Carrying a toddler post-ELCS

[eversomuch]

I know the advice is to avoid lifting anything heavier than your newborn for six weeks after a c-section, but I'm curious about what those with toddlers really end up doing.

DC arrived almost four weeks ago via ELCS and I've been very fortunate to have help on hand so that I haven't had to lift my 20-month-old toddler. However, the help is gone and DH is going back to work soon. My surgery went well (except for some serious blood loss) and my recovery has been very smooth much better than after my EMCS with DC1 so I'm wondering if it's safe to start doing a bit more with my toddler.

Overall, I think I can still mostly avoid lifting her, but getting her into and out of her cot for naps and giving her a bath are the tricky parts that I'm probably going to have to handle on my own for the next two weeks or so. After that, we hit the golden six-week mark.

[bonzo77]

I'm having an ELCS in the next few weeks. Admittedly my son is older at 2.5. But I have been training him for some time not to rely on me lifting or carrying. He has steps so he can get into and out of the bath by himself, climbs into the car and (before he moved into a bed) in and out of his cot. I actually had a mc last Xmas. That baby was due in July, and I had already started teaching him a over year ago when I was newly pregnant and DS was 19 months. I have barely lifted him since then. Still lots of cuddles though.

[crunchingautumnleaves]

Steps are great for getting into the bath (you can then just hold their hand or something for support). When bath ended, drain water, quick dry of toddler then out they get. You could perhaps put a stool in bath if they're bit short (though check stability/slippiness first). Tesco do step stools for reasonable price.

[crunchingautumnleaves]

If the cot has drop down side, could you encourage your toddler to climb into it, perhaps with help of step stool again? Or, if this isn't practical for you, would it be easier for you to kneel on floor (abdomen more supported then) and lift toddler in (also less time carrying and less stretching & straining with weight than standing, bending, lifting up over cot and bending down again).

[SunnyUpNorth]

Bumping this as I am booked in for a CS on Thursday and worried about dealing with my two year old.

We did try for a while to move her to a bed but it didn't work so she is still in her cot. The sides don't drop and my DH has to go back to work on the 11th Jan, so 2 weeks after the op. I think I can get away without lifting her most of the time but I'll need to pick her up and put her in her cot for naps and bedtime etc. Is 2 weeks post-op too soon?

Any other post op tips for dealing with a toddler also welcome!

Thanks.

[RubyrooUK]

I too am worried about this. My very tall, heavy 2.4 year old DS wants to be picked up a lot. It has got much worse since I got pregnant. (Sorry, OP, not trying to hijack, just join in!)

DS hasn't used a pushchair for nearly a year and was happy to walk until recently. Now I am 6 months pregnant lugging around an enormous child everywhere.

I'm having an ELCS in March and I too am panicking! I am keen particularly for any gentle ways to encourage him to walk or distract him as if I won't carry him, he gets very overwrought, which is not like him. And sits down weeping and weeping, so I'd rather try gentle methods before being hard line......

So any more tips on that too would be very helpful!

[QTPie]

Well I am two weeks post laparoscopy (keyhole abdominal surgery) and the "no lifting" is the same. I had an ELCS with DS (now 2 years 11 months and 32lbs). I am having a very quick recovery - much better than I was 2 weeks post ELCS (and I had a great ELCS and ELCS recovery) - but I will avoid lifting DS for as long as possible (aiming for at least another month if I can). However DS is pretty independent (in a bed, climbs in and out if carseat, climbs up and down off of changing table etc): our only problem is using the toilet out (at home he has a step to get onto it).

If you do lift (and I REALLY wouldn't recommend it - you could do something nasty), then keep everything close to your body (not at arms length) and don't lift/push/dip from the waist, lift/push/dip from the knees instead.

I really don't know what to advise re a DC1 being in a cot still - that is very tricky :(

[DontYouJingleMyChristingle]

Supervised climbing out of cot using step-stool in cot onto chair.

Or temporarily take mattress out of cot and put on floor, my eldest slept in a bed with bed guard from 17 months and was fine.

Step stool into bath and for toilet. Strip washes standing in basin or baby bath if bending over bath too difficult as you can kneel doing that.

You really cannot lift before six weeks,you risk splitting stitches, internal damage, infection and it still hurt me after I got the all clear after six weeks. Two weeks is way too soon.