BTDT Moms who had a c-section the 2nd+ time around

2 part question

Due to the location of my placenta my Dr. just confirmed I will be having a c-section with this pregnancy.

I had such an easy labor/delivery and recovery with DD (vaginal) and I'm nervous about how recovery of a c-section will be. I've never had any type of surgery before, so I'm pretty freaked out by this.

My question is - how was your recovery once you got home and also had to tend to a toddler? (DD will be 18 months when DS is born). She's pretty clingy to me right now, and at 18 months is not going to understand her new brother and let alone why I can't be lifting her up and getting on the floor to play with her.

Question 2 - what day after delivering your DC did your DH or other family member bring your other DC to visit you in the hospital?

I'm anxious over being away from DD for so long in the hospital. I know I would want to see her right away, but I'm also concerned with how I'd be feeling the day following my c-section. Would it be better to wait until the 2nd day for her to come visit?

TIA!

Re: BTDT Moms who had a c-section the 2nd+ time around

I wanted to see Ava right away, but I guess that's a personal decision. As for recovery, I think my c-section recovery was easier than my BF's recovery from her v-birth. She had so many stitches from tearing that it was six weeks before she felt better. I was doing great almost immediately. It's not so bad

Re: BTDT Moms who had a c-section the 2nd+ time around

My CS recovery was a piece of cake. I kept reading stories of being laid up for days but i was fine.

Re: BTDT Moms who had a c-section the 2nd+ time around

I had 2 CS & when DS was born, DH brought DD later that day when I was back in my room. My DH & parents kept close watch that she wasn't climbing on me, etc. She did give hugs/kisses.

I was feeling a lot better after the cathether was out & I was up/walking after dinner that night. By the next day I was walking the halls w/ DD. She was 22 months.

It was a bit hard at home b/c she was a total momma's girl. My mom was here for a week though & made a big deal out of her & was lifting her up, etc. They just told her mommy had a boo boo & couldn't lift her for a little while. (That was hard on me.)

Re: BTDT Moms who had a c-section the 2nd+ time around

I had 2 cs, the first of which was due to a previa. I will be honest, it depends on how severe your previa is when you go in for your c. My recovery from my first was a little longer, and depending on your hospital, a previa requires a specific time in recover after your surgery; I think mine was 6 hours. Only DH was allowed to see me in recovery. They would not let a sibling in to recovery, so ask your hospital what their policy is.

My 2nd cs was a breeze, and I was up and walking comfortably by dinner after a 9am surgery, and had a BM that same night (TMI, I know but the 1st c it took me 2 days, and the nurses look for things like that ;) ). I had no problems with DS#1 while recovering from DS#2. He came to see me right away, and he was really aware of what was going on. It was pretty cool. He was 21 mos when DS2 was born.

Honestly I would have a plan a, to see your DD right away, and a plan B, to maybe have someone take her that first night, and let them know that it is entirely contingent on how you feel. This is what we did and it worked really well, and took a lot of stress off of having to worry about where DS would be.


ETA: My recovery at home was pretty good, but the hardest was not being able to pick up DS1. Dr told me that it was a no-no, and that it could affect my healing. Other than that, and I think loading the dishwasher, I was fine with them.

Message edited 7/17/2010 1:01:46 PM.

Re: BTDT Moms who had a c-section the 2nd+ time around

Jack was a big two year old (35lbs) so I was scared to pick him up. I hardly did for about three weeks. He would climb up on the couch and hug me.

I had Tyler at 12:09 and Jack came to visit me with my parents at 5pm that day.

Re: BTDT Moms who had a c-section the 2nd+ time around

I had a c/s for DS2. Although I had a vaginal delivery with DS1, I had complications and has an awful recovery. With DS2 it was a breeze. I was really worried about and I was fine. I was picking up DS1 by the next week.
I was also anxious about not seeing DS1 because of the ban due to swine flu but once I had DS2, I tried to focus on him and give him some alone time. I figured he wouldn't be getting the same amount of alone time that DS1 got.
Good luck!

Re: BTDT Moms who had a c-section the 2nd+ time around

thank you ladies!

Re: BTDT Moms who had a c-section the 2nd+ time around

My recovery was fairly easy and I was lifting my 30lb toddler as soon as I got home (very limited though). My doctor told me to go with my gut and do things as I feel ready to do them.

My older DD came to visit me the day I gave birth in the hospital.

Re: BTDT Moms who had a c-section the 2nd+ time around

My Inlaws brought DS to visit 2 days after I had my section, He only came once while I was in the hospital. I couldn't ick him up either, he was ok with it, I would just pull him onto my lap if he needed to cuddle

Re: BTDT Moms who had a c-section the 2nd+ time around

Both my DC's were c-sections and for me they were super easy recoveries...DH was home with me the first week home, so that helped as far as my older DS, but overall I was great !

As for visiting:

My c-section was early in the morning so my DS was with my BFF..She brought him up for 12:00 sibling visiting day I delivered....I was in bed still but so happy to see him and he was super excited to see his baby sister...

Visiting at my hospital is 12-2 sibling and 7-8 general

My DH would drop off my DS at either my SIL or BFF's in the morning....Come see me and baby, leave and get my DS and bring him up from 12-2 and then leave with him to get dinner, bring him back up from 7-8 and leave to bring him home...

Re: BTDT Moms who had a c-section the 2nd+ time around

my recovery was better than the 1st time, I think because I knew what to expect. I sent miki back to daycare after 2 weeks, when DH went back to work so I did not have to tend to miki during the day - I am sure if I had both of them, it would have been tough in the beginning

KJ was born at 12:46pm and miki came up that night, at around 6pm to see him

Re: BTDT Moms who had a c-section the 2nd+ time around

I had c-sections with both of my children and had no problems with recovery. Since siblings under 13 years old were only allowed up an hour day, I did not get to see DS until the next afternoon. I was sitting in a chair by that afternoon and by the next early afternoon I was dressed and walking the halls. When I got home DH was great with taking care of DS and making sure that I did not pick him up. He was 2 1/2 years old when DD was born.