Parenting Newborns & Infants (0-1) Support Group

Feeding your infant and ensuring they are getting enough nutrition is one of the most important aspects of parenting during that first year. This community is dedicated to those who are nurturing a baby, whether breastfed or formula-fed.

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/ Parenting Newborns & Infants (0-1) Support Group

Surgery

Charity6262
Charity6262
My DS was born with a skin tag on his left ear, and because I know first hand how mean kids can be I decided that it probably needed to be removed. Since the day he was born he has had 7 or 8 ear infections all in that ear, and the doc said that removing the skin tag could cut down or stop the infections. Needless to say he is going to have the surgery in January.

My question to yall is have any of your LO had to have surgery so young? My son will be 6 months old when the surgery is performed but they told me that he can't have anything to eat or drink after midnight the night before. This worries me a little bit because there are sometimes that he still wakes up in the middle of the night hungry. I don't want to deprive him but the surgery needs to be done.

If you have gone through this will you please give me some input on what worked for you, and any advice is welcome.
WinniePoo
WinniePoo
My LO had minor surgery at 8 weeks old. He had a bubble of fluid under his tongue that needed to be taken care of. The rules from his surgeon were no formula after midnight, no breast milk 6 hours before surgery and no water 4 hours before surgery.

My son was a little cranky when they took him back for his surgery, but as soon as he woke up he downed about 6 oz of pedialyte and was back to his normal self (we did keep tylenol in him for 2 days after that to make sure he was comfortable)
deleted_user
deleted_user
I was going to suggest asking about clear fluids such as water. I know it's not what they need but it hopefully ties them over for a bit. For my daughter (she's 3 now but has been having regular surgeries since she was 2) for her clear fluids included apple juice and she could have that, ginger ale and water 4 hours prior to surgery. Hopefully too they take into consideration the age and book you in the first appt. Good luck and just check into having the clear fluids.
Charity6262
Charity6262
They said no clear fluids either which is what got me. I could go that long but idk if my LO can ... especially as congested as he has been.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I would probably ask again. From what I understand and with all the surgeries my daughter has had you can have clear fluids 4 hours prior to surgery. I would maybe express your concerns of the length of time your LO has to go and just double check. Good luck
Charity6262
Charity6262
We go to see the anistisiologist (sp?) on January 6th and I will deffinatly ask about clear liquids. I know this is a surgery that the doctor has preformed probably over a thousand times but I am still nerves about the whole thing.
joleneLS
joleneLS
I'm not sure really about babies, but surgery to remove a skin tag is fairly minor isn't it? My neice had one done at about two years old, and it was a simple procedure. She went in to her doc's office, they took care of it, and twenty minutes later she walked out. The doc said that the only reason she maybe shouldn't eat is if she get's nauseous and throws the food back up.

Maybe they do the surgery different where you live and that's why it has such extreme pre op measures.
Charity6262
Charity6262
well they aren't just removing it because there is a slight deformatly in the ear behind it so they are going to fix that as well. They told me that as soon as he wakes up he can have a bottle but I am still worried about the whole thing.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Charity, just curious - where is the skin tag?

I was born with a slight deformity on my left ear as well and the dr told my parents to avoid surgery until I was fully grown as it could cause my ear to grow incorrectly (or not at all). I always planned to have it fixed when I turned 18, but at that point I was used to it and no one ever noticed until I pointed it out that I still have it!! Mine is in the cartilage portion on the outside, so it does not affect anything.
Charity6262
Charity6262
The skin tag is right in front of the opening of his ear. They are thinking that maybe because there is cartilage in the tag that maybe there is some under the surface so when water gets in his ear it says traped. They are going to hopefully fix that.