For Those Who Got Gastric Sleeve Surgery And Have Toddlers Or Small Children

[Liliana Arleen 173]

Ok so I am 4 days post and my dr told me to wait at least 4-6 weeks to lift anything heavy,no more than 6 lbs. I have a 2 year old and she loves to be held. She is 30 lbs now and really tall. I thank god that my mom in law is here to help with that part till I get better. My question is for those who got sleeved and have small children,when exactly you starting feeling better so you do the normal activities you used to do with your children? Like lifting ,giving them a bath etc? I know everybody heals different. I just want some opinions. TIA

[Amanda131 214]

My daughter was three when I had surgery. She weighed 35 lbs. at the time and my doctor said I could pick her up on a limited basis after my twoweek post op visit. He also had small children and seemed to understand that struggle. I was released from all lifting restrictions at six weeks.

As for how I felt and interacting with her- I pretty much sat out the first two weeks post op of her care. My husband was a hero. She and I would sit together, read stories and snuggle but not much more. My the end of week four I was back in full-time mommy mode.

I should mention that I returned to work only six days post op. Doing that really zapped a lot of my energy and is why I took longer to take back my role as mother.

Good luck!

Amanda

[MsLadyKanKan 6]

This a great Question cause I have a 2 year old as well. I was sleeved 11/22 In fact I am a single mom of 3 lil ones all under 8. But my girl is so independent she likes to do everything on her own. She does like to be picked up but I told her I cant. So I sit down and let her sit on my lap. For everything else I have devised a system. I have a step stool on every floor. So she steps in the tub and out on the stool. She steps up on the stool into her crib and out. She steps on stool to get n my bed. She climbs up into her car seat. U have got to explaain to ur 2yr old that u cant pick her up. But u can give hugs just help her be more independent. I m gonna give myslef about 4 weeks as well. Congrats..

[mar5 5]

I was sleeved on July 27th and I have two small children. At the time, one was 10 months and the other was 22 months, so both of them needed to be carried or lifted. My doctor said to wait two weeks, and luckily I had help. After my 6th week I was fine on my own.

[dying2Bhealthy 60]

Tomorrow marks 2 weeks since surgery. Since 6 days post op I have been caring for my 3 year old & 18 month old pretty much on my own as my husband has returned to work. I bathe, rock, cuddle, feed, change, etc all on my own & no problems thus far (knock on wood) I told my surgeon before surgery that I would have this responsibility and he assured me that I would be fine. The main thing they worry about is an umbilical hernia (which unfortunately I already have and have had for almost 2 years)

Now, I do however limit the amount of lifting I do & I also use my arms as much as possible, instead of my back & belly area!

[lilymorg 4]

I was told nothing heavier then 3lbs...and no lifting for 6-8 weeks.

I have a 5 year old...thankfully I dont pick him up much anymore...but he can be very rambunctious...so I made sure to show him my incisions, and owies....so he knows to be gentle around me. And he has been really great!

[his2my2our4 120]

I was so worried about this! I was sleeved on 10/18 and I have a 2yr old. My husband took the first 2 weeks off and took over all baby duties....took a little gettin' used to but really so thankful for his help! At my 2wk follow up my dr told me that he wasn't going to tell me I couldn't pick up my child but he really wanted me to limit it. He said to at least give him 4 weeks before I dove back in. Listen to your dr and your body and you'll be just fine. :-) Good luck to you!

[emmas mom 4]

I have a 2 year old too and was on a 10 lb. weight restriction for 6 weeks. I would sit in a big chair and she would cuddle in my lap, or I would get down to her level and play with her on the floor. When I got too confident and started to pick her up, i pulled the big incision site open a bit and was put on another few week restriction, so, please be careful and dont over do it.

[ITSMEMRSJ 3]

My son is 1 (10 months old when I had the surgery) about 25 pounds. I put a pillow on top of my stomach for us to have our "snuggle bunny" time. I had help lifting him, but was able to move around and make his bottles no problem. It really took me about two weeks to get back into the routine. Your sore and sensitive but you have to get back to it, I did especially because of all the gas pains and hiatal hernia repair. Good luck!

[lml32937 65]

I am 10days post op and have my 2.5 yr old god son I care for about 2-3 days a week- I also worried about this- When I came home from the hospital (he knew I was going to the Doctor... lol) he wanted to see and kiss my boo boos- after he saw them he was so caring and gentle- I have a pillow pet that I kept on my belly when he climbed on the recliner with me- as far as lifting- I brought in the step stool and he thinks he is a "big boy" now and moves it around the kitchen if we need antyhing- For the most part it hasnt been hard. He is able to climb into and out of the tub so that wasnt a worry/challenge.

Not that this is the same but I have a dog- that cannot jump on his own due to arthritis and old age- so in the first few days my hubby lifted him in the middle of the night but now he will half jump and half use the doggie stairs because I think he knows that mommy isnt right... Hubby had to lift him into and out of the tub for his bath too..

Oh and this past weekend he wanted to see my booboos again and thanked Jesus that I had no more owies.(because he saw no bandages). if only he knew

.

[firefighter2621 0]

Wow after reading everyone comments I am shocked. I had my surgery in October and my wife had her surgery at the biginning of this month. Our little boy is almost 2 and he weighs 25 lbs. Our doctor told us to try not to lift anything much heavier than him. Pretty much for both of us we were lifting him 2-3 days after surgery. Neither of us had any hernia problems. We really had no choice since my wife works days and I work nights. I guess I just find it interesting that it varies so much based on what doctor you have.

[SouthernSleever 228]

As soon as I got home I felt fine to keep up with kids just like before. I had a then 3 year old and 5 year old. I just had them use stepstools or climb up on the couch when they wanted to be picked up. I didn't worry about it at all and everything was fine.

[Liliana Arleen 173]

Thank you all, you ladies are wonderful!

[jujubeez3 2]

My children were 1 and 3 when I was sleeved. I was given the ok to resume all activities at 2 weeks. I did pick them up a few times before the 2 weeks, by accident. I was able to give them baths, diaper changes, do bed time before 2 weeks. The biggest problem I had was running out of energy.

My husband went back to work when I was 3 weeks out. I was able to care for my girls and feed them, but nothing else got done. At 6 weeks I began to have energy again! I was feeling normal. I could cook and clean and go for a walk.

Have your daughter climb onto your lap for snuggles, or you can lay down beside her when she goes to sleep.

Just listen to your body, if something doesn't feel right, don't do it.

Hope your recovery goes good!