Hi there,

This will be my 3rd c-section, however it will be my first recovering with another baby at home.

My first c section, my daughter passed away shortly after, so i only had my self to deal with.
My second C section i only had my newborn and my self.

This time, Im going to have Me, My newborn and an 18month old!

My husband works for himself and we have decided that with no sick leave or holiday pay up his sleave he needs to go back to work ASAP.

Should I consider getting help at home for a couple of weeks? How did others recover with a young (and extremely boisterous) 18monh old...

Thanks

With my third csect I had 4 and 3 yr old boys and a 12 month old girl, as well as the newborn to care for.. hubby only got one night off work so help was very limited. I coped though, you just do.

With an 18 month old and newborn you wont NEED to be driving any where so I think you should be fine, try to stock up on meals in the freezer before baby arrives and if you're up to make a bottle then make a drink bottle or two up for your older daughter so she can just help herself. Perhaps even get hubby to make up her lunch in a lunchbox before he goes to work so its one less thing for you to worry about during the day.

I don't think you should need home help but if you can afford it getting someone in to clean once a week won't hurt of course!

I'm not sure how you recovered from yours but from my uncomplicated csects within 2 weeks I was completely fine with everything except driving which took until the 3rd week to be comfortable with and with my 3rd csect even with 12 month old who needed lifting a lot as she wasn't yet walking I still managed fine from the start I just had to be careful and try to get her to help as much as she could ie. stand up before I pick her up so not bending as far. Perhaps you could try to get your daughter used to this kind of thing now, and try to eliminate some of the needs for lifting such as changing her on a lower surface (not the floor as it can be hard to get back up in the early days but the couch or a bed if she can climb up herself are perfect and spare you the liftng)

Sorry turning into a novel, I know its worrying contemplating csect recovery with other children, I'll be having csect #5 in August and because of the complications last time that will happen again this time I need around the clock assistance for ME for the first cpl of weeks as well as assistance with the kids, trying to work it all out is rather challenging lol

Best of luck with it all!

Haven't done it with a toddler that young .. DD1 was 2.5yrs when DD2 was born by c/s.

Suggestions ..
Don't lift the 18mth old. It will slow down your recovery, so really try and avoid it to begin with.
Stock up the house well before the birth so you don't need to go out, and get DH to ring you before he heads home, so he can pick up anything you need.
Buy some little step stools, to make it easy for the toddler to climb onto your bed etc.
Cuddles are on the lounge. Sit and let her climb up next to you rather than picking her up for a hug.
Nappy changes on the bed or the lounge. I was actually fine getting done on the floor, so that was an option for me too.
Skip the high chair. Meals are either picnic on the floor (easy sandwich type lunch), or if you have a kiddie table that she can sit at.
Naptime is on your bed, or on a mattress on the floor - do not lift an 18mth into a cot.
Bathing waits until Daddy is home.
TV is your friend. It is not evil, it will not hurt your child
Don't stress over mess .. if the toddler makes a big huge mess, don't worry about it.


A lot depends on the work hours your husband does as well. Is he home in time to cook dinner and bath the toddler? Is he around at breakfast time? How flexible are his hours? If he works for himself, maybe you can work out the time that you do need help and he can arrange to be home? Even a half day in the middle of the week, just to give you a break is good too ... depending on how much planning he needs to get away from work, this could maybe be more of a sponataneous thing, depending on how well you are coping?

But it is doable. Just relax your standards, and take it easy, and it will all work