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C-sections
how much help is needed when you come home?
My husband works nights...usually 8-4am. He wants to take time off for the baby but we really would need the money too..
If I come home, how much help will I really be for the first couple of weeks? My mom is coming 2 weeks after. I want him to work...but I also am wondering if I will be ok for half of the day, at night..
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Re: how much help is needed when you come home?
I did pretty much okay once I was home. I just was afraid to carry DD up and down the stairs on my own. Stair climbing was hard. It was slow going getting up and down, but DD and I pretty much hung out on the couch and nursed. It was nice having DH around to change the diapers because it was hard to move, but I was able to do it.
As far as house work and such goes, get some help or let it slide.
With DD1, my mom was here for the first 2 nights and my sister was here for one night. Then MIL came 2 weeks later for 2 weeks. We would have been fine without MIL's visit, not that we could have kept her away though.
DH went back to work after the first week. He worked days but with a newborn, it's kind of around the clock care, so I would think that your DH being gone at night wouldn't be a huge difference. It would just be more important for you to catch up on your sleep during the day, so you could handle the nights alone.
SO works in the city (three hours away) from Mon-Thurs or Fri so he's only ever home on weekends. Thankfully he was able to take two weeks off when DD was first born. Both of our parents are only a five minute drive as well. I took all the help that I could get.
How much time can your husband take off? I think the first week was crucial. After that, take it easy, then get all the help you can from your Mom when she gets there.
Don't be afraid to ask for help (from anyone) if you need it, even if it's just helping with dinner or the dishes while you and baby sleep. Make things easy on yourself by freezing meals before the baby gets here, so that you're not wasting all your energy in the kitchen each night. Keep a stash of diapers etc. on both floors so that you don't have to go up and down every time you need something.
If your husband is home for at least part of the day, you should be okay. He can take over while you rest.
I felt great when we first got home and was able to do our stairs and many of the normal tasks with little problem. The only issue though is that everyone recovers differently, so you will probably want to have a volunteer ready to help you and there for you until you really have a good handle on how you are feeling.
My next door neighbor couldn't make it up the stairs and had a much more difficult time recovering than I did. So remember, everyone is different and you will probably want to have someone available until you know how you feel/what you are capable of.