What is sedation?

Sedation is the use of medicine to help your child relax or fall asleep during a procedure. The medicine may be given by mouth, in the nose with drops or a mist, or in a vein (by I.V.). Depending on why your child is getting sedation, they may also get numbing medicine.

The doctor and nurse will watch your child closely while your child is sedated. They will make sure that your child gets just the right amount of sedative. Your child also will be watched closely after the procedure.

Your child may be unsteady after having sedation. An older child may have trouble walking. A baby may be unsteady when sitting or crawling. It takes time (sometimes a few hours) for the medicine effects to wear off.

It's common for a child to feel sleepy after sedation. A baby might sleep more than usual or be hard to wake up. The doctors and nurses will make sure that your child isn't too sleepy to go home.

• Have your child rest when they feel tired. A baby may sleep longer between feedings. Getting enough sleep will help your child recover.
• For the first few hours after sedation, follow your doctor's instructions about what your child can eat or drink. For a baby, your doctor will tell you if you need to change anything about your breastfeeding or bottle-feeding.
• After a few hours, allow your child to eat and drink a normal diet, unless your doctor has given you special instructions. If your child's stomach is upset, try clear liquids and foods that are low in fat and fiber. These include applesauce, baked chicken, crackers, and yogurt. If your baby has started to eat solid foods, your doctor will tell you what and when to feed your baby after sedation.
• Have your child rest for at least 24 hours. This includes not doing schoolwork. It takes time for the medicine effects to completely wear off.

You'll get instructions to help you prepare for your child's sedation. They'll include things like if your child needs to stop eating, drinking, or breastfeeding before sedation and when. If your child takes medicine, you'll be told what your child can or can't take before sedation. Follow all the instructions carefully.

Serious problems are rare. They include breathing that slows or stops and an allergic reaction to the medicine.

Some health issues may increase the risk of problems. These include:

• Smoking.
• Sleep apnea. This happens during sleep when a blocked airway causes breathing problems.
• Being overweight.

Sedation is the use of medicine to help you feel relaxed and comfortable during a procedure. It may be used with numbing medicines. You may be awake and able to talk with your care team. Or you may fall asleep. You might remember little, if any, of the procedure.

Sedation is usually given in a vein in the arm (intravenously, or I.V.).

It is often used with local or regional anesthesia. The local type numbs a small part of the body. The regional type blocks pain to a larger area of the body.

While you are sedated, a doctor or nurse will watch you closely. They'll make sure you stay safe and comfortable. In some cases, an anesthesia professional may be there during the procedure to help keep you safe. This is often called monitored anesthesia care (MAC).