Intro and some q's...

ams323

Hi everyone! I will officially be joining the board as of Monday morning as our baby girl will arrive via csection! My DH and I already have a son who will be 17 months old on Oct.6 and he is just a dream child but still all boy running and climbing and rough housing with the best of them. My main question is how the heck is this going to work especially with my csection? I did talk to my doctor who is very understanding of our situation we have family near by but no real help and hasn't given any real lifting restrictions but has just said" you do what you have to do"...I just am a little overwhelmed about being a SAHM i have been at home with LO for 2 months now and still adjusting..and wondering how do you all make it work? What do you do all day? How does bath and bedtime work? And how soon can I get both kids on a schedule?

okate0213

Congratulations on your upcoming arrival! 

My boys are 18 months apart. I had a c-section, it wasn't too bad the second time around. I was alone with both boys at a week pp and it went well. The NB sleeps a lot in the beginning so that makes it easier. We did have a lot of down time, where I would rest and play with DS on the floor with his cars, turn on a favorite show and we would all nap in the afternoon. 

By three weeks, I would go out and wear the baby while DS played at the park. We went to storytime and to the mall to play. Just to get out of the house! I would get a good carrier for trips out or even around the house. Even while grocery shopping I have DS1 in the cart and I wear DS2. 

My DH is awesome with helping in the evenings. I bathe the baby every other day and put him to bed. DH showers with DS2 and puts him to bed. At times when I'm alone, I would bathe DS1 while DS2 is in the bouncer. I would sit with both, boys in the glider to do the bedtime routine. Put #1 to bed then do the babys routine. 

DS1 already had a schedule where he napped in the afternoon at 1:30 so I continued his routine. We would go out in the mornings and then be home by lunch, then nap time. The baby set his own schedule I followed his lead. He napped in the morning, again around the time DS1 naps then an evening nap.

Yes I will admit that DS1 watched more TV then I would have liked, but its all about adjusting and rest after having a baby. Even now, I put on a 20 min show, sometimes while I get DS2 down for his morning nap.

I think this was long enough!! Good luck, and this board is a awesome source of information and help! 

kagl08

My 2 are 13.5 months apart. I did not have a C/S but didn't really have any help either. My DH got 1 week off of work, but my DS was a preemie and spent 11 days in the NICU, so DH wasn't home for any of the time that I actually needed help with the 2 are home. It was rough, but we figured it out. Your body will tell you when you've overdone it. Sesame Street became our best friend. My DD watch way more TV than I originally wanted her to, but it all turned out well. At about 3 weeks or 4 weeks old, I finally started feeling comfortable with the 2 of them.

As for a schedule, my DD always napped around 12 or 1pm. DS didn't start napping consistently until around 4 or 5 months old. Once he started with 2 naps my mail goal in life became coordinated naptimes. It was literally the only hr or so during the day that I was alone and all the work it took to get them on a schedule together paid off. We are 1 yr into 2u2 and both kids nap at the same time every day. It's the only way I have survived.

As for bathtime. I always bathed my baby while my toddler was napping for the 1st 4 months or so. Once my infant started sitting unassisted I began bathing the kids together using a bath seat for my DS. We have been bathing them together since 4 months old and I find it extremely easy. They play and have fun, entertain each other and we kill 2 birds with 1 stone and save water.

For naps #2 goes down while #1 entertains herself with Sesame Street. For bedtime my DH is home. He puts #2 down while I put #1 down. This has been how we have done it since DS really got on a routine at about 4-5 months old. 

Good luck! There is a learning curve, but eventually you will find your new "normal" and everything will all just fall into place. Congrats on #2!