Looking after new baby and toddler after c section?

[Summersun1983]

Hi, I am thinking of having an elective c section as my birth experience with my daughter was horrific and ended in me having a blood transfusion amongst other things. Hosp have asked me what I want to do and to be honest I don't know, my main worry is how will I cope with recovery and looking after my 3 year old. My husband will only have 2 weeks off then after that I'm on my own. Very worried and confused. Please help?
Thank you x

Your husband can get carer's leave.

I had a 2yr old with new baby. DH had a total of 4 weeks but TBH 2 weeks was more than enough as I was back driving by then.

Hi, I've just had my first day alone with DD and DS after a c section 3 weeks ago and I found myself wondering why I was worrying so much! I had an ELCS after a traumatic birth with DD and it was amazing, I cannot believe the difference in how I felt afterwards both physically and mentally.
I worried a lot about how I'd manage but I've found the recovery from the section much better than I expected. I know they say 6 weeks recovery but I felt great after a few days.
Good luck with your decision!

Oh meant to say my DD turned 2 a few days after DS was born.

Having had 2 EMCS and 1 ELCS, my difference in recovery was vast.

Two weeks after the planned section I was walking about 6 miles a day doing school runs and looking after my 3 (my second was a VBAC) other children.

It was a worry of mine. I really struggled after my second EMCS (husband wasn't able to take more than 5days off post birth, I did too much and my wound started to reopen).

With the ELCS I planned. Had a freezer full of meals and booked a cleaner to come in for the the first month. I did very very little for the first week and next too nothing the second.

I think everything combined made it a better and easier experience.

It is doable.

I worried about this. DS was 2.4 when DD was born, by el CS. Tbh, I needn't have worried- 2 days after CS I was out of hospital, and was very mobile, and was able to sit on floor etc to play with DS. Within 2 weeks I was almost back to normal.

Elective CS is much quicker to recover from than emergency CS. With DS I had an emergency CS with blood transfusions etc, and it took at least 6 weeks for me to be independent!

Wow thank you for the replies much more possitive then I expected. I keep changing my mind as to which way is best natural birth or elective section. I have a meeting in a few weeks with consultant so hopefully will feel a bit more decided then. Xxx

I am with the others, 17 and a half months between my second and third and three years between the 1st two. C sections with 2 and 3, was driving after two weeks and had no problems looking after them. I think recovery after an elective is a lot easier than after an emergency, after talking to friends who had emergencies!