Your stoma sister will always be available to answer any questions you might have in regards to caring for a new stoma, so be sure to always have their number stored in your phone (and in my case on speed dial).

I remember the stoma sister giving us very clear instructions when we were in hospital and just getting ready to leave.  As she walked out of the room after giving me a thorough training I thought “Oh flip, I don’t know if I remember anything she just told me”. If you feel the same, here are a few tips and that might be helpful in caring for your new stoma.

• It is normal for the wound site to leak/ ooze a cream-colored secretion initially. If these secretions change color or begin to have a foul smell, please consult your stoma sister.
• Keeping the wound as dry as possible is important for the healing of the site. We were advised to use cotton wool pads which we would cut a slit in and fit around the feeding tube for the first week or so.
• You can use warm, salty water to clean the site as often as necessary, but always ensure the site is properly dry after cleaning. I would wipe my son’s site down with every nappy change as his tended to get fairly crusty initially and then eventually it became once or twice a day.
• Exposing the site to fresh air can also be beneficial for healing.
• A new stoma should not be submerged in water for the first week unless your stoma sister or doctor advises otherwise.