School run with ongoing postpartum health issues

[IMI350]

Hi,

Ive been googling things but not come across anything. I'm 10 weeks postpartum. One primary school age child. I had a horrible horrible birth and afterbirth there were plenty of issues. Baby was very ill and in childrens hospital on drip as well. So basically in and out of hospital for a good month or so. We have mostly recovered from things. I have underlying back issues from spinal fracture (mobile and indepencent mostly pre pregnancy) have now been told I have seperated abdominal muscles postpartum, and postpartum PGP (pelvic girdle pain) and also have back issues because had to have an epidural and spinal block to get baby out eventually (which we we're trying to avoid). Its a big mash of horribleness really. I had to have minor surgery on breast as well and recurring bleeding and infections. Basically really bad. I have run out of support now from family and hubby cant take any time off work. School is 40 mins overall walk. So I plan on driving and then the car seat with baby is the issue Im having. Transporting baby fron house to car and then car to school then back again. Including in all weather. With the other kid who has SEND. I can't cope. I tried car seat onto pram base but its too heavy for me and its affecting everything. Baby carrier again same issue exasperating my health. I have to park further from the school and walk as no parking. Usually residents so even going early doesn't help. Carrying her im worried about because of the pain. Theres more. But Basically I am alone and have to manage somehow and need advice. Any advice would help. Its also horrible trying to get them both ready in the morning on time when I am half a sleep and can barely move from pain. Im EBF and on the max pain relief I can have. Any advice at all would be welcome. (School also do not have any parking its on a main road.) Thanks in advance. X

Breakfast club? Your husband can drop off before he goes to work?

I agree.

It sounds as though the only possible option is for someone other than you to do it.

Thank you, unfortunately my husbands hours are earlier than breakfast club. Luckily that means he gets home earlier so I have put older child into afterschool club so he can pick up after work. Just the mornings to contend with.

Also we have no driveway so have to shuffle the kids out in all weather to the road to put them in the car and back into the house with belongings. We actually planned it before hand to have support for first 6 weeks. Until easter holidays then hopefully by the end of that Id be back on my feet somewhat. But it all seems to be dragging on endlessly.

Is there a local childminder with space?

have you had a chat with her school?

They might let you use their car park short term and drop her off into breakfast club when it’s quieter and possibly offer to collect her from the car

If you can’t rally another parent from your DD’s school to help you out I’d speak to the school about the possibility of parking in their staff car park for a few weeks.

Leave the car seat in the car and use a light weight buggy (I had separated muscles and had to have a mesh thing put in to pull my abdomen back together after twins). I did sometimes walk with the buggy and older dd perched on the footplate (out and about nipper). Like you, dh left at 7am and got home at 7pm.

Alternative is to ask school mums (but not always easy).

Can you have the car seat fixed in the car and carry/ push baby to the car?

I’d ask the school if they can offer support. Our school had a member of staff on the gate so parents don’t need to park and walk just stop, kid gets out and off you go. I appreciate you said SEND but would that be doable? Alternatively a staff car park? 40 minutes is quite far any chance there is council transport for other kids? The local school bus has collected kids from lay-bys as they live out of catchment so parents drive to the route and pay for a place.

One of the other school mums..? Or paid childminder

Speak to the school. They may be able to help you out to make things a bit easier.

We had a parent at our school who would park at the front off the staff car park and a member of staff would take the child to car at hometim and also bring them from the car in the morning. The parent didnt leave the vehicle.

Maybe some kind of arrangement might help to ease your situation a little.

Speak to the school, they can probably come to your car or let you pull in on site somewhere.

Thanks for the suggestions. It's really helpful. Will try contact the school. They don't have a staff car park which is frustrating. Probably why there's no parking immediately outside the school ever. X

You can get crb checked taxi drivers to do school runs.

send kids who go to special school often have them.

worth a try? How old is the primary aged child?

Thanks. She is 8.