Preparing Your Newborn or Child for Heart Surgery: What to Expect Before, During, and After

Medicine Made Simple Summary

Preparing a newborn or child for heart surgery involves understanding each step of the journey. Before surgery, doctors complete tests, explain the plan, and help parents prepare emotionally and practically. During surgery, a specialized pediatric heart team works together to keep the child safe while repairing the heart. After surgery, the child recovers in the intensive care unit, where the team closely monitors healing and comfort. Parents play an important role throughout the process. Knowing what to expect reduces fear, builds confidence, and helps families support their child during every stage.

Why Preparation Matters for Families

Heart surgery is an emotional experience for any family. Many parents feel overwhelmed when they first hear that their child may need surgery. Understanding the steps ahead helps turn fear into focus. When parents know what to expect, they can support their child more effectively and communicate confidently with the medical team.

Preparation is not just about packing a bag or signing forms. It includes learning about the surgery, meeting the care team, understanding tests, planning for the hospital stay, and preparing for recovery at home. Every child’s journey is unique, but the key stages are similar and predictable.

Understanding Your Child’s Condition

Clear Explanation of the Heart Defect

Before surgery is scheduled, the cardiologist explains the diagnosis.
Parents should understand

• Which part of the heart is affected
• How the defect changes blood flow
• Why surgery is needed
• Whether the condition can worsen without treatment

Clear understanding makes the next steps easier.

Tests That Help Guide Planning

Most children undergo several tests before surgery, such as

• Echocardiogram to view the heart’s structure
• ECG to check the heart’s rhythm
• Chest X-ray to look at the heart and lungs
• MRI or CT scan in complex cases
• Blood tests to check overall health

These tests help the surgeon plan the safest and most effective repair.

Preparing Your Baby or Child Before Surgery

Medical Preparations

The healthcare team ensures your child is ready by checking

• Weight and growth
• Breathing and oxygen levels
• Feeding patterns
• Signs of infection
• Overall readiness for anesthesia

Some children may need medications adjusted before surgery. Newborns sometimes require medicines to support blood flow or maintain oxygen levels until surgery.

Emotional Preparation for Parents

Parents often feel anxious or overwhelmed. It helps to

• Ask questions until everything feels clear
• Write down concerns before appointments
• Bring another adult for support
• Learn what will happen on the day of surgery

Knowing the plan can significantly ease stress.

Preparing Older Children Emotionally

Older children may worry about pain, needles, or being away from home.
Simple ways to prepare them include

• Explaining the surgery in age-appropriate words
• Reassuring them that they will not be alone
• Allowing them to bring a comfort item such as a toy or blanket

Child-life specialists can help explain medical steps in a gentle way.

Practical Preparations for the Hospital

Parents often pack

• Comfortable clothing
• Snacks and water
• Phone chargers
• A notebook for updates
• Items for comfort during long waits

Many hospitals allow one or both parents to stay overnight.

The Day Before Surgery

Final Instructions From the Medical Team

The hospital provides clear instructions such as

• When to stop feeding (for babies)
• When your child must stop eating or drinking
• Bathing instructions to reduce infection risk
• Whether to give regular medications

Parents should follow these instructions carefully.

Pre-Operative Visit or Phone Call

Some hospitals offer

• A guided tour of the surgery area
• A chance to meet anesthesia staff
• A step-by-step explanation of the surgery day

This visit helps parents feel prepared and reassured.

What Happens on the Day of Surgery

Arrival and Check-In

Families arrive early. Nurses check

• Weight
• Temperature
• Heart rate
• Oxygen levels

The surgeon or anesthesiologist may meet with parents one more time to answer final questions.

Meeting the Anesthesia Team

The anesthesia team explains

• How your child will go to sleep
• How pain will be controlled
• How your child will be monitored during surgery

Understanding anesthesia helps ease some of the biggest concerns parents have.

Going Into the Operating Room

Younger children may receive a calming medicine.
Parents typically walk with their child to the operating area until the moment anesthesia begins.

Nurses then take over and keep parents updated throughout the operation.

What Happens During Surgery

The Surgical Procedure

During surgery, the team works together to repair the defect.
Depending on the type of problem, the surgeon may

• Close a hole
• Widen a narrow valve or blood vessel
• Switch major arteries
• Rebuild parts of the heart

Some surgeries last a few hours; complex ones may take longer.

Heart-Lung Machine Support

Many surgeries require the heart to be temporarily stopped while a heart-lung machine supports the body.
This machine handles circulation and oxygen during the repair.

Continuous Monitoring

Throughout the surgery, the team carefully monitors

• Blood pressure
• Oxygen levels
• Heart rhythm
• Temperature
• Fluid balance

Safety is the team’s highest priority from start to finish.

What to Expect Immediately After Surgery

The Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Most children go to the pediatric cardiac ICU after surgery.
Parents may see

• Breathing tubes
• IV lines
• Monitors attached to the chest
• Bandages on the incision site

While this can be emotional for parents, the healthcare team explains what each line or monitor does.

Pain and Comfort

Pain control is a major focus.
Children may receive

• IV pain medicine
• Oral medication as they heal
• Extra comfort from nursing staff and parents

Good pain control helps the child breathe deeply, rest well, and recover faster.

Monitoring Progress

In the ICU, doctors watch for

• Stable breathing
• Good heart function
• Adequate fluid levels
• Temperature stability
• Improved oxygen levels

Most newborns and children stay in the ICU for a few days before moving to a regular ward.

Moving to the Regular Hospital Ward

Increasing Activity and Feeding

As the child becomes stronger

• They begin eating normally again
• Tubes and drains are removed
• Nurses encourage gentle movements
• Parents learn how to hold and care for the child safely

Family Involvement

Parents take a more active role in care as the child improves.
This may include

• Feeding
• Bathing
• Assisting with comfort
• Learning incision care

Going Home After Heart Surgery

What Parents Learn Before Discharge

Before leaving the hospital, the medical team teaches parents

• How to care for the incision
• Signs of infection
• Medication instructions
• Activity restrictions
• Follow-up appointment schedule

Parents should feel confident about home care before discharge.

What Recovery at Home Looks Like

Most children gradually

• Eat more
• Sleep better
• Breathe comfortably
• Move around more freely

Energy levels improve week by week.

Warning Signs That Require Immediate Help

Parents should call their doctor if they see

• Fever
• Redness or swelling near the incision
• Trouble breathing
• Unusual tiredness
• Poor appetite

Early attention prevents complications.

Long-Term Recovery and Follow-Up

Scheduled Check-Ups

Follow-up visits are essential. Doctors check

• Heart function
• Growth and development
• Rhythm stability
• Need for medications

Some children require long-term follow-up through adolescence and adulthood.

Supporting Emotional Recovery

Surgery can be stressful for families.
Support may include

• Counseling
• Support groups
• Child-life programs

Addressing emotions helps children and parents heal together.

Conclusion

If your newborn or child is preparing for heart surgery, speak openly with your child’s cardiologist and surgical team. Asking questions, learning what to expect, and preparing ahead of time helps reduce fear and ensures a smoother recovery. Your involvement, understanding, and emotional support play a powerful role in the healing process. Reach out early and build a strong partnership with your child’s care team.