Question for moms with smaller kids...

[hm814]

I have a 3yo and a 19mo...just wondering, for those of you who are post-BA and have children -- how long after your surgery were you able to lift your kids (or anything else that weighed between 25 and 40 pounds)? Thanks!

[april716]

I am interested in finding this out as well. I have a 4 1/2 year old and a 17 month old.

[hubbyskitty75]

This would really help me too. I have a 4 year old and a 18 month old. The 18 month old is really attached to me. I guess when we do not feel any more pain and the plastic surgeon says its ok. We dont want our sutures busting open.

[txmom2boys]

My Dr. told me 3 weeks but I was carrying my baby around at 2 weeks because I had no other options. I turned out fine

[MuchBetter]

I have a 4 yr old and a 21 month old. I was told no lifting over 5 lbs for 6 weeks lol. I told my dr that is near impossible and he said I would be ok just take precaution. The first 3 days I stayed in bed or a close to bed as possible cause my husband was home but after that I was on my own. I had to life my son in and out of his crib but made him walk down the stairs himself. I also stayed at home the first week so I wouldn't have to carry him anywhere or lift him into the car. The best advice I can give you is use your hip!! I just sat him on my hip when I had to carry him which took most of his weight. Now at 3 1/2 weeks I can carry him as usual using my hip for the most part and it seems to be perfectly fine. Good Luck!

[klayco17]

I have a 3 year old, and im 19 days post op. He asks me to lift him in chairs sometimes, and I feel so bad because I cant do it. My plastic surgeon told me not to lift anything for 6 weeks, not even my son....so i havent. HTH.

[roxie12]

I have a 4 year old and 22 month old and am VERY worried about how to get my little girl in her booster seat at the table and in the car when I am alone...lift with your legs? I have 2 more weeks to dwell on how I am going to do this when my week of help goes away!

[tayken]

they told me 4 wks but I started lifting not carrying my 2,1/2 yr ols(30 lbs) at 2 wks
i would get him to lay on the floor for diaper chages and i would sit on the floor when he was upset, and get him to climb in the car stuff like that...I just has to get used to taking longer...lol

[Mandy71]

I have 3 kids: 7 yrs, 6 yrs, and 23 months old. The youngest is a total Mama's girl and is very clingy and needs constant lifting. So I was worried to say the least when I heard my surgeon tell me not to do heavy lifting, things above 10 lbs, for about 4 weeks.

But I was doing some "strategic" lifting of my youngest girl (she was 23 lbs at the time of my surgery) at 2 weeks: movements were like lifting her down from her high chair but not up from the ground to my arms. If she were at waist level, I could lift her for short periods of time (a few minutes). I would feel uncomfortable with lifting her from the ground. You need to listen to your body. Thankfully my dh was very good at not wanting me to injure myself and kept telling me to ask for help. At week 3 and 4, I progressed to actually lifting her to the change table and not just down from it. I could lift the laundry hamper if it were not too full. But vacuuming was still off limits for me because the movements required using too much chest muscles. Week 4 and on I could lift her to the bathtub and finally be able to give her baths easily again. Cutting and chopping (for cooking) was pretty weak until week 5 or 6.

[misslinlin]

I have a 2 year old and i figured out the most effective way of lifting her (which i was doing one week post op) was sitting down and sliding her onto my lap - so not really lifting with your arms too much, wiggle them on the hip and use your arms to balance the weight on your hips. VOLLLLAAAA instant baby carrier!!! your a mum when you get there you will work it out!!

[apee]

Around the 3 week mark I started lifting my 3 year old, she's only 27 lbs. I did the bear hug lift where I mostly used my legs. I am 5 weeks out tomorrow and I have been lifting and holding her as usual. I just try to limit it and tell her no more often. I have a 5 year old also. I'm pretty lucky b/c they are both old enough where they don't have to be picked up.

