Handling a toddler pre-op :help:

Im hoping to have my surgery soon and im nervous about how everything will work out post-op because I have a 13 month old. Both of my parents are having the surgery but only my mom is going to have it the same time I am. MY hubby is going to take 1 week off to watch my son. They do the surgeries on Mondays so we have to be there on sunday. If all goes well I should be home by thursday or friday but my hubby will go back to work that monday. So I will be on my own after monday and im worrying about how I am going to handle my son! He is a crazy, hyper little boy and hes a handful already. I just dont want to get overwhelmed and go to pick him up or something and end up hurting myself. I had a c-section and 2 days after coming home my incision ripped open and my husband had to pack gauze into it 2x a day for 3 months! It got infected and took forever to heal, and every once in awhile I have problems with it still. After that especially I am very nervous. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions on how to handle taking care of a lil one post-op?

Hi Amber Im Jen...I had both my kiddies post op...The best advice I can give you is for the 1st 2 weeks if possible have someone home with you incase he wants to he held..No lifting or bending, so you have to take it easy...I hope you get the answer you need. Jen

Ya, I agree with the no lifting. Is hubby able to get him out of the crib in the morning before he leaves and able to help with bath time lifting at night? This might be enough to save you. Between times, start looking for ways to avoid lifting. Look at ways to take naps on the floor together maybe on an air mattress and eating lunch with a tray on the floor instead of a high chair. If you can Grandpa there to help you then do that also. But I would say to plan in advance and get all the help you can from Daddy both before and after work to do the lifting. Also remind Daddy he will have to help with other fun jobs like lifting laundry and running the vacuum for a few weeks too. Best of luck with your surgery.

Lifting is definitely going to be a no no. I handled this with my nephews by telling them I had a big boo boo (told them my binder was the band aid) and that I couldn't pick them up. Every time they would ask to be picked up I would remind them of my boo boo & ask if we could hold hands instead. It worked pretty well. Try to see what you can do to get some help.

I would REALLY try to find some help, at LEAST for the first 2 weeks. You are going to be sore and very tired, not to mention unable to lift. If you get it done this summer, if you could afford it, maybe there is a high schooler in your neighborhood you could pay to assist you during the day until you are feeling up to it.

I agree with all of the helpful comments from the other posters. I can understand that this is supposed to be a joyus time for you.... looking foward to being on the 'other/losing side' I speak from personal experince... i overdid it after my GBP and ended up with an incisional hernia, which I had to have ANOTHER surgery for!!!!! But planning is a LARGE part of trying to be comfortable the first crucial weeks of the healing process. I wish I was near you in location, because I would try to come & help you out with your son!!!!! I am in Alaska, though!!!! -Jamie

Thanks guys for all of the help!!!! Since my mom will home with me hopefully we can try to handle my son together plus I have my little 12 year old brother(haha) that is always helpful. My hubby and my dad can help after work which is great, but if all else fails I can always have my grandma come over and help us watch my son. But that is a last resort cause she can be a little too much.... haha. I also have my aunt who hopefully will have a couple days off of work those weeks and can watch my son, but I always feel bad asking her because she has 2 little girls ages 2 & 3 plus 3 teenagers... so adding a 1 year old is always rough. I guess I will have to plan but have my plan b and c's, right? I hope this works out...