Post C section advice - best place for baby daily naps

[Iris10000]

Hi all, looking for some advice where is the best place for newborn daily naps. I have next to me upstairs but I will be spending most of the first few days downstairs on the sofa. I have c section booked in just over a week (due to breech position and PPROM). Is there anything worth buying that would be easily accessible like a second next to me for downstairs or is it waste of money? I’ve read other threads about babies sleeping on you and not wanting to be put down and I don’t want to buy something that will never get any use. I looked at portable cribs but they are all very low and I don’t think I will be able to bend for the first few days and Moses basket doesn’t look very accessible either. Any tips greatly appreciated.

We didn't buy anything specific for downstairs, we just had the pram bassinet d
during the day (usually on the pram still as the movement of the pram helped!) However saying that - nearly all naps were on us for the first few months at least!

I had a section last year, we had a Moses basket for downstairs which we did use a bit, DD liked being swaddled so I would wrap her up and plop her in there, took up less space than the pram. Mostly she was laid on my chest. Once she outgrew the swaddle all her naps have been on us, in the sling, pram or car.

In my experience, and everyone is different, they had me on my feet walking around the same evening as my section, home the next day and I was up and down stairs (carefully) to use my own bed that night. Baby slept in a next to me upstairs, and in the day in a Moses basket in the living room next to the sofa. I didn’t particular struggle other than pulling myself upright in bed at night was tricky, but you learn the best ways of moving and it gets easier very quickly. I wouldn’t buy anything extra and try not to panic too much about recovery.

We had a pram with a carrycot and used that. The trickier bit was planning for the carrycot to be taken upstairs at night as we used it in the cot in place of a moses basket for the first weeks (correctly anticipating long babies). Modern carrycots are I suspect a lot lighter than ours was!

Best wishes for next week.

I had a CS on Monday, home by Tuesday evening and able to go up and down the stairs ok (bathroom is upstairs). Getting up from sitting/laying was a little sore for the first few days but now it's so much easier.

We bought a crib for upstairs and another for downstairs during the day. DS doesn't use the cribs very often as he sleeps much better on us, but that's obv nothing to do with the CS!

Recovery has been much easier than I anticipated, so I hope it is for you too. I did miss the hospital bed when I got home because you can push the button to move it up, but now I don't think anything if getting in and out of bed/off the sofa, I just take it a little slower. Make sure you keep on top of your pain relief. Also the thing I found most useful in hosp was always discreet period pants. I stuck a maternity pad in them as well and it just meant I didn't have to worry much about leaking.

Hope it all goes well!

We used the basinette from the pram downstairs and the snuzpod upstairs. She actually preferred the basinette

I think it's fairly rare for a newborn to nap in a cot. They drop off while feeding or need to be rocked. I think it is useful to have somewhere safe to put them while you have a cup of tea or eat etc, not just for newborn phase but the first few months. If you're on the sofa then a moses basket is not far down really, I had a CS and could reach fine. Don't bother spending much money on one, cheap ones are fine!

I used a sleepy head on the sofa next to me when he wasn't in my arms. Worked perfectly for us he was very happy

We used the pram carrycot both times, had a stand for it the second time so more like a Moses basket. No problem accessing them at all (both sections), and the stairs were fine too. Alas baby 1 only slept on us, but we got lucky with baby 2.

Moses basket borrowed from a friend (new mattress), put it beside the couch and I'd pick baby up from sitting on the couch rather than bending over. Also used the carrycot part of buggy.

Using the pram downstairs is perfect for you and it's handy for moving the sleeping baby around with you. I've had two sections - good luck with it. It's fine!!

I had no problems with the stairs and I was in hospital less than 24hrs. Try and move as soon as you can as it will help. We had a next to me but didn’t use it for a few months as it seemed very big. We used the Moses basket for naps and night time sleep on a stand. We ended up buying too, one for downstairs. There were no problems picking them up at all. Also stairs won’t really affect the scar as you don’t need to bend, although I didn’t have any problems bending straight after anyway.

Have had 3 sections and due to have my fourth in a couple of weeks.

With each one I was up and about 5-6 hours after the section and hone from hospital in just over 24 hours. I was up and about relatively normally including up and down stairs etc. I was easily able to lift baby to change and feed etc.

I’ve always had a crib upstairs and a Moses basket downstairs just to save the faff of moving one up and down constantly.

The midwives would encourage you to be as mobile as possible rather than stay sat on the sofa anyway.

I’ve bought a chicco hug 4 air for downstairs, it changes height very easily, can be wheeled from room to room and can be used for sleeping, as a chair and a high chair eventually. I think it would be worth you having a look at for what you want it to do.

Thank you all for your replies and suggestions and I am sorry about my slow response. Ended up in hospital again after episode of reduced movements and CTG showing regular contractions. Luckily they have settled so planned sections is still the plan for next week.
I like the idea of using the pram and I think this will be my starting point and then will see how it goes.