C-sections moms with toddlers

spinsoffresonance

So I just realized that after my csection I won't be allowed to pick up DD1 for 6 weeks. How am I suppose to get through the day if I can't lift her out of her crib, lift her on the changing table, carry her down the stairs. I live in a 3rd floor walk up, so hopefully she'll be able to walk down the stairs by the time baby arrives, but if she doesn't then I can't even leave the house. Any moms of toddlers having a c-section? How are you planning to take care of your toddler without lifting them?

pistolpackinmomma

Here's the thing, I cannot go 6 weeks without lifting him. 2-3 will be about the max. It is 10 times easier to change him on his table than it is the floor. Last time I was only 1 week post op when I kicked my mom out of my house and I was left lifting 40 lb bags of wood pellets to keep the house warm. My husband made sure I had enough stacked inside and all I needed to do was dump them in as needed so I wasn't going any distance. If DH can take a week, my mom take a week and my MIL stays a week then I can make it to 3 weeks. Luckily this time we don't need to worry about the wood pellets and my son is only 25ish lbs so almost half of what I did before.

fatbarbie0226

I'm hoping to have a VBAC this time, but I am starting now and making Shorty walk a lot more. I also walk to the couch and sit down when she asks me to lift her up. I know nothing can really prepare a toddler for a new sibling, especially when they can't understand very well, but I hope to make the transition a little smoother if she is used to walking on her own.

manderdoll

This will be my second time having a c-section with a toddler.  My husband was home for the first 3 weeks last time and I think he will be home at least for the first two this time which is a huge help.  By about 3 weeks I was doing a lot more and I'm hoping it will be the same this time.  I did do some lifting but tried to keep it minimal.  DS1 was out of his crib at 15 months so I didn't have that to worry about, I don't have DS2 out of his crib yet, might need to get working on that.  I think I did diaper changes on the floor a lot by then. 

Is your LO walking yet?  I would try to encourage walking with hand holding as much as possible so that it's not a huge change.

Hopefully both my boys will be willing to climb in and out of their car seats and the bathtub once LO gets here, they are both BIG boys (over 30 lbs).

MissLadyTay

I'm going to have MH home for a week and my parents visiting for two after that. If I have a RCS instead of a VBAC I'll probably go visit my in laws after that to get their help with the toddler. It's stressing me out. I had a really hard recovery with my first CS so I'm anticipating needing a lot of help with the toddler. For at least the first month.

Xath

I don't know.  Everything after my daughter was born is sort of a blur, so I don't really remember how we handled it last time.  I'm already having difficulty lifting DS1, so he's gotten used to me not really picking him up as much, and is fairly mobile on his own.  One of the reasons we transitioned him to a toddler bed was so he could get in and out by himself.  We've also been working with him on climbing in and out of his car seat by himself.  

When we're all at home, I'll have DH to help, and when he goes back to work, we'll take DS1 to daycare to keep him in his routine.  

eghulse

I'm hoping for a vbac, but if I end up with a rcs, I don't know. My ds is in a toddler bed now, so that's helpful, and I think my dh will be home a lot for the first few weeks. My ils and my parents live too far to be here to help all the time, but too close to come stay. Sooo, TL;DR, I'm not sure how we're gonna swing it yet.

jenb_99

I was only restricted from lifting things heavier than the baby for 2 weeks after my first c-section. Is the second one different?

ShannonSky

My doc was fine with me lifting DD1, just listen to my body, etc. I'd bleed more on days I overdid things. For the most part, she was able to walk/climb most places and I think I had about 2 weeks of help.

spinsoffresonance

@manderdoll DD has been walking for about 2 months. She hasn't walked outside yet (snow!) but my goal is to get her walking as much as possible when LO2 arrives but making it up/down our narrow steep crooked wood stairs is what worries me!

@jenb_99 as far as I remember my Ob said not to lift anything heavier than the baby for 6 weeks when I had DD but I'll ask at my next appointment to double check what she recommends .

Either way I don't see how I'm gonna make it much longer than 2 weeks without lifting DD. FIL will be staying with us while I'm in the hospital then DH will be home the second week, but week 3 I'm on my own.

Egma13

For me it's only 2 weeks per Dr. orders. That's what it was last time. My daughter is 2.5 so we are gonna go ahead and transition her to a toddler bed (already on it's way). I change her on the floor (not ready for potty yet) but with the bed coming I can just change her on the bed. I'm not certain how much help I'll have and for how long so I'm getting prepared. The only other time I lift her is to put her in her high chair but we can skip that for a few weeks I guess.

IBackBevo

This is also the reason I am trying for a vbac.  I just don't know what I will do if I end up with a RCS.  I had trouble lifting the baby last time and I am already having big time trouble (horrible back pain) being pregnant and lifting DS.