If you had a c/s with your 2nd

mavs_girl07

How long was it really before you were lifting your oldest?  My dr. has already warned me that I won't be allowed to lift DD for 2 wks after my c/s, but I just don't think that'll be realistic.  DH has some time off work, but there will be many times I'll have to lift her into her crib for naps, up on our bed where she likes to play, during times when she's fussy and only wants mommy, etc.  So how long was it before you picked up LO #1 and did it seem to affect your recovery at all?

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I didn't lift DS1 for a few weeks - i had no need to- DH was home for 4 weeks and would lift him in/out of the crib as needed... the rest of the day DS1 would climb up onto me if needed.... and knew i had a "boo boo on my belly" so he was always careful.

be cautious - ripping open a c/s incision is a lot worse than waiting a couple weeks to lift your child.

 

I'mAcrossThePond

I tried not to lift him as much as I could...but by a week post-op, I did life him a few times...by two weeks, I was doing the highchair, crib, car seat lifts mostly on my own but tried hard not to over-do it.

outdoorsygirl123

I was lifting #1 by the end of the first week. I had no choice - he couldn't climb into the crib alone and if no one was around, I was it. I just tried to use my knees and not strain myself.

HarrietNJMommy

outdoorsygirl123:

I was lifting #1 by the end of the first week. I had no choice - he couldn't climb into the crib alone and if no one was around, I was it. I just tried to use my knees and not strain myself.

Ditto for me too. My OB just told me to listen to my body. I had 3 c-sections.......and all went well. 

redtulip

My OB told me no lifting DS until 6 weeks after. 6 weeks is a long time. I made it to 4 weeks because my mom was staying with us the entire time so she helped with DS #1.

howleyshell

A few days after I was home.

I just used my knees and listened to my body and did fine.

My OB started to give me my post-op instructions and then he said:  "But wait... Dylan's what?  1 and a half?  Yeah... I won't even bother to tell you not to lift him but I will ask that you let others do it when possible and minimize as much as you can.  Lift with your knees and don't do anything stupid.  You're smart.  You'll figure it out."

I'm in your camp.  Without live in help (DH or in-laws) it's really not very realistic.

 

maramarrie

Basically, 2.5 weeks (I was told to wait until my 2-week follow up, which happened around 2.5 weeks). I tried to follow doctor's orders.

DH was home for 1 week after we went home from the hospital and the weekend, so there were a few days before my follow up when I had to put Harris in his crib once or twice; but for those first few days after DH went back to work we tried to have a family member or friend here to help me adjust to having the 2 kids without his help. The other people did all of the lifting of Harris while they were here.

There was a point around 2 weeks when I had to lift Harris and it was really painful, but the doc said it wasn't a big deal. There were times that I would be standing and I could "hug" him out of someone else's arms; basically I held his weight but I never lifted/lowered him - gave him back to the other person. You will probably be able to judge your own limits. Just try to take it easy and listen to your body.

Mama Jan

It was about 2 weeks before I felt like I was able to.  Doctor said not to for 6 weeks but that's not feasible.  I had a lot of pain trying to lift him up until about that 2 week mark but after that it got easier.  I didn't carry him for a while longer (just lifting into crib, onto the couch, etc).

Hard to say whether it affected my recovery.  My recovery was harder with DS2 but I also had less time to rest when my body needed to. 

Good luck!

ETA: DS1 was about 35lbs at that time so it would certainly have been different if he was lighter!