Caring for DD after a C/Section?

[DaintreeDream]

I recovered well from my CS with DD. I was walking back and forth between my room and NICU the day after her birth. I never felt pain just discomfort. 12 days after her birth I was walking 30 minutes with a backpack of EBM to the train station to see her in hospital in the city.

This time DD is 18 months and not walking, when will I be able to care for her?
When will I be able to change her nappy, get up and down to her, hold her when passed to me, pick her up from the ground, be left alone with her without someone there to help (for short periods at least)?

I hate that I will not be able to care for her, I do alot for her, she is my little girl.

Does anyone have any personal experience that they can share?

[StrawberryMumma]

Not related to your post but I just wanted to wish you and your new bundle all the best! Sending you both love and strength xx

[Just Me]

I had a c-sect with DD2. DS was 15 months and had only started walking 1 week before. I let DH do everything for DD1 and DS for the first 2 weeks and found after that I was quite capable of lifting them very carefully. I probably could have picked them up before that, but I wanted to be extremely careful and not do further damage by overdoing it. By 3 weeks, I felt completely normal again but still let DH do as much as possible when he was home so that my body still had a chance to heal. By 6 weeks, I was completely normal.

I had a lot of pain with my c-sect for the first few days and found it very difficult to move. I couldn't believe how different I felt after just one week of taking it easy though.

I think the advice is always to listen to your body and do only what you can handle. Don't be afraid to say you are not comfortable trying to do something you are not ready for. The best thing you can do for yourself and DD is to rest when you can and let others do what they can for you.

Good luck with everything tomorrow. What an exciting time for you and your family! Look forward to reading your BA

[Rach75]

I know jack is a fair bit older than your daughter but I found when Jase went back to work at 3 weeks I was fine with showering Jack, as for proper cuddles about 5 weeks before I could have him sit on my lap for real good hugs, but he would sit on the chair beside me and snuggle in...he does weigh 16kg + which would make a difference... but I would say I was well and truly fine by the 4 week mark if he had needed picking up etc, I had to lift him into shower still and did that a 3 weeks..

anyway HTH some what good luck tomorrow

[Arimeh]

DS was 19 months when I had DD1. When he wanted a cuddle (which was all the time because he was still really clingy) I would get down to his level and give him a cuddle that way, instead of bending down and picking him up. For the most part he was happy with that. If he wasn't, I would sorta throw him half over my shoulder, and brace my scar with my other hand, and then slowly get up. It felt pretty normal by 2 weeks later (until my infection took hold and then I was rendered useless again) so hopefully you won't have to feel any frustration for too long.

As for changing nappies - I always change nappies on the floor anyway, so that didn't change. I couldn't get him in and out of the bath, so DH helped me get him in and out, or he went in the shower with me or DH.

I think DH had 2 weeks off to help me out, does your DH have any time off lined up?

[feeb]

I have been wondering same thing as high chance being that I will end up with another CS and DS also not walking.

I think DH will have 2 weeks off