c- section with a toddler

bridgeybride

I had a pretty traumatic birth experience with my DD...lots of internal damage down below and am now contemplating a C-section... my OB says it will be fine and that it has all healed and that the vag is very elastic b/c it has already been stretched out..(an understatement!!!) .. but I'm extremely nervous about causing any more damage...

So, my question to those of you who had c sections... my DD will be just about 20 months when this one is born... how did you handle a toddler right after the Csection.. and how long was it that you couldn't pick them up...etc... how painful was it.. how long was your recovery....etc... what was your experience...

Most of my friends have had them..and I'm really, really considering it and would appreciate any feedback.

 

d&a914

I had a Csection with DD and two weeks later DS turned 2. I was in nursing school and went back to school in one week and was turning, bathing, etc patients in a week and a half. I had help there but at home I was picking up DS within about a week because I really didn't have much choice. A 2 yo does not understand that picking them up can really hurt you. I overdid it my first two weeks and really paid for it every night. I also had to quit taking my pain meds because I was working in the hospital with patients. 

I would say it's totally doable with a 20 mo but from what I've heard it is much more painful of a recovery than natural (I've never had natural). I would hope you would have longer to recover than I did, but it also depends on how well you tolerate pain. HTH! 

hellopoppyseed

I just want to throw in here that I had a very traumatic first delivery. 3 hours of pushing, a 3rd degree tear, and I couldn't even sit on a hard surface for at least a week. DS was born with some fever because it was so difficult and we both had tostay extra in the hospital. My second delivery was VERY different. Much much much easier!! 10 minutes of pushing and a 1st degree tear. The recovery was soooo much quicker. I drove myself home from the hospital since dh was working. Everyone told me it would be easier and I hung on to that hope for dear life. And they were right.

ShannonSky

Everyone has a different experience with L&D, so while you may find statistics and anecdotal stories online, none of that's going to matter when it comes down to what you actually go through. I've heard some C-section horror stories, but personally my C-section was fantastic. I didn't have a toddler at home at the time, but I do remember picking up my 25lb dog probably a week or so after my C-section and I was moving around pretty normally by the time I went home after the standard 3 days. I was only on pain meds for 12 hours or so, and only on ibuprofen for another day or so more. That being said, I am hoping for a VBAC this time around. We plan to have more children and I don't want to end up limiting us simply because the risk of additional C-sections becomes too great. And, statistically, if you've never had a C-section before, the major health risks are greater for both mom and baby with a C-section. But again, the stats won't matter when it comes to your experience, because no one can tell what camp you'll fall into.

jenns123

6 days in and I am feeling pretty well.  I am not really picking up DD from the floor into high chair but can pick her up to put her on my lap and in in bed.  I have heard second and third c-sections are worse, mine has been much easier though because I had a staph infection the first time- that was really bad.  No infection this time makes it a lot easier.

 Good luck!

kcisthebombdotcom

I had one amazing c-section, one horrible.

My first one was great-I was taking the baby out at 4-5 days old to visit family, was running errands 1 week PP, etc. It was an easy recovery.

My second one was god awful. For some reason, I got sick from the medication they gave me and was vomiting the whole day. The anti-nausea meds didnt help at all. Vomiting minutes after you have an incision to your stomach is not a good thing. My recovery was very long (I'm sure from the vomiting that probably further irritated my incision/stomach muscles). On top of that, I ended up with a spinal headache, had to get an epidural to repair it, and had awful backaches from it. I had a tough time with my toddler. I didnt feel human again until 6 weeks PP. I wish I had gone for the VBAC.

Either way, you're taking a chance. Your 2nd delivery might be easier, or it might be easier to have a c-section. I would make this decision based on your OBs medical opinion, personally.

GL!

mlf625

It was great.  I had super easy c/s recoveries both times.  I think the key is to get up and moving as soon as you can after the c/s.  The longer you lie there, the longer the recovery imo.  

I lifted my son within a few days of coming home.  You just listen to your body and do what you can, but I don't know a single person who actually waited weeks to lift their toddler. 

bridgeybride

Thanks for all your advice.. I still have time to make up my mind...

mayowife

DS is 16 months and 32lbs. DD is 3 weeks old. Both were born c-section. I was cautious and followed doctor's orders during both recoveries- no lifting, no driving, no more than 1 time a day on the stairs. I healed really well and had no complications.

I still do not lift DS and I don't plan to until nearly 6 weeks postpartum. I get down to his level to hug him and I allow him to sit on my lap, but I don't lift him. I had a planned c-section so I arranged to send DS to the babysitter while DH is at work until I can lift.

I know some people jump in there and do things much faster, but I'm fortunate enough to not have to.