(How) to prepare older child for ELCS?

[WidowWadman]

My daughter will be 2.5 when I have my ELCS for No2. I kind of would like to prepare her, that I'll be away for a couple of nights, also that I'll have a sore tummy and can't lift her as easily etc.

At the same time I don't want to worry or scare her or make her think that the baby made me poorly or is the reason that I can't pick her up.

At her age I'm not quite sure how much she understands anyway.

So WWYD?

To be honest, at that age I'm not sure how much she'd understand, beyond the basics that you suggested.
Dd was that age when I had ds2, and looking back, she was fairly oblivious to the whole thing.

My daughter will be 3 a month after my Elcs but she is very grown up. I've explained to her that I have to go to hospital so she is going to Granny and Grandad's to stay for a couple of days - she loves it there so not a problem. I did tell her that the doctor was going to put a little cut in my tummy (she now tells everyone he's going to make a little hole!), she was a little concerned and asked if he was going to fix it! I reassured her and made sure she understood he really wasn't going to use Sellotape! She also knows my tummy will hurt for a little while. We talk about it every so often and she doesn't seem bothered - more concerned she can give the baby her present and also that it remembers to bring a scooter for her with it!!