Picking up the little guy....?

[billiejo]

Hello again friends!
I was just wondering if anyone can tell me how long I should expect to "not" be able to pick up my 1 year old charlie. I know this is going to be very difficult when he starts pulling on the pant leg. My mother will be here for about 5 weeks post op, and ofcourse my husband will be helping before and after work, but I cant imagin not being able to hold the little guy for months?!?! Also when do the drain tubes come out? within 24 hours? And, was that bad (the pulling them out)? Thanks everyone! I am sohappy to be part of this family! Billie Jo

 

[Ross]

Figure 2 months until you might think about picking him up. Drain tubes come out when your done draining, usually 24 hours. Both times I had mine removed wasn't bad, but some have reported pain. Let them know to give you some pain meds just before pulling and you should be ok.

 

[MNmom]

Hi there, I couldnt pick up anything over about 10 lbs after my first surgery for about 6 weeks. At that time I didnt have kids, but worked in my college campus daycare center in the infant room. I went back to work after a month, and just had the other infant teachers bring the babies to me! I could still hold them and rock them and play with them on the floor, I just couldnt pick them up. It is difficult though when its your own kids (I had two c-sections) when it is so automatic just to pick up your kids! Your body will tell you!

 

[tobagotwo]

Six weeks for the first pickup. No "mom" pickups until eight weeks. Mom picups are the 40-times a day pickups that become part of routine.

This includes handoffs and unchaperoned lap time. You cannot guarantee that you can grab him if he struggles or rolls (and they do!).

Also: don't drive until your doctor says you can. You may find that if you have an accident, your insurance may balk at covering you, as you weren't cleared to be physically able to drive a car. You certainly won't be able to yank a steering wheel laterally in an emergency.

Drain tubes are usually in for two days. They don't hurt. Reactions about them coming out are mixed. I had one big one, and it just went schloomp! and it was out with no pain at all. The tiny, temporary, only-if-needed pacemaker wires burned a little when they came out, though.

Best wishes,

 

[Bina]

I agree on 8-9 weeks. My daughter was quite heavy at one yr, and I would not have been able to pick her up. If you sit on a very low stool or on the floor he can still climb into your lap for a snuggle session.
My single, big, drain tube came out with a big "slurp"....ewww.
The pacer wires were a bit more sticky and I yelled, mostly for effect!

 

[Gusdog]

Neither the drainage tubes (I had two) nor the pacing wires hurt very much coming out. I was worried about it feeling "weird" for them to come out, and it did a bit, but really wasn't bad at all. The anticipation was much worse than the actual event, as is usually the case with me.

 

[pamela]

I had 2 drains for both surgeries, they came out fine, one was a little sticky and burnt on exit the second time, but no worse than hmmm.. no worse than getting a pap. The pacer wires coming off the first time were really gone in a flash. They didn't remove them until late in the afternoon thus closing my travel window and resulting in another night in the hospital but that was just erring on the side of caution. My stay was uneventful but I was grateful for the good rest before the long drive home in late winter.

The second time the wires felt like a thread was being pulled from a seam... a bit unravelling, I guess. But 4 hours later I was on the road home. We stopped for 20 minutes stretch and walk every 40 minutes of driving so the 3 hour trip became 4. It was nice though and since it was late summer the weather made our little explores kinda fun. We saw things we'd normally miss when we make the drive with only one stop.

As far as picking up the young man, you'll be able to cuddle him on your bed and as everyone's mentioned, not being able to lift him won't mean you won't be able to cuddle him. He'll likely be really worried about mommy having an owie from something he did to hurt you. It'll be very reassuring for both of you to hug gently but often.

Take heart.

 

[Freddie]

Pacer wires??? I didn't even know I had them - they came out about 24 hours after surgery. BUT them drainage tubs....I didn't know I those either......they were removed while I was still in ICU about 22 hours after surgery. With my arms stretched out beside me.....nothing to hold on to and no one near enough to smack that Dr. Bessy pulled them out - 2 at the same time.
Lets just say, the procedure was painful.....but the pain didn't last long.

 

[hensylee]

you will be given a schedule before you leave the hospital (or should be given one) about how much you can lift in each phase. It's 5 lbs to start and 10 lbs in the next phase, then 25 lbs in the next, after that you're ok. not to worry about your precious child; even when you can't lift him, you can sit and rock and lullaby him.

My nurse practitioner took out the tubes, didn't tell me he was going to do it, just slurped them out - no pain. The pacer wires stayed in till I was ready to come home.