, although I'm sure the hospital is equipped for it.

In terms of clothes for me, I had a small closet in his room where I kept toiletries and clothes. Make sure you bring sweat pants for sleeping over (you don't want to be sleeping in jeans). Six years ago when I was dealing with this, they didn't have IPads, but if this happened now, I would definitely download some TV shows and movies onto an IPad b/c he will likely go to sleep before you and you might not want to turn the TV on in his room.

Maybe bring him a few fun toys or light up things... a few of his favorite things or stuffed animals.

Once you get there and settle into a routine, you'll be ok... I know it's nerve wracking not knowing what to expect.

I wish him the best of luck and I pray the surgery is successful....

My grand daughter had to have a surgery when she was 9 months old. Hospitals do this so often, they are prepared and understand how mobile he might try to be and wether he should move, or not. They will have him in a big ole crib, with tubes and wires and all sorts of monitors. the little thing clipped on his finger that glows will be fasinating to him! He might have heart monitors stuck to his chest, and if theres an IV, it will be hooked in such a way he probably cant really pull it out. The way they did my grand daughters IV was with a splint to keep her arm from bending and the wires were wrapped up and not where she could get them. The board they used for the split was called a "no no" because it keeps you from having to say "no no" so much,,lol They will give you a chair, but dont expect it to be comfy. The cafeteria will let you get food and take to his room after hes out of ICU, possibly while still in. They are really understanding about parents and their babies. oh when my son was about 10 months old he had to stay in ICU over night and I got chilly and asked for a blanket. When we got the bill, I had been charged $21 for, "central linen" YES to borrow a stupid blanket!! so take your own little banket just in case its chilly. and a pillow. Ask what they are giving him EVERYTIME they come to do meds, and make sure they check his ID bracelet and compare it to the meds order. If he is allergic to anything you would be amazed how many times they bring in that to give them anyway. Dont be afraid to ask what you can do for him and where you are allowed to go and take him. I mentioned how nice it was in the sunroom one time and the nurse said, "well why dont you just take her out and let her get some sun?" DUUH, I had no idea I was allowed to. but loved that I could. So, just ask, and take part where you can so he isnt too upset by strangers doing it all for him. But really, hospitals do this all the time and they know what to expect and have seen it before. Hope all goes well, and he is home and healed soon. (o:

Call the nurses station for the area you will be in and ask them. They may have emergencies going on so be patient with them.

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I was at thathospital for three daystwnights with my tHen 11 month old who had swallowed a penny. She is 13 months old now and if there now it would gave been easier because she walks. At that time she crawled so I had to follow her everywhere with an iv pole and she couldn't eat for almost two days. They provided a fold out coach big enough for me and my husband to sleep on. The hospital was gorgeous and provided very nice social activities for the children daily as well as playrooms with plenty of toys to keep them busy. Try to ask the dining staff if they can give u something to eat once in a while so u don't have to go down to the cafeteria ( it's not easy to juggle a baby iv and food!). Also there is a large t. v. in the room with all the channels and there is wifi available I would suggest bringing a laptop or something to keep yourself busy. When she went in for surgery I carried her into the operating room they had me there when they gave the anesthesia and had me kiss her and leave then right after the surgery I went into recovery and within 15 minutes she was up wanting to crawl around again! I thought I would have more of a break lol. They gave her a little star plush toy to take into the operating room. They were very thoughtful there. Some of the nurses you have to keep on top of but there mostly nice. Good luck and God bless! Let me know if u need any other info my daughters the same age and we live in new Rochelle. My email is ____@____.com

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