RCS with 17mo old--lifting?

VineyardMel · October 2013

I can't remember what my lifting restrictions were when DD was born--I think 20lbs but can't remember for how long because there wasn't anything I needed to lift. This time I'll have a 17mo old and she's huge (26lbs at 12mo...who knows what she'll be at 17mo). I'm concerned about how long it will be before I can lift her for basic things like getting in and out of her crib. What were your instructions?

nietoerika · October 2013

I have a four month old baby, and my doctor said the heaviest thing I could lift was my baby but sometimes I end lifting more because of diaper bag , car seat and all that. Ask your doctor to make sure (:

VineyardMel · October 2013

Yep--I'll definitely ask at my next appointment, but just trying to get a feel so I can figure out how long I'll need help after DH goes back to work.

nikki_rob_weddingplans · October 2013

Well technically I was told not to lift my 19 month old for 6 weeks, but that just isn't realistic. I lifted her the first time about 2 weeks pp and paid for it...bright red bleeding and pain. You will need to avoid it as long as possible...ideally good to have help 3 weeks but two would be a minimum IMO. By 4 weeks pp I was lifting and carrying her with no problem.

One thing I didn't do, that I wish I would have, was have DH take over bedtime and morning routine about a month before new baby. The hardest part of my RCS recovery was not being able to lift DD and the resulting breakdowns she would have as she just didn't understand the big change. Things are much better now that DD is used to DH doing her routine, in fact now she prefers him over me. GL to you, it really does all work out somehow!

amandarins · October 2013

I was told no more than 10 lbs for 8 weeks

michellersayer · October 2013

I was told 6 weeks.. After 6 weeks I was back to working out and normal life again.

andthatmakes4 · October 2013

I was told not to lift anything heavier than my baby. But my baby was only 2 lbs 13 ozs so he revised it to say that I could lift as much as I could without it hurting. So I would pick up my 23 lb toddler very cautiously.

InLovewSB · October 2013

I was told nothing more than the new baby until 6 weeks. Not the diaper bag or car seat. I asked my MIL to stay with me a few weeks to help with my oldest because he was not yet 2 at the time, and I'm glad I did. It's really not worth it to 'break the rules' and end up with long lasting pain in your incision site because it didn't heal properly.... or worse.

Kissimi21 · October 2013

I was told not to lift anything bigger than my babies for the first 6 weeks, but I have a 2 year old who also needed his mommy. H works late occasionally, so I had to lift DS1 in to his crib. I just did it very carefully and slowly. The key is not to push it. If you feel even the tiniest bit of discomfort, stop.

VineyardMel · October 2013

Thanks for the feedback, ladies! This is going to be...interesting.

Eleventy11 · October 2013

My OB said it was perfectly fine to pick up my 25 lb. 14 month old as soon as I wanted. He said I was stitched up really tight and wouldn't hurt anything. I picked her up while I was still in the hospital, with no issues. Everybody and every doctor is different...you might be surprised what your doctor says @vineyardmel

VineyardMel · October 2013

That's great to hear, @courtnif. Not picking her up for 6wks just isn't realistic!

MissJenna2011 · October 2013

Same dilemma here, I have a 5yr old & 15 month old and due in Dec w. my 3rd by RCS... I'm having my husband stay home for 2 weeks from work and after that we'll see! I'm thinking I can get creative, my daughter is a great climber lol so I'm thinking I can put a chair by her crib & have her stand on that & i'll just use my arms to assist her over the rail and same with getting her into the highchair lol sounds good in theory...

a2003tiger · October 2013

@vineyardmel, it's really dependent on your OB. I've seen advice vary widely! Mine said it was fine to pick up my 25 pound 18 month old immediately, but to lift wisely and slowly, usually my legs and not bending at the waist. I did lift him during the first week, but it really increased my pain, so I backed off and let others help and by week two, I was easily lifting him again.

VineyardMel · October 2013

a2003tiger said:

@vineyardmel, it's really dependent on your OB. I've seen advice vary widely! Mine said it was fine to pick up my 25 pound 18 month old immediately, but to lift wisely and slowly, usually my legs and not bending at the waist. I did lift him during the first week, but it really increased my pain, so I backed off and let others help and by week two, I was easily lifting him again.

This is so encouraging, @a2003tiger! I'll have help for at least 3wks, but I know I'm going to want to pick her up--she's my baby, too!

a2003tiger · October 2013

@vineyardmel, even though I had MIL staying for a month, I stressed and stressed over this. It really wasn't a big deal at all.

bribri5285 · November 2013

I'm only 4 weeks pp and I had a 16 (now 17 month old) and I was told no lifting him for the first couple weeks. It was challenging. My husband is a chef and works afternoon/nights so when he went back to work after the first week, my mom or another family member came to help that second week. What I really needed help with was nap and bedtime and getting him in and out of the crib.

To be honest though I did pick him up while sitting down before then and by the end of the second week I was doing a little bit more. Also as another post said I did have him climb up on a foot stool and then into the high chair when I was by myself a couple times (but careful with this because then he was doing the climbing when I wasn't looking).

At my 2 week pp visit I got a somewhat of an ok to pick him up. the dr said not to just hoist him up but to bend down have him sort of climb up on me and then stand up. But like before I have cheated this some too.

Like everyone else has said- listen to your body!

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