Looking after a 17 month old after c section

[Sw1234]

I've got a planned c section next month and will also have a 17 month old LB to look after. How did you look after an older sibling that doesn't understand you're unable to lift them/play with them after the section? I'm worried he'll feel pushed out as it is. How did you manage when OH went back to work with taking sibling upstairs/downstairs? Due to his age he's got no understanding of what's to come

[Countrychic]

I had the exact same age gap and planned c-section. I honest don’t remember what I did but we survived! I bought a few new special toys and books to amuse him when I was feeding etc. I played on the floor with him so he couldn’t easily jump on my etc. My husband took him out a lot for the first week or two and after that, I was able to lift him when needed. I think he understood that I was sore. We had a few painful moments when he was too rough.

I encouraged him to mostly walk from car to house etc before baby came along and stopped lifting him as much before baby two came along. I was in a lot of pain towards the end of my pregnancy so wasn’t able to lift him as much anyway.

Best of luck with your new arrival when he/she comes. You will be fine 😊

[Sw1234 in reply to Countrychic]

Thank you. It's lovely to hear from you and that you coped! My LB has just started walking so encouraging him to do it outside will really help. I can't play on the floor at the moment (pelvic girdle pain) but that's a really good suggestion for once LG is here as it'll be a change for my 17 month old too

[Lydialego123]

I had a bigger age gap (2.5 years) but my first was still very much a picked up child then. Take as much help as you can from friends/family if it’s on offer and try find a spot that will be easy for you to get up & down from that can be dedicated to cuddles and reading books etc with your eldest, try and make that a place they are used to getting your attention now, and then they won’t see it as a new thing when baby is here. I felt able to lift him about 4 weeks after my surgery but only when really needed. Also don’t worry if you have to use more TV time to keep your eldest occupied/still in the early days - you can soon phase it out when you are more mobile! All the best x