You will meet with a speech therapist or feeding therapist soon after your child is born. The therapist will help you find the best way to feed your child before the surgery. Your child must gain weight and be healthy before surgery.

Your child’s surgeon may:

• Test your child’s blood (do a complete blood count and "type and cross" to check your child’s blood type)
• Take a complete medical history of your child
• Do a complete physical examination of your child

Always tell your child’s doctor or nurse:

• What drugs you are giving your child
• Include drugs, herbs, and vitamins you bought without a prescription

During the days before the surgery:

• About 10 days before the surgery, you will be asked to stop giving your child aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), warfarin (Coumadin), and any other drugs that make it hard for your child’s blood to clot.
• Ask your child’s doctor which drugs the child should still take on the day of the surgery.

On the day of the surgery:

Most times, your child will not be able to drink or eat anything for several hours before the surgery.

• Give your child a small sip of water with any drugs your doctor told you to give your child.
• Your child’s doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive for the surgery.
• The doctor will make sure your child is healthy before the surgery. If your child is ill, surgery may be delayed.