. Get a sling as you’ll not be able to lift a pram and you’ll want to at least go outside for some fresh air .
if you are planning to breast feed it may be a very horrendous time in terms of feeling a failure - it can get very overwhelming and baby blues kick in. Tears and feeling overwhelmed are not uncommon.
you’ll not be able to share nights. That’ll mean you’re in a massive sleep deprivation mode. So, plan for that. Some of it is mental prep in saying to yourself whilst bone exhausted, you will survive. But it ain’t good and frankly I’d not volunteer to do it without partner on hand to do fair share of nights to get proper sleep.
so, make sure you and parents have you on quick dial video WhatsApp - when you’re sitting there sobbing, (you’ll look back and laugh but it’s not nice at time) for goodness sake speak to them. Don’t try to “manage”. Trying to do this alone and be strong is sure fire way to post natal depression. It isn’t natural for women to manage on their own, we evolved as social species where other neighbours were in and out of new parents homes. Ask them to ring you every hour quickly during day unless you plan to sleep. You need to know people are there for you. Get husband to call WHENEVER he escapes from being with people. Do not accept him saying you can call him if needed. He MUST call you as much as possible , normally you’d not expect that but you are at a very vulnerable time and it isn’t good enough for you to ring him in desperation.
And have plan B in place. Husband needs to forewarn company that if there are issue ps at birth he will need to back out. He has responsisiblty to you and babe. It’s a risk I’d say for him to try it. But probability will be that it is fine.
plan c might be emergency parenteral flight changes. But that’s going to be difficult.
alternatively, have you got money? Could you pay for a “nanny” to come in for a few hours a day. Company. Build your confidence. Give you sleep time. With my second via c section, we got a nanny student from local college in on part time placement - bloody brilliant. Lovely experience. She was a flipping fairy godmother for me (I got PND first baby, and sailed through 2nd)
ask midwife about befriending and baby groups near you. Or arrange to meet with mums who are in your prenatal classes? just a live face you can have a cuppa with, or a immediate emergency emotional support for each other. Make sure midwives and health visitors (if you have them) know what’s going to happen and you’ve asked them for any suggestions too.
you WILL manage. But it could be miserable and set you back a bit. That takes a time to get over. All I can say is that I hope this opportunity is VERY worth it and he knows he’ll come back to an emotionally messier you that needs huge TLC.