experienced mamas... how soon before you were up & around?

[Sanguine]

I know everybody's labor, body, recovery is different, but for those of you who have done this before... how long was it before you were ready for a day out with the babe? Our absolute highlight-of-the-year social event is coming up (the Common Ground Fair, put on by the Maine organic farmers&gardeners assn... the mother of all hippie fairs!) the 22nd-24th. I've been going since I was 6, and I'd love to take the little nipper. Silly us--we imagined he'd be a couple of weeks old by then, and were totally up for taking him along in a sling. But now... hmm. I might be just going into labor then!

I'm not trying to plan or stress. I'm just bored and might as well speculate! of course, if I'm somehow still pregnant, I might just go anyway, since Midwives of Maine have a booth, and I have several EMT & doctor friends who volunteer every year and would probably do a bang-up job of assisting with any complications or transport. hold it.. maybe I'm not kidding... that would be a hell of a fair story, anyway...

[mum2be]

Hey there! I was wondering the same thing too. I'm a fellow Mainer and just got my Common Ground Fair schedule in the mail and there are SOOOOO many things I want to do!

I'm hoping for a speedy recovery so we can take the babe with us and at least enjoy a day there.

[Sanguine]

Wow... small world!! Yes, I've realized that no matter what, our three-day-encampment, volunteer in the kitchen and sleep in the truck routine is out for this year.

For those of you who are not lucky enough to know and love this fair... there's a children's vegetable costume parade several times a day, and I've been amusing myself imagining what tiny edible plant we could dress Teddy up as. At this point, maybe I'll just wear a red shirt and we can be a tomato.

[Guest*]

I'm 8 days post-partum today and up and around, but hardly ready for an outing.

I went to the mailbox today, it was uphill on the way back and I think I overdid it for the day. I'm still very sore and healing, and I didn't have much damage (1 perineal tear that didn't require stitching, but I got 1 stitch anyway).

It's still very hard to go up and down stairs, so I limit it to a few times a day, and I can't stand for more than 15 minutes. Bending over has to be done delicately and I'm only lifting my 23 pound toddler when it's absolutely unavoidable (and it kills me everytime!). My new baby is the heaviest thing I will lift otherwise.

Wow, I sound rough. I'm actually doing very well though and if I continue to heal at this pace, I'll probably feel 100x better over the weekend. I think my first "outing" will be to the 2 week appointment with my midwife next week, then we'll see how I feel after that.

With dd, I didn't leave the house for a whole month, except to go sit outside. I just didn't have the endurance to handle being away from the comfort of home for very long.

[crazyeight]

with my first after a week i was up for outings but i am not sure about a lot of walking. i think if its subsequent babies its harder cause your exhausted from the change in them too. if its your first and your young and/or have had a good pregnancy and you don't have major tearing, incredibly long labor, or anything more than the normal home birth would have then you can certainly hope that you'll be doing great in just a week or so but never overdue it!! i don't know how much walking you will want to do even though it sounds like fun!!

[Sanguine]

Hmmm... yeah... never say never, I suppose, but it probably would be a little ridiculous of me. Unless I got somebody to pick me up at the car in one of the security golf carts and drive me over to a nice spot near a bathroom where our Fair friends could come visit *me*... sort of like the queen receiving subjects.

Thanks for the reality check!!

[SammyLucasNHarper]

I am typically up and around pretty quickly. But when thats the only choice you have, you adapt (dh doesnt take any time off after baby. Hes back to work first work day after I have the baby)

My friend had a baby a year ago and I visited her about 2hrs after she had the baby and she was up and running around...like she hadnt had a baby at all. That was shocking to me! LOL

[mojumi]

I'm usually up and about in a day or two. I'm not running marathons, but I'm hardly incapacitated. I do like to get out for walks as soon as possible, but I usually limit my time and don't go fast or do hills. I've been to a Renaissance Festival with a two week old in a sling, no problem. (We did take plenty of sitting breaks.) It helps if dh takes a turn carrying the wee one and carrying any 'stuff'. I've also found the best way to get more space at a shared picnic table is to start breastfeeding ... generally I end up with at least a whole bench to myself, LOL!

I don't see why you couldn't go, as long as you recognize that you will need to pace yourself more than you are used to, and as long as you don't have unreasonable expectations for the experience (like sleeping in the truck and working in the kitchen, lol, although that sounds like fun). Anyway, how cool to have photos of you and the new little one at an event you've been attending for so long.

