Realities of being at home post c-section with a toddler and a baby and no help

[BroccoliSpears]

I'm hoping that a couple of people who had c-sections would be kind enough to share their post-birth experiences.

I've been told I have a low-lying placenta. There's a very good chance it will move in time, but it would be silly not to think about how I might manage if it doesn't and I have a section.

DP will have a fortnight at home to help me, and then after that I'll be on my own during the day with the baby and my little girl who will be 2. Will I manage? I don't have any family to help. I do have friends in the area but all are either expecting babies in the new year, or they work.

I'm clueless about the realities of healing after a section. What was your experience?

I had cs with my one and only. Was out of hospital after 2 days -very thankfully!- and my husband was a star and did not let me do any housework/washing etc for a good month (even though was back at work after a week). My scar got infected although not badly. I did get very tired though -brother and girlfriend came to visit for afternoon when ds was 5 days and just talking to them for couple of hours exhausted me!
If you can get help with housework short-term i would, on-line shopping(delivered when dh is around to unpack!) otherwise just take it as easy as poss.
Do be careful about driving -midwife told me that you may not be insured if you drive too early.
Good luck.

yes, definately check with your car insurer what their stance is...
the reason behind the 6 week rule is, that by then you definately should be able to perform a emergency stop without hesitating ...so...check out with them, a lot Insurers are happy aslong as you checked out that you can perform an emergency stop....well, and that one tis good for your own safety...so...makes sense to be sure about it!

Lots of people hear this from midwives (that they won't be insured) and lots of insurance companies say it has no truth in their policies. Now I have heard one or two people say their insurance comanpies said they were covered. But the vast majority of policies have no such rule.

But, yes, of course go ahead and call. It's always best to be sure.

Car insurance rule seems to be you call them, they tell you it's ok if your GP says it's ok.

I felt totally fine by about day 10 and was 100% back to normal, or so I thought until at about 3.5 weeks when I picked up my toddler once too often and snapped some of my internal stitches..... I have never known such excrutiating pain (and I promise I have a high pain threshold). I was bedridden for 2 days unable to even turn over and high as a kite on drugs. It was NOT NICE.

So, as everyone says, you will be fine, but just don't pick up your toddler, even if you feel able to. I hadn't even had twinges before my stitches snapped.