Recovering from a c-section and taking care of your older child

This freaks me out more then the actual surgery itself.

How the heck am I going to take care of Jack after? Every diaper change I get my azz handed to me - he kicks me over and over. He is almost 35lbs so I won't be able to lift him. I am so scared of not recovering the right way, but I am also not sure I won't be able to do the things I want to do with him on a daily basis (like pick him up to hug and kiss him)

Please tell me how this works!

Re: Recovering from a c-section and taking care of your older child

As you know I have no personal experience with this, but I would say your DH should be in charge of all of Jack's diaper changes for the first 2 or 3 weeks while you recover (he's going to be off, right?).

Re: Recovering from a c-section and taking care of your older child

i just went through this. my DD is the same age and i had a c-section in july. however, my DD is not as big so i can sympathize. it was not even half as bad as i imagined....it was really only the first week of recovery that i was super careful but after that i felt able to do most of the things i had to do. the recovery the 2nd time around was amazingly easier than the first!
the only time i had to pick her up was for the crib, car, and high chair, otherwise i bent down on my knees to hug her or sat on the floor.
when it was time for the crib she stood on her ottoman or a chair next to the crib and i quick threw her in the crib. this worked pretty well. i just did the small pick ups for the high chair slowly and carefully. i never hurt my incision or anything.
you might want to enlist extra help if you can or it you are really worried. my DH went back to work literally when i came home! so i had no choice but to make it on my own. i also told DD i had a bad boo boo and that i could not pick her up when she wanted. she accepted it!
good luck! it is going to be fine-really! you will be healed much quicker this time, i'm sure!

Re: Recovering from a c-section and taking care of your older child

Posted by InShock

As you know I have no personal experience with this, but I would say your DH should be in charge of all of Jack's diaper changes for the first 2 or 3 weeks while you recover (he's going to be off, right?).

Re: Recovering from a c-section and taking care of your older child

Posted by ME75

i just went through this. my DD is the same age and i had a c-section in july. however, my DD is not as big so i can sympathize. it was not even half as bad as i imagined....it was really only the first week of recovery that i was super careful but after that i felt able to do most of the things i had to do. the recovery the 2nd time around was amazingly easier than the first!
the only time i had to pick her up was for the crib, car, and high chair, otherwise i bent down on my knees to hug her or sat on the floor.
when it was time for the crib she stood on her ottoman or a chair next to the crib and i quick threw her in the crib. this worked pretty well. i just did the small pick ups for the high chair slowly and carefully. i never hurt my incision or anything.
you might want to enlist extra help if you can or it you are really worried. my DH went back to work literally when i came home! so i had no choice but to make it on my own. i also told DD i had a bad boo boo and that i could not pick her up when she wanted. she accepted it!
good luck! it is going to be fine-really! you will be healed much quicker this time, i'm sure!

Re: Recovering from a c-section and taking care of your older child

Honestly, I don't remember it being a problem at at all...so it couldn't have been that bad.

If I were you I would make Jack walk everywhere now. That's what I did with DD and she was only 20 mos. older than her sister. She was walking up and down stairs, to the car, in stores, etc. totally by the time baby was born. Of course, I had to lift her into her crib or her carseat. My DH didn't have any time off, so it wasn't like I was prancing around town the first couple of weeks anyhow. You'll probably be feeling totally fine a week later...half of which you'll be hospitalized anyhow...and with your DH home, I wouldn't be stressing this at all (well, I probably would be if I were you, but knowing what I know now...nahh!)!!

Message edited 9/13/2009 9:03:11 AM.

Re: Recovering from a c-section and taking care of your older child

I was lucky that I had help for 5 weeks. But DD LOVES to be picked up and she is always climbing things and you have to grab her before she falls. So I really needed help - when DD#2 was born DD#1 was only 25 or 26 lbs so she was pretty small. Diaper changes were done by others for the 1st 2 weeks or so - then I changed her on the floor so I didn't have to pick her up. Changes are a struggle here but honestly she was pretty good once I chased her around. Hugging since I couldn't pick her up - I either got on the floor or had her get on the couch and snuggle with me.

The recovery from this section was MUCH easier than last time - but my OB this time was MUCH stricter with his restrictions and that was harder - my OB this time said NO driving or lifting of any kind (other than the baby) for 6 weeks which wasn't practical.

