If you had a c-section

tokenhoser · August 2011

What was the best thing a friend could do to help you in the first week or two?

I've been volunteering with a woman who's due mid-September, and as far as I know her baby is still breech and they're expecting a c-section. I usually meet with her once a week, so I'm thinking I should make some meals (although that's hard because they're from Ethiopia and I'm not sure she'll like my cooking!) and maybe take their older son who is 5 out for an hour or two.

Any suggestions beyond the obvious of food and babysitting?

Lisa Frank · August 2011

I think you just nailed it with the babysitting and food.

I needed help w/ my DS more than anything in that first week.

disneyfan0511 · August 2011

We had friends bring meals, do our laundry, water plants and take our dog on walks. It was amazing and I don't know how I could've got by without their help. The laundry and meals were our biggest help. LO was our first so we didn't need babysitting, however if we did have an older child I would definitely have needed some help.

You are a really great person for volunteering to help someone. That's amazing.

mrbear83 · August 2011

MISnJER80:
The laundry and meals were our biggest help.

I also second the plants if it's still hot there. Vaccuming!

kck329 · August 2011

Ditto PPs. Also vacuuming, putting away dishes (it hurts to reach above your head), running any errands since she won't be able to drive, unloading groceries, unpacking any baby stuff that she doesn't have set up before delivering, basically help with anything that requires bending, lifting, or reaching.

Oh and don't make her laugh too much---laughing hurt for weeks!

EJensify · August 2011

I appreciated my friends that came over and cleaned the kitchen & living room, froze meals at their house and brought them over (as to not heat my kitchen), entertained my older 3 kids, and made snacks that were easy to get to in the fridge (bags of baby carrots with a little container of ranch, celery stuffed with Baby Bell cheese, graham crackers smeared with peanut butter, bottles of water already flavored with Crystal Light)...

msdonnas · August 2011

Laundry. Our machines are down two flights of stairs and we cloth diaper so it was a constant necessity and the stairs, bending, pulling and lifting all sucked.

darmca · August 2011

msdonnas:
Laundry. Our machines are down two flights of stairs and we cloth diaper so it was a constant necessity and the stairs, bending, pulling and lifting all sucked.

Ditto- I didn't have a c-section, but even with my episiotomy laundry was awful- the stairs were killer. . .

choogasian · August 2011

Yeah, probably the bending over stuff was the most helpful. I have hardwood floors and I couldn't sweep with the broom at all. Any cooking or cleaning is helpful.

munsterdani · August 2011

mrbear83:

MISnJER80:
The laundry and meals were our biggest help.

I also second the plants if it's still hot there. Vaccuming!

All of this. Laundry and vacuuming were huge helps. Mainly anything to keep her from having to do any lifting or bending.

aerotigergirl · August 2011

We had friends/family to help with cooking, and that was awesome. I've still got a couple of freezer meals that I could throw in the oven.

Aside from that, it would definitely be helpful to do their laundry. I couldn't believe the laundry that our LO generated (even before we started cloth diapers!) and for the first two weeks, I couldn't carry the laundry basket up and down the stairs to the W/D.

If her partner is planning on going back to work, it might also be helpful to offer to chauffeur her to appointments. I was lucky because I had DH at home for a few extra days and my parents were in town, but we had appointments with the pediatrician and midwife that I had to go to, yet I couldn't drive anywhere myself.

Temp38995750004016 · August 2011

Not a c/s momma, but my episiotomy had me on bedrest for 2 weeks. I really appreciated people coming over and just helping with housework, the day to day stuff like laundry, dishes and sweeping up the kitchen.

melgrady · August 2011

Ditto pp. Helping with anything requiring lifting and bending over is a tremendous help. My mom helped me out with laundry for the first three weeks and I was grateful for that. DH took care of the cats for the first few weeks because bending over to clean the litter box and feed them hurt me.

Heather & Nayt · August 2011

Babysitting!!!! Chasing around a kid while trying to heal sucks. Also, I wan't allowed to drive for a couple of weeks and depending on DH to take me places sucked with his work schedule. Heck, even if you asked for a grocery list and ran to the store for them, that would be a huge help. I also had major issues of getting clothes in and out of the washer/dryer, so that would have been helpful too.

bdunbar · August 2011

Grocery shopping for sure will be very helpful.

tokenhoser · August 2011

Thanks, all!

I hope her baby decides to flip, but if not I've got lots of ideas to be a help.

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