[mom2august]

My ds is 2.5 yo and bf frequently throughout the night. Sleep is a big issue in general but dh and I have just learned to deal with it and have stuck to our routine. It works for us. However, ds needs to have ear tube surgery later this month and cannot have anything by mouth after midnight before his surgery. I am really dreading this because I know that neither one of us will get any rest because he will be crying all night. I have chosen to let him wean himslef whenever he is ready and he shows NO sign of being ready. Even one night will be hard, I fear. ANy suggestions or personal experineces with this will help.

 

[canadiangranola]

A bit weird, but could you ask your doctor for something to help ds sleep the night before ? Gravol perhaps? I know it's unorthodox, but honestly, I did one night away from ds when he was still night nursing and I had to have surgery on my back and it was hell for him and for dh, who was taking care of him. Please don't flame me for suggesting helping a child sleep using gravol, I just thiknk it might be infinitely easier for your ds to recover from surgery if he doesn't enter into it already exhausted.

Good luck, I remember how stressed I was about leaving ds overnight without his "nanas", I'm already trying to figure out what we'll do when I'm in labor with number two, and I 'm not even sure if i'm pregnant yet.

 

[canadiangranola]

Hi again,

I was looking through my Dr sears baby book tonight and reading up on medical stuff for babes (my ds as the flu) and I came across a little note that I thought would be of interest to you.

It said that although it was once really common to say nothing by mouth prior to surgery (anesthetic) for fear of throwing up, that that is no longer the most common practice, and especially with breastmilk, is unnecessary...because breastmilk digests so fast, it can be given usually 4 (but up to two) hours before anesthetic. Might be worth finding the quote (Dr sears is a medical doctor, photocopying it, and asking the hospital, anesthetist, surgeon about it....

much better than my previous idea too.
good luck

 

[stafl]

unless it's abdominal surgery, breastmilk should be ok. Call your lactation consultant first, and then discuss with the anesthesiologist about it, too.

 

[nichole]

i am glad you posted this. we are going through a similar situation. i think my ds would be fine to go all night without bm, but it would be a pain in the butt and i dont see the point in making him go all night if it isnt really necessary. i also read that 4 hrs is plenty of time when talking about bm, but we haven't been to the specialist yet so i'm not sure what they will say. i am torn between trying to convince them or just doing what i want anyway. i don't want to do any harm to my baby

on the other hand, i know he would be ok- he has slept through the night before and can be comforted by other means so maybe i should just use this as an opportunity to nightwean.