[Angelsanctum]

Hi all Im new to Forums and would love if I could get some advice and just basically chat to others who have been in similar situations!

I am currently 37+1 weeks pregnant with my 3rd baby. I have 2 other children (3yr boy &5yr girl), and I am going in next Monday (1week and 1 day!!!) for a c-section. It is my first c-section and I am very nervous!. I was with a new partner and am having his first child, but he left and moved out 4 weeks ago now, so I will be a single mum of 3 babies once my new son is born.
I have been a single mum before with my other 2 children, but my youngest was just 2 when this first occurred. I have not done the whole new born thing completely on my own before, so I am trying to prepare myself for what lies ahead. I have heaps of support from friends and family and am going to be well looked after, but I need to learn to be more assertive in expressing my feelings. I am worried I will have too many people here, or I will have certain people I dont want here at all! I am also worried about doing the day to day things with my kids, like bathing & feeding, and keeping them feeling involved and not left out.
If anyone has advice or could share their experiences with me, that would be great!

(I am not one to be nasty, and the dad is going to be with me during the c-section and is willing to support the baby as much as he can, we aren't perfect, but no nastiness toward him please)

Thanks heaps x

[tinkerbell]

Hi Angelsanctum,

I too am having a c/s on the 23rd...Goodluck

I had a c/s with my first and from my experience the first 2-3weeks are pretty hard on your body, if you have the help from family and friends take it for as long as you can as just doing normal things with a c/s are so difficult and hurt, try to take it as easy as possible on yourself (even though that can be hard when you have 2 older siblings to look after also. You will get better day by day, but you do need rest and that with a newborn is almost unheard of.

Tinks

[daruma]

Hi. I have not been in the same situation as you but I did have a c-section. You mentioned that you have heaps of people willing to help and that you might find it hard to ask for what you want. I would be inclined in that case to ask them if they would be happy to be on a roster of some description. So you know you have someone for all the things that will need doing each day or week. I hope that makes sense and that your family and friends support you. All the best.

[Angelsanctum]

Thanks for replying I know I'll have people around to help, but I have realised that they probably will only be reliable for about a week, which is worrying, but I know I'm strong, so hopefully it wont take too much of a toll on me! Thanks again xx

[tinkerbell]

Goodluck with everything, is there maybe anyway you could have your older kids looked after by anyone druing the day or maybe a night then away from home? it would just give you some kind of break as recovery isn't much fun at all no matter how strong you may be, just simple things like getting in and out of bed can be a struggle, try and stay at hospital as long as you can :-)

[Angelsanctum]

Thanks Tink,

I have family looking after my kids whilst I'm in hospital (I've been told about 4-5days) and after that have people coming over to help. The kids spend weekends with their dad as well so that will give me a couple of days reprieve Im actually getting quiet excited now, and things aren't seeming so bad I hope I can recover quickly and be able to enjoy all 3 of my kids a lot more, I think I am a better mum by myself, so that gives me the confidence to strive even further