School runs after delivery

[Jasmine12]

Hi all,

Background: I have a 7 yr old DS and this is my second pregnancy. We have no family here. I have a cleaner to help with cleaning and laundry. A friend has luckily offered to give me meals to freeze every week (for a month). She works full time, so I am VERY VERY grateful for her help.
DH does nothing remotely close to cooking. He might just be able to get me a sandwich after coming back from work. He works in a stressful job with a long commute. So has to leave home by 7 am. DH plans to take 1 week off after the baby comes. (Not possible to take longer break)

Problem: I am worried sick about school runs after the baby comes. Appreciate suggestions from other mums here with school kids. How early did you start going on school runs? Did you have a normal delivery or C-section? Is it okay to take such a small baby out in winters? (Im due in Feb)

As long as you don't have a CS there is no reason why you should anticipate that it will take you weeks and weeks or months to recover enough to do the school run. Obviously for the first few days you might feel sore and be bleeding heavily but your DH will be on hand to do the school run and heat up the meals that your friend is preparing.
Most mums manage to do the school run after a week or two if they have had a normal vaginal delivery because a lot of dads only take a week or two off work (because paternity pay is frankly shite).

I am pregnant with number 3 and as long as I have a vaginal birth I plan to be doing the school run after a week. My DH will be off work the first week and he will do the school runs and the cleaning but then I plan to just get on with doing things myself. If I need a CS then we are up the creek because DH won't be able to take more than 1 week off work and my mum can only help me for one week following DH return to work. I have to drive for the school run because school is six miles away.

If you Are that ill after giving birth then Your DH will have to take leave to look after your children. It's the law is it not? I thought parents had a right to take leave, he might not get paid though.

Or you could hire a PN doula, or sorry to say, just get on with it. Your 7 year old might turn out to be a great helper, you never know.

I had an emergency C-Section with DD and the first day DH went back to work after two weeks paternity leave I went out with the baby in the buggy (in January in the snow and we were fine) to a café 10 minutes away so your school run should be fine by then. With a sling like a Close Caboo as suggested upthread, it would be even easier than with a buggy. I would say it was easy for me though as I had a very light buggy. A friend who had a C-section the day after me struggled to push her Phil & Teds at first as it was much heavier than mine.

If you end up with a C-section then I think your DH will need to rethink only taking a week and take his two week entitlement. But chances are you will have a normal delivery and be fine! Are you friendly with any of the mums from school who live nearby? I am sure they would be happy to help drop off if so. If not start getting friendly this term!!