How did u care for your dogs after giving birth

[Riceyyyy]

I'm only 9 weeks but already thinking about my dogs, this is my first pregnancy, I'm wondering will I be too tired to care for my dogs properly after I give birth? Like for the first week or two I don't have anyone to help me, I have one dog in particular who I worry about, she requires round the clock care and needs meds daily etc, how did u guys do it and what about walking them and bringing them for a toilet etc

Hi can you line up a dog walker/ sitter. It would give you some piece of mind to know the dogs needs were being taken care of and you could focus on the baby.

I had a smooth delivery with a tiny tear which healed really quickly - I still felt like I had been hit by a bus after birth and was exhausted for the first weeks of having a newborn. I therefore needed help with my one, small, easy going dog. I sent her to family when I went into labour, and until the baby was a few days old. Then my DH walked her and did her meals as I was too busy establishing BF. I started walking her again (short walks) two weeks after birth. I am due again in a few weeks and my plan is to send her to family again when I'm in labour and for a few days after the birth. Then DH will be responsible for her, but I also have a dog walker who I've used since I went back to work who comes twice a week and takes her on a massive long yomp with other dogs - I will keep this up throughout my mat leave as if I let her go it will be hard to get back on her books again. I do think it depends on the type of dogs you've got and the type of delivery you have to be honest. I could have done more myself but it would have been harder when if I had a section etc.

@Bryterlayter1 I can't afford a walker or sitter, i was thinking of asking a friend to watch them for the first week but she lives quite far so I wanted to see what everyone's experience was first

@wibblewobbleball I have all chihuahuas, they are very energetic and need to be walked etc, I have one that can crash quite easily if I'm not keeping a close eye, she's only 900g and has a few medical issues

You will need to find or pay someone to look after them. I was in hospital for 5 days and then with a c section could barely get off the couch bed for the first few weeks.

I feel sorry for my dog she went from the baby to not being everyone’s favourite/ being told off for bringing us the ball or barking. A new baby is tough on dogs as the moment baby is asleep you don’t want to cuddle something else or want a second to yourself

I was fine but I think my lifestyle will be massively different to yours. I’ve got two gundogs - springers, need 8-10 miles a day just to get them to behave, done do lead walks. For eldest birth I only had the older one and a collie and I chucked them on the farm where my horse is till we got out neonatal but with the rest I was well enough mostly to do it myself. Youngest is 12 weeks and she was a section. I just took it easier for a week or so, let them off over the horse field and let my riot of a pony out so they can chase each other and tire them.

I have one dog who needs medication twice daily. I had a relatively straightforward birth this time and was still kept in hospital for 12 hours after birth to monitor baby. I had my mum come and give him his medicine while I was in hospital and then DH did it for a week or so, he does take it better from me. With my first I had a PPH and the first two weeks of his life are a bit of a blur to be honest. I couldn’t have done much bending down or walking.

It depends on what kind of care they need. Is it physically demanding? If so, it may also be difficult when you are heavily pregnant, I could manage one walk a day at the end of this pregnancy.

I was unwell and an inpatient for 3 weeks, with a deployed husband also away before baby arrived so she went to my parents. When baby arrived, they had her for a further 2 weeks and they brought her round for introductions to baby every few days

@tealandteal makes a good point about the end of pregnancy too - I can walk for about 15 mins at the moment without needing a wee, and I'm 37 weeks. It's fine for my dog to do that twice a day with the longer walks twice a week, especially as it's for a few weeks only, but my dog is relatively fit and maintains her weight well without getting fat.

Where do you live OP? I was worried about our dog when I had our son. I’d happily help if local to us (South Leicester)