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Although your baby will not understand the reasons for surgery, it is important for you to know what to expect so you can best support and care for your child. You will probably find this experience to be more stressful than your child does. It is normal, as a parent to be worried. But remember that even infants can sense when parents are anxious and react by being extra irritable or fussy. Ask questions and gather information so your fears and concerns are addressed. Things that are stressful to infants in the hospital may include the following:
• Separations from parents
• Having many different caregivers
• Seeing strange sights, sounds and smells
• New and different routines
• Interrupted sleep
• Day and night confusion Helping your infant
• It is important to keep your baby's routine the same before the day of surgery. • Make sure you, your baby, and your family are well rested. • Comfort items such as a pacifier, blanket and familiar toys or stuffed animals will also be important to your child the day of surgery and during the hospital stay. • Bring your baby's favorite security item and perhaps some soothing music to the hospital. This will help create a more familiar environment for your baby. You may make a tape of your voice reading or singing for the nursing staff to play when you are not there. • Let the nursing staff know what your baby's usual schedule is, including sleep patterns and feeding habits. • Older babies (about 8 months and up) are very sensitive to strangers and separations from familiar people. Tell the pre-surgical staff how you expect your child will react to separating from you. They can best plan to help ease this experience for you and your child. • Make plans for at least one caregiver to be with your baby as much as possible so that he/she will have familiar touch, voice, and smile. • The most important part about preparing your infant for surgery is for you to try to remain calm. Your baby will sense if you are frightened or stressed. Be well informed about what to expect on the day of surgery and ask questions to alleviate any fears you might have. Relaxed, nonverbal communication, such as voice, facial expressions, gestures, and body language can give positive assurance to your baby. • Be patient with your baby. It is normal for him/her to cry and be fussy during this stressful time. He/she may be very clingy and become hard to comfort and console. Give a lot of love and let your baby know that you will be nearby. The brief period before surgery when your baby cannot eat or drink can be difficult. Plan to distract, rock, walk, and comfort him/her during this time. Day of Surgery What should I expect the day of surgery?
It is extremely important that you have followed all of the instructions that were given to you by your baby's surgeon during the preoperative visit. The day before surgery, someone will call you from the hospital to tell you the exact time to bring your baby to the hospital. You will be instructed where to go and when to stop feeding your baby. It is very important to follow these rules. Arriving at the wrong time or feeding your baby after the prescribed times can cause delays in your baby's surgery, or perhaps even postpone or cancel it. It is recommended that you make arrangements for other siblings to be cared for at home. Your attention needs to be focused on your child having surgery. Before coming to the hospital, remove any jewelry (i.e., necklaces, or earrings) that your baby wears and leave them at home so they are not misplaced. Also, remove any nail polish so that the color of the nail beds can be observed during surgery and afterwards.
When at the hospital, you may expect the following to occur:
• Before surgery, you and your baby will be taken to the surgical holding room.
• Your baby will be changed into a hospital gown or shirt and the nursing staff will get your baby ready for the operation. • Identification bracelets will be placed on your infant and the nurse will check his or her temperature, blood pressure and oxygen level. None of this should be uncomfortable for your baby. • You will meet with several people from the surgical team. This includes the anesthesiologists and operating room nurses. They will ask you many of the same questions about allergies, medications and your baby’s medical history. They will also tell you more information about the operating room procedures. • Waiting for surgery can be a stressful time. There are toys available to distract and comfort your baby. You can also hold and rock him or her. • Older infants may be given relaxing medicine to drink before they go to the operating room. This helps your baby to calmly separate from you. Please discuss this option with your anesthesiologist the day of surgery. • The nurse will show you where to wait while your baby is in surgery. • When the surgery is over, the surgeon will speak with you and let you know how the operation went. After surgery?
After the operation your baby will be taken to the recovery room (called the PACU or Post Anesthesia Care Unit). Once your baby is settled in the recovery room you will be able to join him/her there. Your baby will stay here while the anesthesia wears off. Your baby’s vital signs will be monitored and your baby may be connected to several machines, including an IV (intravenous) pump. Ask the nurse about any equipment you do not understand. Depending on the type of surgery, your baby may be sent home or will go t • The children’s unit to recover for 24 hours or less
• The children’s unit to recover for several days
• An intensive care unit to recover, then to the regular children’s unit until time for discharge. | 
