post-surgery - not being able to pick baby up

[JordanKX]

Hi all,
So I had emergency surgery yesterday to remove my gallbladder. Yuck. While I would love to babble a recount of how annoying that process was... my real concern is the recuperation statement of... "don't lift over 10lbs for 4-6 weeks". YIKES. And, um, virtually impossible! My DS is almost 6months and 20lbs, and I'm SAHM. DP will be around this weekend and some of next week for my really painful recuperation needs, especially while I still need some pain meds. But what happens after a week? 4-6 weeks of NOT picking him up???

He's not crawling, but at the same time, doesn't really stay in one place for long. So I can't just, for example, put him in a stroller and wheel him from room to room so he can hang out with me. That was an option, as it'll lay all the way down for diaper changes, I can go out walking, etc. And I'm sure I'll consider it as ONE option, but I'm wondering about other ideas???

Has anyone been through this before, or other injuries/surgeries of the like that made you unable to pick up your baby? Or anyone had a laproscopic surgery where maybe that 4-6week timeline was bogus?

[SomethingAnonymous]

Originally Posted by JordanKX

Has anyone been through this before, or other injuries/surgeries of the like that made you unable to pick up your baby? Or anyone had a laproscopic surgery where maybe that 4-6week timeline was bogus?

I have been through it before- but for a lot longer. From my daughter's birth til now- she is 3 years, I have had about 20 surgeries. I just spent a lot of time in bed with her- or when I recovered a little more, on the floor playing. Obviously when I was alone though, I couldn't even get to the floor without help. When I did have to be alone with her, we camped out in bed allll day until her dad got home.

So you can walk but not lift the baby? I would say you are going to have to pick a spot to hang out all day- keep water, diapers, etc in that spot. And have a way to secure the baby (like a baby chair? pillow barricade?) if you need to go get something or go to the bathroom.

I remember I had to be extra careful with the pain meds because I would get sleepy without warning. Sometimes you can recover a lot faster than doctors estimate, but you want to really really listen to your body and make sure you are not pushing anything to hard, ya know?

[JordanKX]

Originally Posted by SomethingAnonymous

So you can walk but not lift the baby? I would say you are going to have to pick a spot to hang out all day- keep water, diapers, etc in that spot. And have a way to secure the baby (like a baby chair? pillow barricade?) if you need to go get something or go to the bathroom.

Yes, I can walk -- I can walk today! But can't lift anything.

This is a great idea - we can definitely spend time on the floor! I'm so used to wearing him, to then the saucer, to his bouncer, to the table, etc., I was trying to find ways to accommodate that life, instead of just moving our life to the floor. Thanks!

[kdtmom2be]

I've just been placed on the waiting list for gall bladder surgery, not looking forward to it. When I discussed it with my doctor I got the impression that it wasn't REALLY don't lift anything over 10 lbs for 4-6weeks.... kind of like they tell you not to lift anything heavier than your baby for 6 weeks after a c-section. By 6 weeks it's not like you can magically lift something... don't strain yourself, if it hurts don't do it, don't push yourself, but get on with your life as best you can.

I assume there was an infection or several serious attacks that made it so you couldn't wait until your baby is older? That sucks The waiting list here is 12-18 months and my littlest is 9 months, so by then at least he should be walking. Good luck to you, I'm sure the time will fly by.

[JordanKX]

Originally Posted by kdtmom2be

When I discussed it with my doctor I got the impression that it wasn't REALLY don't lift anything over 10 lbs for 4-6weeks.... kind of like they tell you not to lift anything heavier than your baby for 6 weeks after a c-section. By 6 weeks it's not like you can magically lift something... don't strain yourself, if it hurts don't do it, don't push yourself, but get on with your life as best you can.

well, that's what I'm hoping. But talking with my surgeon and the post-op nurses, they all reaffirmed the no lifting thing, maybe not for 6 weeks, but definitely for a few. Fears of tearing the incision open, I'm assuming, more than anything. So, taking it easy... definitely. Still, he's a heavy guy. The last thing I'd want is a complication, you know? And end up BACK in the hospital.

For me, it was an attack and they found stones & inflammation that had to be taken care of immediately. Yuck. I'm assuming if you're on a waiting list, your attacks aren't so bad??! That's awesome! Good luck to you. And thanks for your advice!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I ended up having to pick my youngest up after mine was out for about a week he was 3 at the time. I was very careful about it and it didnt hurt me. If it had of hurt I would have known not to do it any more. As long as you are careful and keep the lifting to a minimum I think you will be fine.

[kdtmom2be]

Originally Posted by JordanKX

For me, it was an attack and they found stones & inflammation that had to be taken care of immediately. Yuck. I'm assuming if you're on a waiting list, your attacks aren't so bad??! That's awesome! Good luck to you. And thanks for your advice!

Yes, apparently I've been very lucky because my attacks are short in duration, 20-40 minutes. BUT, they are excruciating and I get "shocky", drop in BP and temp and all that. But since they are infrequent and happened right after the birth of my daughter and then again after the birth of my son and not since, we are just waiting, unless I have more, or more severe attacks, or develop an unexplained fever.

[sanguine_speed]

I had a cholestectomy (gall bladder removal) when dd was just a few weeks old. We'd held off until the end of the pregnancy so the baby wouldn't be at risk, but it really really needed to be done.

Was your surgery laproscopic? I've got to say, it wasn't nearly 6 weeks before I was back to normal. It's not comparable to a c-section even, unless you had a full open incision across your abdomen (rarely done, but sometimes in emergency).

It's a positive that your baby is still young and can't actually run from you. Perhaps not even crawling? As you recover you can do more in terms of going for walks with a stroller, etc. For now, just do your best. I also had to be very careful with the meds...they made me dizzy and nauseous.