Preparing Your Child for a Medical Procedure

While it can be challenging when you find out that your child has to have a medical procedure, there are things you can do to prevent or minimize trauma for both your child and yourself.

The first step is to prepare yourself so that you can be regulated as you talk with your child.

Take time to grieve, cry, and process your feelings about it with another supportive adult or on your own. You don’t want to scare or burden your child with your feelings about their procedure.

Call the medical office and ask any questions you have about the procedure. You can ask if there are practitioners who are trauma-informed and request that they are a part of the procedure team.

Do things to calm yourself like slow breathing, moving your body and getting outside for some fresh air. You can find videos with calming ideas here.

Plan how you will care for yourself during the procedure. This may look like a walk outside, using a breathing tool that calms you, or listening to a meditation. Insight Timer has many high quality free meditations.

Once you have had some time to support yourself, you will want to talk with your child.

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