FASTING GUIDELINES BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE Patient Education
There are also special rules for babies and young children who need surgery or a special procedure. You may give breast milk up to 4 hours before the procedure. If your baby drinks formula, you should stop 6 hours before the procedure, and all solid foods should stop at midnight before the procedure. Your child ' s doctor or nurse can tell you exactly what to do.
Should I keep taking my medicines before the procedure?— It depends. Your doctor or nurse will tell you which medicines you should take and when. Some medicines need to be stopped before your procedure. But for others, it ' s important that you keep taking them as usual. You might also get new medicines to take before your procedure.
Take the medicines your doctor or nurse tells you to. If you need to take medicine right before your procedure, you can take it with a sip of water. You may be asked to take some medications before your procedure as part of advanced pain management protocols.
What will happen if I don ' t fast?— If you don ' t follow instructions about when to stop eating and drinking, you could be putting your health at risk, and it could be dangerous. Be honest with your doctor or nurse if you did not follow the rules, even if it was an accident. If this happens, your procedure might need to be delayed until a later time.
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Form Number: 100-260 Not Part of the Medical Record Revision Date: 7 / 2026