2 under 2 w/c-section moms (sorry a little long)

For those who had/will have 2 under 2 and who will/had a c-section, how did you care for your older child?

My DC will be 16 months apart. My DD is currently in daycare. The plan was to keep her in daycare through my maternity leave since she loves it there and so it would be easier for me at home, but I'm not sure if that's the best plan.

I currently do drop off and pick up, my DH can't do either. I remember after my last c-section that I wasn't supposed to carry anything heavier than my DD. I don't remember for how long I had that restriction. Do you remember? How do you carry your older child? Will I be able to put her in the car for daycare? Will I be able to walk her down the stairs? I was going to get some help in the day, and my mom can help with pick up, but it still leaves drop offs and early morning picking up out of the crib and stuff. (My mom can take off the entire first week, but I feel like i wasn't supposed to lift anything that heavy for a while?). What did you do? Should I pull her from daycare and get a nanny to help me with both while on leave?? I'm still undecided of what we are even doing after DC # 2 is born, but I signed up for daycare to secure a spot, and I'm also afraid that if I pull DD from daycare i'd lose her spot to return (they have a waiting list), although I'm not sure how much help we can afford on top of daycare on top of me not working!!!! I just don't know what I will and will not need! I remember feeling fine after a few weeks, but I didn't have a toddler and my guess is that she'll weigh around 25 lbs so I don't know if I can carry her anywhere!! Thanks for reading, sorry for the long post, and clearly I have insomnia!!!

Re: 2 under 2 w/c-section moms (sorry a little long)

My boys are 10.5 months apart & I had 2 sections. I actually had my mom come live with us for 6 weeks after having dc#2 bc first he was a preemie & had to stay in the hospital for 4 weeks & I needed to go back & forth.

My oldest was not walking at the time of #2 birth. Having my mom was extremely handy bc I could not lift my oldest for about 1.5 weeks. I could carry him if someone handed him to me. I was doing steps immediately upon release from the hospital. I was unable to drive alone for 2 weeks.

Re: 2 under 2 w/c-section moms (sorry a little long)

I kept ds 1 with me after I had ds 2. I wanted him to spend every minute with baby so they could bond. 1 week I felt good in 2 weeks I was able to go back to our normal routine.

Re: 2 under 2 w/c-section moms (sorry a little long)

I had DS #2 18 months after DS #1. I did have help - DH took 2 weeks off work and my Mom lives nearby and is retired.

I remember going up and down stairs almost immediately. We live in a colonial and I really had no choice.

I drove after a week (I think)... I remember sitting on the couch and holding my older DS - doing things like that. I don't think daycare drop-offs and pickups would be that bad, depending on the layout of your daycare. I would put the baby in the snap and go and let your older DC walk.

It isn't that bad...

Re: 2 under 2 w/c-section moms (sorry a little long)

I remember I was able to walk up and down the stairs right when I got home after the section, but will I be able to walk up/down stairs holding a 16 month old right away? That is my concern...

Re: 2 under 2 w/c-section moms (sorry a little long)

Honestly, the antipation is worse than the reality.

My girls are 1.5 years apart and I had no help at home once home from the hospital (came home on a Friday; DH back to work Monday). I had no issues related to the c-section, lifting or driving at all.

My DD learned to walk when I was a couple of month pregnant. A couple of months after that, I stopped carrying her to the car, up stairs or whatever--I taught her to walk everywhere knowing that I couldn't be hauling around TWO kids! She did great with that; in fact, she was so good I trained her to hold onto the stroller when her sister was born (so funny...the girls are 6 and 4.5 now and their little brother is 13 months and they STILL religiously hold onto that stroller!) and we never even had a double stroller!!

Trust me, you won't need half as much help as you think you will.

Re: 2 under 2 w/c-section moms (sorry a little long)