When your child needs surgery, you will want to prepare as best you can in advance.
Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health provides dedicated, specially trained and compassionate surgery teams ready to care for your child. No matter where you are in our care, your child is in the best hands whether it is a planned surgery or an unexpected procedure.
Our Child Life Specialists are experts in providing support for our young patients and explaining everything in terms they understand. They provide support to help children cope through the transition from their parents to the operating room.
We also have tips for parents, including a shopping list for what you’ll want to have on hand once you go home from the hospital.
Shopping List Before Pediatric Surgery
- Quiet, sedentary activities and games, such as coloring books, crayons, Playdoh, movies, etc.
- Popsicles (preferably not red colored)
- Over-the-counter pain medicine such as Tylenol and Motrin
- Foods for dietary restrictions after certain surgeries including soups, broths, soft foods, etc.
- Pedialyte or Gatorade (preferably not red colored)
- Loose clothing
- Ice packs and heating pads
Preparation in the Hospital
We are dedicated to making your child’s surgery experience as easy and stress-free as possible. We have tips to prepare for “pokes,” such as starting an IV or lab draws, making them easier.
You’ll receive specific instructions for your child from their doctor about what to expect, including when to stop eating, how to bathe before the surgery and whether to continue any daily medications.
Learn more about what to expect during a pediatric surgical procedure with our pre-surgery checklist, which includes a hospital packing list and more tips for preparing.