[mooliette]

Not in your DDC, but had to chime in as another Mainer I've been a parent volunteer for the past 3 years with my boys classes. This is the 1st year I'm unable to go

We plan on spending most of Sunday at the CGF Susan, how far away from home are you from there?

I was out of the house 3 days after Alex was born, I went to the town hall to fill out all the birth certificate information. That was as far as I wanted to go lol

With Sammy I liked the idea of the 40 days seclusion, but only made it a week I wanted people to meet my beautiful boy

Wishing you ladies happy birth and gentle healing vibes!!

[blissful_maia]

See, it must vary a lot from woman to woman, because I had the total opposite experience of most on this thread! I was grocery shopping maybe 48 hours postpartum, and going for a daily 1-2 hour walk after a week. After the first 24-48 hours I was able to do all my laundry, cooking etc. without feeling overwhelmed. Of course, if I had felt differently I would have relaxed and held back but it was what felt natural and right to me. And I really hope it happens this way again, since I am a midwifery student and I hope to return to my 4 courses after a week or two, with baby in tow! I would say just to do what feels right to you and your baby. He/she will let you know, and so will your body.

[Sanguine]

Mooliette... something like 2 hours. EVERYTHING is about an hour from me... so the first one doesn't count! I can't quite tell--do you mean you can't go at all this year, or that you *will* be there on sunday but not your usual day?

It really does feel like home away from home... I'm more worried I guess about the car ride fatigue part, since I would just probably park myself in the common kitchen volunteer area and not try to walk around.

Sounds like there's just as much variation in recovery as there is in labor and delivery! I guess we'll just have to play it by ear.

[mooliette]

Originally Posted by Sanguine

I can't quite tell--do you mean you can't go at all this year, or that you *will* be there on sunday but not your usual day?

I'm sorry, I usually go on Friday's with the boys and school. This year DH and I have to skip out of the Friday visit, we have a midwife appointment so we'll take the whole family on Sunday. Woo hoo, the boys get to experience this twice

Sorry about that lol, DH was trying to force me out of the house right after I started this post. I didn't want to not read and respond.

[Sanguine]

hey... no problem! I figured you were being totally clear and I was just too estrogen soaked to comprehend English!

If we do get to go, Sunday would probably be the day. (we just got a sub for our radio show, so even if for some reason I'm still pregnant, we're free that day!) Maybe we could meet at the vegetable parade!

[mainerma]

hey girlies...we're headed to cgf on saturday...keeping a 20+ year tradition...and its also the way we now celebrate the b-day for my 3yo (born fair weekend)...i'm 9mos pregs so i will be slower on foot for sure. with my 1st...well we skipped that year! i had a dream easy delivery and good health but even at 2 weeks postpartum lifting a bag of groceries or carseat would really up the flow--ick. I was certainly out and about right away but the walks were short and slow. Most important it seems to just relax and enjoy peaceful times--day to day--hour to hour. The couple weeks surrounding birthing were very much an unpredictable play it as it comes time for us. Last year we camped with the 2yo--this year I know that I'll be more comfy in my bed so we are not doing the overnight thing. Again...just taking it as it comes. Enjoy the fair--or the spirit of the fair from afar if the nest ends up being the place to be.

[mainerma]

hey girlies...we're headed to cgf on saturday...keeping a 20+ year tradition...and its also the way we now celebrate the b-day for my 3yo (born fair weekend)...i'm 9mos pregs so i will be slower on foot for sure. with my 1st...well we skipped that year! i had a dream easy delivery and good health but even at 2 weeks postpartum lifting a bag of groceries or carseat would really up the flow--ick. I was certainly out and about right away but the walks were short and slow. Most important it seems to just relax and enjoy peaceful times--day to day--hour to hour. The couple weeks surrounding birthing were very much an unpredictable play it as it comes time for us. Last year we camped with the 2yo--this year I know that I'll be more comfy in my bed so we are not doing the overnight thing. Again...just taking it as it comes. Enjoy the fair--or the spirit of the fair from afar if the nest ends up being the place to be.

[veganf]

We went to the Boston Vegetarian Food Festival when my first was 2 weeks old. It was great fun. We didn't get out much with #2 because it was January and he had colic. So probably not for 2 months at least! With #3 it was about 2 weeks again.