Re: Recovering from a c-section and taking care of your older child

DH is on ALL B duty for the 1st 2 weeks...and if he's able, 3 (but we'll see how much time he can get off)

He already knows all this so I'm not even going to worry about.

I think this might be your time to surrender Diana

Re: Recovering from a c-section and taking care of your older child

I have to say looking back, recovery (after the first week) was much esier - or maybe you have to jump back into things, since you don't have a choice with a toddler.


I was pushing the double stroller around the neighborhood at 2 weeks PP and running at 5 weeks PP (after #2)

Re: Recovering from a c-section and taking care of your older child

Posted by chelle

DH is on ALL B duty for the 1st 2 weeks...and if he's able, 3 (but we'll see how much time he can get off)

He already knows all this so I'm not even going to worry about.

I think this might be your time to surrender Diana

Re: Recovering from a c-section and taking care of your older child

my DD was born in July and my DS was 23 moths old (he weighs about 28lbs, so he is lighter Jack)

in all honesty, it wasnt bad at all and my DH was only home with me W,Th,F,S,Su.

i changed DS on the floor, i made my DH do bath time with DS, and i did pick him up.

believe it or not they know that mommy is in pain, and at least with AJ he was pretty easy on me when it came to diaper changing which is NOT like him at all.

as long as you take your pain meds and you relax when your DH comes home it should be fine.

Re: Recovering from a c-section and taking care of your older child

I had my dh home fo about 2 weeks so that helped but I also was able to have ds climb onto the changing table and into the high chair so I didn't have to pick him up.

Re: Recovering from a c-section and taking care of your older child

your gonna have to let DH do most of it...but just adjust..it shouldnt be that bad...

Right now I cannot lift Noah, havent been able to in a while.

I just tell him when he wants to be picked up, remeber Mommy cant pick you up...And I either sit somewhere so I can hold him, hug him etc...and that works fine and he a mush pot, so he's always hugging on me, I just sit.

DH puts him in bed at night ( but he's not in a crib, so thats easy too).

He has a step stool for the changing table, but usually I just say, climb on the bed, climb on the sofa, the ottaman etc and he climbs up for me to change his diaper.

We have a mini van so I dont have to lift him in the car, but I think by the time you need to drive, you will be healed enough to lift him if you had to.

What other situations are you worried about? I think that for a matter of a week or two you will handle it fine and are gonna be surprised that its not as bad as your expecting.

Re: Recovering from a c-section and taking care of your older child

Honestly, it's only hard for maybe two weeks. After that, you really can go back to your old ways. As for those two weeks-- just make your DS walk as much as you can, I just said mommy has a booboo so I can't pick you up for now (had been saying that the last couple months of my pg anyway due to a hernia) You can change him on the floor or your bed instead of the changing table (I just used one of those foldable changing pads you put in diaper bags) Try to enlist your husband when you can for help with stuff. Good luck!

Re: Recovering from a c-section and taking care of your older child

It was hard not to be able to just pick him up and hug him, kiss him or just carry him when he asked to be picked up. DS was 30lbs and I thought he was the lightest thing ever, lol.. DH always asked me how do I carry him being pregnant and all, that he's heavy. Didn't seem like it to me.
DH was home for 2 weeks, so I had him on diaper duty and everything else. Once DH wasn't around my mom was there sometimes and she lifted him for me. If no one else was around then I lifted him of course.
I taught him how to climb up to his hi chair, while holding my hands, in order for him to eat. The hardest was putting him into the crib. I usually used to hold him for a few minutes and hug him before I put him in. Now we sit on the bench and hug for a while before he goes to sleep.
We had to come up with easier ways where I wasn't holding him.
After not holding him for the 2+weeks, he felt sooooooo heavy, lol..
Don't worry so much, you'll figure it out.

Re: Recovering from a c-section and taking care of your older child

Now I never had a c-section but speaking to people who have I think you will have a better recovery this time around since your not putting your body through the stress of labor.

DH is going to need to do the diaper changes if he is that bad for you. Maybe start having DH change him and if he wants you then he needs to lay down nicely. That way you can change him on the couch if he climbs up.

I would also clear out that pack and play and use that for everything for the baby including naps when Jack is in school. When he is not then put him upstairs, that way you are not going up and down.