Recovery with a toddler

[Meglvn100 2]

Hey everyone! I have my surgery date on the 19th, FINALLY. I'm starting to get the worries of being able to tend to my little boy after surgery. He's only a year & a half. My main concern is being able to pick him up. My husband only has 2 available days off to help me, & I don't really have anyone else to do so. With the surgery being on a Friday that gives me only 5 days of recovery before I need to be capable to lift my toddler. I was just wondering if there's anyone out there that has small children/child that had the same problem or had a solution. I'm not really sure what the criteria is for lifting after surgery. I have a call in to my Dr but have not had a response. I'm worried that even whatever the Dr has to say I really don't have any choice I have to take care of my baby. Any words of advice my fellow lapbanders?

[Sharon1222 19]

Hey everyone! I have my surgery date on the 19th, FINALLY. I'm starting to get the worries of being able to tend to my little boy after surgery. He's only a year & a half. My main concern is being able to pick him up. My husband only has 2 available days off to help me, & I don't really have anyone else to do so. With the surgery being on a Friday that gives me only 5 days of recovery before I need to be capable to lift my toddler. I was just wondering if there's anyone out there that has small children/child that had the same problem or had a solution. I'm not really sure what the criteria is for lifting after surgery. I have a call in to my Dr but have not had a response. I'm worried that even whatever the Dr has to say I really don't have any choice I have to take care of my baby. Any words of advice my fellow lapbanders?

Hey my surgery is Thursday Aug 11, 2011 my Husband and I have a small Daycare with 12 Children

[Amanda1982 142]

Hey my daughter was just 15 months on the day of my surgery. It was hard becasue I was told not to lift her but I managed. My hubby helped out during the afternoons and she was at daycare during most of the day. (It's more because of the stitches I was told). Can you afford daycare for a week? Good Luck!!

[Rachael 4]

I had surgery in March. My little boy was 32 pounds and 2 1/2. I know that my surgeon said that I shouldn't lift anything over 10 pounds for a month afterward. Also not to do laundry, clean, etc. Well, I do not have to lift my son but I did do laundry and clean. What can you do? I was lucky that my mother in law and my mom live within 10 miles of my house. You will need some help the first week or two out. Can your little walk? Mine can walk and climb. He would climb up on my lap. It sucks but you get through it.

It did hurt the first time I picked him up....about 2 1/2 weeks after surgery.

[ctarantino 13]

Hi!! Im getting banded on 8-11, I wish I could answer this. That's my concern too! My daughter is 3 and pretty independent, my son will be one and that's really hard. I have my husband with me a week and then it's me with 2 little toddlers. Best of luck to you! I just plan on taking it easy and aside from in/out of crib keeping him gated at home on first floor. Im really afraid of bottle feedings on my lap, I don't know how that will feel. Good luck to us!!!!

[Cindy C 150]

If it helps, I went back to work six days after surgery with a 25 pound lifting restriction. You should be fine.

[Meglvn100 2]

Thank you all. I can definitely take him to daycare, but my worry is lifting him out of his crib, lifting him to get him dressed & changed, lifting him into his high chair to eat, & lifting him into his car seat to take him to daycare. My husband leaves the house at 4:30 in the morning to go to work so I won't have his help in the mornings. Do you guys think I will damage anything by doing all this?

[Cindy C 150]

I'm sure you'll be fine. Just try to lift him as little as possible. At 18 months old he can probably do more for himself than you like to think. Let him climb into the car seat on his own. Feed him on the couch or let him kneel on a big chair while you're healing.

[readytolosemomof5 0]

The reasons that the doc doesn't want you to lift is that you can flip your port, requiring additional surgery to turn it back around. Also if you are not healed enough, you can cause your incisions to open.

[cakegirl 12]

Maybe get some strategies for nonlifting for when your husband goes back to work?

Of the top of my head, what about changing him on a bed or your sofa, so he can climb up and you can sit next to him to do it - no lifting onto a change table.

Have picnic food on a rug on the floor or at a coffee table instead of in the high chair.

I'd even be tempted to ditch the crib for his sleeps, unless that would be too disruptive. Maybe putting the mattress from the crib onto the floor in front of it? It might even start the transition to a bed for him?

[Jachut 487]

My daughter was two, I was easily able to lift her in five days, but obvioiusly, you're not supposed to lift for a while. I changed her on the floor, and when she wanted some laptime, she climbed onto me rather than me lifting her. But obviously I couldnt have her on one hip constantly as she was used to. We had a few tantrums but we survived.

[TracyW2 137]

You do adjust. My little boy was 14 months old plus I had a small daycare at the time. Surgery was on Thursday and I was back to working on Monday, but just taking it easy. If you need to lift him, just sit on the couch and have them climb on your lap.

[JamieC 4]

Micro surgery... I only have one tiny incision in my belly button and some tiny little punctures that are the size of freckles. I am going to work tomorrow. I was able to easily walk two miles yesterday when I got home from the hospital and walked 3 today. Stopped into work for an hour. Carried groceries into the house and have taken no pain meds.