Coping with a toddler after a c section... help!!

[nicand2]

My second DS was born by c section last Sunday (10lb 110z) and I'm really worried about how I'm going to cope with my toddler who is 2 on Thursday.

My DH had last week off and is working from home this week however on or around 20th Nov we are due to move house to a new area and DH will be working from the office.

I'm really worried about what I'm going to do with DS1 as he is a big boy and I won't be able to lift him in and out of his cot etc.

I was just wondering if there were any second time mums who had any tips?? Is lifting a toddler really out of the question for 6 weeks?

wow big baby, personally i found it ok, i had a 17 month old at the time, i was back driving after 9 days but everyone is different, i think you know your limits, i moved the week before i had mine, which was a bit of pain trying to pack boxes and then unpack boxes, is there anyone else aroung to help out

hi - if you can - look at having a post natal doula to help you a few hours a day..doulas are really flexible and you can ask them to do lots of things that will help you

eg laundry, even ironing! entertaining older children for a couple of hours...

give you time to heal & get your strength back

of course you can lift your toddler..but you need to take care initially....

train & place doulas all over the country- with no agency fee

and

more info about what doulas can do!

HTH!!

Congratulations on the birth of your son My dd was 14 months when ds was born, I tried to lift her and I was in agony (even more than after an ec/s) and put my recovery back by a few weeks, would not recommend it but everyone is different! I was lucky I had my nan who stayed with me. I would seriously advise getting help from anywhere you can, not worth the risk of hurting yourself and putting back your recovery any further! Hope all goes well for you and good luck

Congratulations on the Birth of your 2.ds
Your es shares his Birthday with my ms, who will be 4 on Thursday
Anyway, I had a C-section with my youngest and ms was 21 month at the time....I also was really worried of how I would cope with daily life, but you know, whilest you still feel very sore now, it's probably hard to imagine, but by the 20th of November you will be likely to feel much better physically....! I found after about 2 weeks post op I wasn't in pain anymore wiht teh scar and all that!

I will be in your position in a few months' time and I am going to get a post-birth doula in for a few hours each day for weeks 2-6. Dh will be at home for the first 2 weeks.

I recommend the websites lulumama mentions - I have used these myself and found them very helpful.

I'm getting the help from 4-8pm each day, as personally that is the time of day I find busiest (ds's tea, bath and bedtime and getting our supper ready) and when I'm feeling most tired. But you might want help in the mornings instead, everyone's different. Also, I am going to make sure I have nappy changing stuff in every room, and a mattress on the floor for ds for his lunchtime nap so I don't have to lift him into his cot then, and a little low chair in the kitchen instead of his highchair.

Congratualtions I was in the same postion as you just over a year ago. We moved abroad! I'm sure you'll be fine but please don't try and pick your DS1 up too early, although initially I recovered very quickly from my CS as a result of thinking I could do it all including picking up my toddler my bruising and general discomfort took a long time to go. Good luck!

My ds1 was almost 3 when I had ds2 by cs, so a little older than yours. You could try these ideas:

• put a chair next to his cot so when the side is lowered he's able to climb in and out (move it away at other times!)

-let dh take over bathtime! -if your ds1 eats in a highchair, it may be time to get a booster seat and a step so he can climb up himself, or let him eat at a low play table and chair if he has one for the time being. -lots of lying down on the bed cuddles!

We moved house 4 days after I had ds2 so I went and stayed with my mum for the day and night, with the ds's! Don't be tempted to do too much packing and moving - pay someone else to if you can afford to!

Congratulations on ds2!

my ds was 11lb 2 at birth and i had dd who was 22mths t content with. i too had a c/s.
you will manage and you should just sit down to lift him, either from the chiar or sofa.
and explain to him why show him your sore tummy and help him understand, maybe play a game with him using his teddy as the patient.

because you will have to lift him avoid the other straining jobs - like washing mach / tuble dryer and dishwasher, try to get your dh to load the machine before he goes to work, u can sort the washes on the floor into piles, and amybe a visitor in the day could unload for u.
driving is the one you really must avoid for the 6weeks.
and then resign yourslef to taking time at doing things, dont rush and it will all settle into a calm easygoing pattern.

Hi

I had c/s two weeks ago and have tentatively lifted ds2 (age 3) a couple of times already. Just be prepared to take things really easy - good tips from toothyboy re coping with cot and highchair. Hopefully you'll find that bobbing down to cuddle your ds is a close substitute for picking him up to cuddle. And don't forget he can climb onto your knee when you're sitting down for cuddles/books etc... Best wishes.

I had a second section and had dd1 ( sn and 2 1/2) I jsut moved everything to the floor - changed her on the floor, let her nap on her little flip out sofa on the floor. Bathing etc was done when dh was home. I had no help at all - dh had started a new job and my family live away or work full time.

However was lifting baby and then dd1 who weighed about 12 kgs at the time in and out of the car and driving by week3.

ate finger food for lunch on a rug on the floor in the kitchen - picnic style - she loved it.