Will I be able to lift my toddler weeks post ELCS

[Haahoooo]

Just that really. All my family is abroad. I have support until 4 weeks post ELCS but currently planning to look after DD (20 months) and new baby myself for about a week before more reinforcements arrive the following week.

Does that sound realistic? I had an EMCS with DD but can't quite remember how quickly I recovered.

TIA

[Haahoooo]

Aargh title should say 4 weeks

[stressbucket1]

I am 3 weeks post section and can lift my toddler if I really need to but still avoiding as much as possible and won't carry her downstairs yet. You should be ok just do it as little as possible I think ideally you should wait 6 weeks but I think that's really difficult for most people

[MyDarlingClementine]

i think four weeks def, thats a really good amount of time to get support until, I had about that too and was fine.

Its taking it really really easy in the first two weeks to give it time to heal...then you should be fine.

[Suzyjane1]

I rested A LOT in the first 2 weeks. Didn't lift a thing other than baby. I healed really well. Didn't even push pram in first two weeks. It definitely pays to be over cautious at the beginning. Just don't hoover or do anything strenuous unnecessarily until 6 wks and you will be well on your way to recovery.

[Haahoooo]

Ah thank you, that is quite reassuring. DH at home for 2 weeks first so I'll make sure he does all the heavy lifting (!) in that period. Then have my mum for two weeks after that. Fingers crossed it will all be fine!

[plentyofsoap]

After my second section I really struggled with lifting for a good 6 weeks. Dh went back to work so had to do the school run which involved lifting her car seat, tough but managable.

[AuditAngel]

I spent a month in hospital with DD1 before birth so when I came home I wanted DS to be normal. I could lift him but at 2.5 he was a tiddler.

With DD2, it was harder to lift DD1 (then 3.5) but could do it if I needed to, as soon as I came home, again I'd had a long stay pre birth.

[elliejjtiny]

I was told not to lift my 2.5 year old for 6 weeks and my 5 year old for 8 weeks. I think you'd be fine to lift your 20 month old at 4 weeks though.

[Haahoooo]

Thank you again! I asked the consultant yesterday and he also thought it would be fine. A relief! The challenge will be to resist the temptation to pick DD up in the first two weeks...

[Meglet]

You'll be ok at 4 weeks. IME the more you rest those first 2 weeks the quicker you will recover.

[zoemaguire]

I am 4 weeks post section and yesterday was my first help-free day. I had to lift my 3yo a fair bit, on and off loo for instance, and walk a mile with him and baby in pushchair to collect dd from school. It was ok, but in an ideal world I wouldn't have done it. I had to pop the ibuprofen a fair bit to manage, after not needing it for a few weeks, and as soon as dh got home I fell asleep on the sofa for two hours . Still,on the other hand I am desperate to get back to routine, as are the kids, so it feels like on balance it is the right thing to do.

[TisTheSeasonToBeUnreasonable]

Get as much rest as possible for the first 2-4 weeks and it should be ok! Listen to your body though - I had to lift DS2 within a week of my EMCS as had no one else here and although he was only 10months he was solid at 19lb - made me sore for a few days after ...def take it easy when you can

[Lioninthesun]

Don't do anything (ignore the MW's who tell you a walk into town in the first week will 'do you good') and heal. I did far too much and it took months to feel right. It also depends how big your DC is - DD was a big baby and as at 2.5yo now she is in top 91 centile for weight and 98th for height so I massively struggle carrying her! If you have a smaller DC then it may not be much of an issue. Main thing is to heal while you can and literally not lift anything unless you can help it. The less you do the faster you will heal You'll be fine.