How did you handle baby #2

lms_bride · April 2010

For those of you with 2 or more, if you had a c-section with baby #2 or #3 or whatever, how did you manage to take care of your older child when you were recovering from surgery with stitches and unable to drive, lift heavy things, etc? I am hoping I do not need a c-section but want to be prepared in case I do and this seems like a tricky situation. My husband should be able to be home about 2 weeks but after that, that's all the help I have.

tmrtink · April 2010

I too am curious about this since I already have my c-section scheduled and was thinking about this the other day.

MAprincess · April 2010

I VBACed #2, but my SIL has had 4 c-sections. She generally schedules family to come in. Her DH stays home for about a week, then her mom comes for two weeks, then her MIL, then one of her sisters, etc. She generally has help around for 2 months or more. I don't think the average person would need that, but it works for her.

MrsPreK · April 2010

For my 2nd DH took 2 weeks off (same as with DS) and then his mom was here a few days and my mom lives a few towns over so she was able to help out too.

I was driving within a week as well as lifting DS. I know I wasn't *supposed* to but when you're the only one home and he needs to eat in his highchair and go to sleep in his crib I had no choice but to lift all 30+ pounds of him

It really wasn't that bad. The 2nd time was SOOOO much easier than the first (typical, labor forever and then succumb to a c/s after 24+ hours of deliriousness =/)

ashley0616 · April 2010

You will need someone home with you for the first two weeks, depending on how old your first is. With Liv being only 21 months when Ellie was born, I had no choice, I needed the help. I couldn't get her in and out of her crib, the car, the bath, pick her up after she fell, anything. I needed my husband, and I was lucky enough that he was able to work from home the first two weeks. After that, I cautiously started doing more with Liv, lifting her and such, and we eased back into Mommy doing stuff. I felt terrible guilt because I could obviously pick up and carry Ellie anywhere with her weighing less than 7lbs.

I have pretty much been SAH alone with the girls since that two week period, and I can tell you it's totally doable. You just have to be careful, know your limits, and work up to things. I didn't do baths still for a few more weeks because I was so afraid of Liv needing to get out of the tub fast, or falling, or something else terrible and I wouldn't be able to get to her because kneeling + lifting + post-c/s was just not a good combo. You'll be able to do pretty much everything else after those first two weeks though, just slower and sometimes modified.

GL!

LUCKY41010 · April 2010

If you can have dh or someone for the first 2 weeks then after that you should be able to lift your little one..I know you aren't supposed to but I was able to..Just take it slow the first couple of time you lift him/her..

HarrietNJMommy · April 2010

I've only had help for the first week after I got home. I had 3 c-sections in 3 years, and I somehow survived.

If you can get help, that's great. If you can't, then you just do what needs to be done. It's tiring as heck, but the time will pass.

GL to you!

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