[TimeFlies]

I for sure broke the rules, my BA was a Wednesay and by Saturday I was carrying my 1 year old (she's 25lbs) she had to go to the ER there was NO WAY anyone else was holding her but me. I talked to the plastic surgeon and he said it wasn't like I was going to hurt anything just a precaution. I'd say by the following wed (1 week) I was feeling great and could get them (Ialso have a 2 y/o son) in and out of cribs and highchairs. I have unders, 375cc's crease. He told me to keep my elbows in and be slow and careful, so I was. My results are awesome at 4 weeks. hth

[lilmissjones]

My BA is on Friday so I don't have experience quite yet but I have help from my husband and mom for 3 weeks and my plastic surgeon said that was more than enough time... he said take advantage of the extra help and enjoy my mini-vaca. HTH

[Dee84]

Thanks for this thread, I am also worried as I am a single mother of a 3yr old...bit worried as he gets kinda excited at times and runs at you like a bull and gives u massive bear hugs. The impact worries me, hehe!

Is anyone a single parent and had a BA...did you manage ok?

[Dee84]

By the way you are all fabulous looking mothers!!!

[HispanicMom]

well my dr. does't want you to lift anything over 25lbs for about 2wks.....but I had no choice. Hubby was out of town and I had to lift my 20mo old in and out of the car, etc. when I was 5 days post op. I'd say definitely take it easy with the lifting if you have to. I try to do it as little as possible. Especially the earlier days...I def would be really sore after lifting her too much. Just let your body tell you what to do and what not to do and don't over do it Don't want to ruin your investment! BTW I'm almost 2wks out and it's getting easier to lift and less soreness after.

[Esy]

I must admit I was very afraid to lift anything so I was very creative in making up the stories only for my 3year old son to be able to climb up the stairs... Funny indeed.

I am now 7weeks after BA, and I started to lift him but I am avoiding it as much as I can. His weight is 19 kg so that counts too, I guess.

You will feel when you'll be ready, but listen to you plastic surgeon.
If we can't workout pec muscles and arms for a month (or two), than I guess it's smart to avoid lifting our kids, too.

I know it sounds impossible, but somehow kids feels that you really can't and they accept it.

Good luck!

[Esy]

Originally Posted by Dee84

Thanks for this thread, I am also worried as I am a single mother of a 3yr old...bit worried as he gets kinda excited at times and runs at you like a bull and gives u massive bear hugs. The impact worries me, hehe!

Is anyone a single parent and had a BA...did you manage ok?

Uh, I know what you mean with kids excitement.

Can I be honest? Please, find some help (mother, friend, babysitter...) for at least 2,3 days (more the better)! YOU alone will need help, not to mention someone who will take care of your kid, because you wont be able at least first 2 days when it really hurts and you practically just want to sleep.

[Dee84]

Originally Posted by Esy

Uh, I know what you mean with kids excitement.

Can I be honest? Please, find some help (mother, friend, babysitter...) for at least 2,3 days (more the better)! YOU alone will need help, not to mention someone who will take care of your kid, because you wont be able at least first 2 days when it really hurts and you practically just want to sleep.

Well I will have my mother for the first few days and my son Shea goes to a childminder during the week anyway as I am a full time student...But my mother will eventually have to go back to work leaving me on my own. Just wondering how long it will be difficult for?

[Esy]

Originally Posted by Dee84

Well I will have my mother for the first few days and my son Shea goes to a childminder during the week anyway as I am a full time student...But my mother will eventually have to go back to work leaving me on my own. Just wondering how long it will be difficult for?

First two days - really, really painful. Holding the glass full od water seems painful (for the pec muscle). 3 and 4 - moderate pain, but you can do things alone.... 5-7, 8... mostly painful in the morning, when you wake up and tolerable pain.
Every day, even every half of the day you feel better and better! You'll see.

Driving was painful for me for 1, 2 weeks. I had pain in my armpit after it. But bearable pain.

_______

I'll send you one great link with pre and post-op advices.