I know the nurse said it might, but it just suprised me.

Our son, 24 days old, had surgery at 4 days old.
So 3 weeks post op.

The stoma is starting to shrink down, it is now just about 1/2 inch out of the skin at the highest point and the fistula for mucus is just barely out of the skin.

It has gotten smaller in overall size.

How much has yours changed after surgery?

I read somewhere that the stoma shrinks in the first 6 weeks to 2 months. My first loop ileostomy stoma went from 1.5" in diameter down to 0.75". The second one went from 2 inches to 1.25". As far as protrusion from the skin, I never measured it, but both of them retracted enough that I had to change to convex wafers.

How are you doing with your son's ostomy changes?

Anjuli

Yes, the stoma can continue to shrink for several months post op.

I would imagine that it's even more important to measure every time you do a wafer change on a growing baby as weight gain will also infuence the size and shape of his stoma. I know that if I put on weight it affects how Wee Willie (my stoma) looks and how far he sits away from my skin.

Could this perhaps be the reason for your problems with his appliance leaking? Hopefully you will find the right system for him soon.

Take care.

Shell

His stoma shrank just a tiny bit the other day.

We are using a different bag now that has a stronger adhesive. We are on 36 hours now with the same bag. Hopefully it won't leak tonight