Preparing your infant for surgery at RMHC

At HCA HealthONE Rocky Mountain Children's at Presbyterian St. Luke's, we're dedicated to helping parents prepare for their children's medical care. If you're preparing your infant child for surgery, our team of leading physicians will work closely with your family to ensure you're comfortable and confident about your baby's procedure.

When you're preparing your infant for surgery, it's important to recognize what is stressful to infants and what you should avoid. Things that are stressful to infants in the hospital may include:

• Separation from parents
• Having many different caregivers
• Experiencing strange sights, sounds and smells
• New and different routines
• Interrupted sleep
• Day and night confusion

While these aspects of hospital care may be stressful to your infant, it's important to remember that babies sense the mood and stress of their parents and response accordingly. As a result, being prepared, calm and confident about your child's surgery can relieve their stress as well as your own.

There are several easy steps parents can take to reduce their own stress and their child's stress going into surgery. These include:

• Prepare yourself for the procedure. Perhaps the most important part of preparing your infant for surgery is preparing yourself for what to expect. Being informed and asking questions will alleviate some of your own concerns or fears.
• Keep your baby's routine as normal as possible while you prepare for surgery. Try not to add unnecessary busyness or stress.
• Try to get as much rest as possible the night before the surgery.
• Let the nursing staff know what your baby's usual schedule is, including sleep patterns and feeding habits.
• Bring your baby's favorite cuddle toy, music or security blanket from home to help create a more familiar environment.
• Makes plans to be with your baby as much as possible so that he/she will have a familiar touch and voice. Plan to stay with your baby through the recovery process.
• Utilize the playroom for distraction, walk the halls, try rocking, or a warm blanket to comfort your baby during the time before the surgery when he/she cannot eat or drink.
• Take care of yourself and take breaks. Ask for help from family and friends when you need it.

Preparing your infant for surgery doesn't have to be a stressful or traumatic time for you or your baby. By following these steps, you can provide your child with a calm and comforting surgery experience.