is there help if dh takes time off work to look after me and kids after a c section?

hi found out im pregnant which is wonderful, but if this little one sticks, it hit me were paying a morgage, two young kids my youngest only just started crawling, and everyday bills.
i have to have c sections, last time i was living at home with parents so i had help for the 6 weeks, we were waiting for our house to be built, but this time, i wont have help at all!
dh wants to take time off but how do we pay bills and morgage, we are entitled to bugger all as it is as dh earns over $1000 a week, and im a stay at home mum.
does anyone know if dh can take time off to make sure my recovery goes well, even if its for a couple of weeks, and if their is a payment to help keep food on the table and bills paid whilst he is not working and looking after me and the kids.
if he cant ill just have to manage but, i dont want to play with fire by over doing it! and i cant ask my family to take time off and loose money over this, unless they are entitled to extra with their centrelink for helping.
im excited about this baby, but im trying to be organised so when bub is born we will have a plan set out.

I don't think so. My partner took time off after I had a c/s, she had to use her annual leave and sick pay. You will have the baby bonus though, it's not a huge amount but every little bit helps hey.

Congratulations Ashie on your pregnancy.
I am not sure from a Centrelink point of view..I know there are some very knowledgeable people in here regarding that.
Does your DH's employer have Carer's leave as part of his sick leave entitlements or Paid Parental leave? He should be able to use a couple of weeks of that when Bub's is born.

I have had 2 cs and DH took a few days off while I was in hospital and then 1 week off after. (a few days here and there he started late or finished early) He had to go away interstate for a week when I had only had each cs 2 - 3 weeks before.
You just learn to adapt things.
DS1 was not walking when DS2 was born and didnt walk for another 2 months.

I did have to lift him in and out high chair, but I would change him on floor rather than change table and put him in shower rather than bath etc.

Good luck

Could you start putting a little bit away each week to cover the time off? I doubt Clink will be able to help you, it's really for people looking for work or long term disabilities.

My DH is going to use his annual leave to take some time off after bub is born. Is that maybe an option for your DH?

hopefully he'll have some annual up his sleeve, might be able to get my sister's to help their not working but they have a child each but kids can have a play date lol. going to see if we can morgage halted for a couple of weeks when bub is born cause we have never missed a payment so we are in front. its silly thou were supposed to be recovering from major surgury and yet we are entitled to have the help to recover, my mum when she had her c section was able to have home help just so they can get washing on and off the line and other bit and pieces of house work she was not able to do for a few weeks.

Rather than your DH taking unpaid time off, would it be cheaper to hire a cleaner or mothers helper for a few days a week for the first few weeks?

How about a postnatal doula? They do cost but most have payment plans and honestly it'd be worth it. Not only can they help with the housework but they can help to settle bub if you need a break and if you have any breastfeeding issues.

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hopefully he'll have some annual up his sleeve, might be able to get my sister's to help their not working but they have a child each but kids can have a play date lol. going to see if we can morgage halted for a couple of weeks when bub is born cause we have never missed a payment so we are in front. its silly thou were supposed to be recovering from major surgury and yet we are entitled to have the help to recover, my mum when she had her c section was able to have home help just so they can get washing on and off the line and other bit and pieces of house work she was not able to do for a few weeks.

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This isn't the kind of help Clink provides. I'd start with your local hospital or council. However remember, there is a point where it's up to you to look after yourselves or ask for help without anyone expecting some sort of handout. You have some time up your sleeves to put away extra $$$, your ptr will have some annual or sick leave I imagine, so it might not be so bad. You can also add a few items to your weekly shop (baby wipes, tinned tomatoes, toilet paper etc) and stockpile them now.

Good on you for planning ahead though.

if you have private health insurance, they can sometimes provide home help (someone to help at home) after surgery.

antheia- thanks i will look into that! thankyou for letting me know! thats what i wanted to know if their is help i can get and if i can pay it off well thats even better! just looking for someone to help me pick up where i might not be able to do things specially the first week or two, and to keep an every day schedule

Your best option would be to have dh save up holiday leave and take it when you have bub, that's what most people have to do.

It is hard trying to juggle everything to have someone help you look after your kids after a c/s. If I have another c/s this time, I have no idea what I am going to do either. DH can't take 6 weeks off work in one go - he is a branch manager and just can't have that long off all at once. He is free to come and go from work as he pleases so he can head in late and come home early, but it is a bit of a worry. I have family around but I don't want to ask them to take time off either ... my other option is to look at putting DS into occassional care for a few weeks - DD1 will be at kindy and I should be able to manage DD2 at home. I am just tossing around a few different ideas - I am aiming for a VBAC so I am in a different boat to you, but having had a c/s already, I realise it is a possibility that I will have to have another one.

Don't know if that helped much, but you aren't alone in wondering what to do. It is an issue for lots of families. At least thinking about it now gives you lots of time to explore your options ... good luck :hug:

Firstly he needs to check his HR policies at work in relation to leave entitlements. He may be entitled to extra time off work for paternity leave. He is also able to use personal leave for carers leave to look after you after your c/s. Plus he can access annual leave.

Contact your local council, sometimes there is help for women with multiple young kids who have just given birth. I would also look at hiring some home help - someone who can come in for a couple of hours every other day and do the washing, make some meals and tidy up. I would start putting some money aside to save up for something like that.