Question:
I am a stay at home mom with a 1yr old. How long post op til I can care for her again?

I don't have anyone locally to help me after surgery except my husband, who of course will be working. My mom can come for a couple weeks, just wondering how long before I can pick my daughter up and care for her after surgery. Will 2-3 weeks be enough?    — Jenny N. (posted on September 1, 2000)

September 1, 2000
Please check w/ your doctor on this. My doctor suggested nothing heavier than 10 lbs for the first 8 weeks. I know I went over that limit more than a few times (getting groceries out of the car, etc.) and it hasn't been a problem. Just check w/ your doctor first.
   — Maxine E.

September 1, 2000
Sorry, I forgot to mention that I had 2 hernias replaced during my WLS surgery, which is why my lifting was limited post-op.
   — Maxine E.

September 2, 2000
Hi, I am 9 weeks postop from open rny. I have a son that is 20 months old. My doctor told me not to lift him for atleast three or four months. Sometimes when I don't have a choice, if he falls asleep and noone else is there, I try to be really careful, but still at nine weeks out there is a muscle at the top left of my incision that burns and hurts real bad if I lift him a certain way. I read on here that that means you may have ripped the large sutures in your muscles a little. So please, be really careful, I know I've probably done more than I should, but what can we do,right? Open rny 6-30-2000, down 46 pounds.
   — Kelly P.

May 16, 2003
I was up and back to work 2 weeks after surgery. I am on lt. duty answering phones. I would say you are not going to feel like chasing a 1yr old for about 4 weeks. You should probably not lift her even after 4 weeks. I would ask my Dr. about that. Be sure to take a nap when the baby does. You will tire easily. Is there any way you can find daycare for even 1/2 the day when your mom leaves? I think you will be fine except for fatigue. Try hard to get up and walk after you get home. It realy helped me to feel better fast.
   — Shannan B.

May 16, 2003
I had an open RNY done 3/20/03. I was in the hospital 2 days and had full time family help with my 3 year old and 4 month old for 5 days...then, because of unforeseen circumstances, I found myself on my own with my kids exactly 1 week after surgery. We did fine... stayed in our PJ's a little longer in the morning and didn't do much running around... but, it motivated me to get up and get moving...and, I haven't looked back since! Nap when your child naps and play videos....try to contain her to an area that you can manage. You should be okay. Good Luck!
   — teresa M.

May 16, 2003
Well you have scared me now!! I am preop but didn't know there would be such limitations. I have four children under the age of 8, my youngest being just 9 months. I will be pretty much on my own after the first week. (My husband can't get any more time off than that). I am planning on having lap RYN. If anyone has been through similar experience, please email me. [email protected]
   — Jeannie4

May 16, 2003
I had open RNY on 2/27/03. My husband got sent to Iraq 3 weeks later. By then I was fine. I was slow, but totally fine. My family lives 1200 miles away so that was not an option and most of my neighbors work. I had no problems. I have 4 kids, the oldest is 8 the youngest is 4.
   — TraciB

May 16, 2003
I have 3 kids, 10, 8, and 2. I also babysit 3 more kids, 4, 2, and 8 months. My husband used his last day and a half of leave to be with me in the hospital. I had my oldest 2 kids stay with their natural father and my youngest stayed with my mom. They were all away for one week. I used that time to sleep, sleep, sleep, and heal. I started babysitting again at 2 weeks. The hardest part is the fatigue. The baby was 2 months old at that time so I would sit next to him and lift him to me.The other kids were old enough to climb so I didn't have to lift them. I think you will do fine after 2 or 3 weeks. Just remember not to over do it and don't lift if at all possible. Nap as much as you can. By the 4th to 6th week you should be feeling pretty much back to normal. Good luck!
   — Ruthie K.