"Nothing heavier than the baby" - for how long?

mommy~to~mj

I'm 9 day PP and though I still don't need to or plan on doing any heavy lifting, I am curious. I can't remember how long I followed this rule last time, but I also had a hematoma that had to be drained and packed every day. This time I'm healing fine. What have you be told or are you doing?

MarnieMS

I honestly never followed this. It was not realistic for me. I had to pick up things heavier than the baby. Like the dog, or the cats, or the baby in the car seat... etc.  I was back to lifting whatever I wanted about 3 weeks out. 

mybobble

For the 1st 1 1/2 wks my dh was at home w/ me. SO he took care of our 2 yr old while I took care of the baby. But when he had to go back to work I had to take care of both kids. I was very careful w/ lifting my 2 yr old but I had to lift him. But lifting my 2 yr old was the only lifting I did besides lifting the baby in his car seat.

Some times I think obs forget that this isn't the 50's or 60's when you had a truck load of people to come and help you for the 1st several wks. These days people work and can't take loads of time off to come and help. Now we do what we have to do to get by.

luckibrat

mybobble:

For the 1st 1 1/2 wks my dh was at home w/ me. SO he took care of our 2 yr old while I took care of the baby. But when he had to go back to work I had to take care of both kids. I was very careful w/ lifting my 2 yr old but I had to lift him. But lifting my 2 yr old was the only lifting I did besides lifting the baby in his car seat.

Some times I think obs forget that this isn't the 50's or 60's when you had a truck load of people to come and help you for the 1st several wks. These days people work and can't take loads of time off to come and help. Now we do what we have to do to get by.

 

This. DD is 3 and is old enough to climb into her carseat, etc, so that helps. I still help her but I am not lifting 33 lbs of dead weight. I am cautiously lifting laundry baskets, etc now that I am home on my own. 6 weeks is not realistic for most of us these days  

manbearpig31610

My discharge instructions were no lifting for 2 weeks but I have heard a lot of people say 6. My DH had to go back to work when I was 10 days pp so I had to lift my 2 year old starting then. She's pretty light (22 lbs) and I was careful and only did it when necessary. It was totally fine. Just listen to your body and don't overdo it!

HarrietNJMommy

I pretty much listened to my body. That's what my OB told me to do. I don't have the luxury of help around and had to do things myself at 2 weeks PP......so, I lifted kids. I was careful, but I did what I had to do......

becketts

My instructions were nothing over 10 lbs for 4 weeks. The hardest part of that is not lifting my 24-pound 2-year-old. I've gotten by so far with just giving her boosts in and out of things. I'm sure I've gone over the 10-pound limit (baby+carrier, groceries, etc), but I'm trying to not push it. 

juliane2004

After DS was born, my doc said "10 days" before trying and if it did hurt, to wait a few more.

mich11680

I had my two week incision check and the dr said be careful but you can certainly lift the baby and the carrier at the same time which had been my concern.  He said you'll know if you do too much but you won't rip the incision open or anything.

bitsybubbles7

I don't remember how long they told me, but I know I lifted more 11 days pp when my 3 year old niece tried to dash out her b-day party into a crowded hotel.  My shins hurt from her kicking more than the incision, but the faces of my friend, her mom, and sil were hilarious.  They were all like "Don't lift her!"

shouldbworkin

my discharge papers said nothing heavier than 10# for 2 weeks PP.  I'm lifting the car seat now, but trying to limit carrying it around as much as possible.  I am not lifting either of my older DC or carrying them around either.  With my 2nd c/s, I did have to lift my 25# 2 y/o in/out of the crib, but I didn't carry him around until I was 6 weeks PP.  

jcameron2010

I was told nothing over 10 pounds for 2 weeks. For me, DH was home for the first week and he helped with laundry and such, so I had no issue following that.