Fasting for children
Children need a fasting schedule suited to their age, intake and procedure, following the hospital’s paediatric guidance.
Read morePATIENT INFORMATION
Fasting
What about chewing gum?
Understand why you should follow your hospital’s instructions and tell the team if you have chewed gum while fasting.
Read moreWhat if I accidentally ate or drank?
Tell the anaesthesia team what you had, how much and when, so they can decide the safest next step.
Read moreCan I have tea or coffee?
Fasting rules for tea and coffee depend on what they contain and the instructions supplied for your procedure.
Read moreCan I drink water before surgery?
Water may be allowed under some fasting protocols, but the timing and amount must follow your own hospital’s instructions.
Read moreWhat counts as a clear liquid?
Learn what hospitals commonly mean by clear liquids and why their permitted-drinks lists can differ.
Read moreWhen should I stop eating and drinking?
Understand common fasting principles and why the instructions for your own procedure take priority.
Read moreWhy do I have to fast before anaesthesia?
Learn why fasting matters and how the instructions help reduce the risk of stomach contents entering the lungs.
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