Learning About What to Expect at Home After Your Child's Surgery

What do you need to know when your child leaves the hospital after surgery?

Each child recovers from surgery at a different pace. Your child's discharge plan will outline the care your child needs. And it will tell you about the things you'll need to do at home.

Make sure you get the plan in writing. It should include:

• What your child's medicines are and how and when your child takes them.
• What to do about any pain or infection.
• When your child needs to see the doctor again or get any follow-up tests.
• Things your child can eat or drink and things to avoid.
• How and when to change bandages.
• Any special equipment your child may need.
• When your child can go back to school or day care, sports, or other activities.
• Who to contact if you have questions or don't understand the instructions.

What do you need to know about giving medicines?

Your doctor will talk with you about restarting any of your child's medicines and starting any new medicines.

Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.

• If your child is not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if your child can take an over-the-counter medicine.
• If the doctor gave your child a prescription medicine for pain, give it as prescribed.
• Store your child’s prescription pain medicines where no one else can get to them. When you are done using them, dispose of them quickly and safely. Your local pharmacy or hospital may have a drop-off site.

How can you take care of an incision?

If your child has a cut (incision) from surgery, follow your doctor's instructions to care for it. If you did not get instructions, follow this general advice:

• Your child may have a bandage over the cut (incision). A bandage helps the incision heal and protects it.
• Wash the area with clean water 2 times a day. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol. They can slow healing.
  • You may cover the area with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a nonstick bandage.
  • Apply more petroleum jelly and replace the bandage as needed.
  • Avoid using an antibiotic ointment unless your doctor recommends it.
• Change the bandage every day or more often if needed.
  • If there are strips of tape on the cut, leave the tape on until it falls off.
  • If your child has stitches or staples, the doctor will tell you when to come back to have them removed.
  • If there is skin glue on the cut, leave it on until it falls off. Skin glue is also called liquid stitches.
• Your child may shower 24 to 48 hours after surgery. Pat the incision dry. But don't let your child swim or take a bath until the doctor says it's okay.

When can your child be active?

How soon your child can return to normal activities depends on the type of surgery your child had.

If the doctor says it's okay, help your child get up and move around several times a day. But sometimes children feel better quickly and are too active before it's safe. It's better if your child takes it easy until the doctor says it's okay to move more.

The doctor will tell you when your child can go back to school or day care. The doctor will also give you instructions on when your child can do sports or exercise.

What should your child eat after surgery?

Follow the doctor's instructions about what your child can eat or drink. The doctor may suggest that you give clear liquids for the first several hours until any nausea has gone away.

Then you can give small amounts of your child's usual foods. When your child does well with those, your child can return to their normal diet.

For a baby, the doctor will tell you if you need to change anything about your breastfeeding or bottle-feeding.

What can you do about infection or pain after surgery?

Infection

If your child has symptoms of infection, contact your doctor. These include:

• Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.
• Red streaks leading from the incision.
• Pus draining from the incision.
• A fever.

Pain

Also contact the doctor if your child has pain that doesn't get better after your child takes pain medicine. A baby or child in pain may have behavior changes. A child with severe pain will have more of these behaviors and may be harder to comfort. Look for:

• Changes in usual behavior. Your child may eat less or be fussy or restless.
• Crying that can't be comforted.
• Grunting or breath-holding.
• Facial expressions. Your child may have a wrinkled forehead, closed eyes, or look angry.
• Sleep changes, such as waking often or sleeping more or less than usual.
• Body movements. Your child may make fists, protect a part of the body (especially while walking), kick, cling to someone who holds them, or not move.

Follow-up care is a key part of your child's treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and contact your doctor if your child is having problems. It's also a good idea to know your child's test results and keep a list of the medicines your child takes.