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Honestly, I would be hiring some help. Even a college student that could help with the baby and small tasks. C Sections are no joke for the first 2 1/2 weeks. My 2nd was easier, but still very painful. Then your sitter could take the baby outside the office while you attend meetings, drive you there (if you are still on narcotics/not released to drive) and help at home. A new baby is a big deal and would be miserable to tackle alone.

I had a c-section at 39 weeks exactly. I went in on a Sunday, was discharged by Tuesday, my inlaws flew in Wednesday, DH's MBA graduation was Saturday, and ILs left on Sunday. During that time, I definitely went out to eat with them 1-2 times a day, cooked dinners, went grocery shopping, went baby clothes shopping at Target with MIL - nothing really strenuous, but it still involved me getting dressed and going out of the house consistently each day. On top of that, baby had jaundice and weight issues, so I had to go in for pediatrician appointments just about every other day for 2 weeks.

It was doable. I was tired and sore and had to stay really on top of my pain meds, but baby just slept most of the time when we were out and about (until he was about 3 weeks old and woke up).

After my in-laws left we had a mommy's helper come around to shadow me a few hours a week and just be an extra pair of hands. I would HIGHLY recommend that. DS1 was in daycare, but on the weekends she would help run him around while I watched the baby, or she would take the baby so I could get a shower and take a nap, or whatever. I think having someone like that with you when you have to run to meetings would be extremely helpful, even if to just hold the baby and keep them quiet, especially if there are some set in stone meetings you know way in advance you will need coverage for.

I breastfed, but I had no issues with using formula when we were out and about with my in-laws and if I had to go to meetings, I would basically do the same thing.

DH runs his own business and was getting his MBA and could not take any leave. Basically, he took ONE day off when both kids were born. He just had a mobile office (laptop rolling bag, chargers, Wi-Fi hotspot, headset, etc). and dragged it everywhere we went. He worked out of my hospital room, peds waiting rooms, Panera, etc. He had some staff that was able to gate-keep his calls and appointments and uses Appointy to get his clients to self-register for calls/meetings. If you need someone to handle calls and scheduling for you, perhaps you can look into a virtual assistant or a call service - they are pretty inexpensive, especially if you just need it temporarily. VAs need some time to train for your needs, so you may want to get one now and have them trained by the time your baby is born.

I would second trying to get the RCS at 39 weeks if you have to be at that event on the 22nd. Basically, I did the same thing because my husband's graduation was ON my 40 week due date and I HAD to be home and settled before my inlaws flew in. By 2 weeks post-section, I was off pain meds and could drive, milk was in, baby was starting to get the hang of nursing, and feeding consistently on a 2.5-3 hour schedule that I could have a loose idea of what my days looked like (nights were another matter).

Also, if you have struggled with PPD/PPA at ALL, I would basically start on Zoloft immediately to help prevent any bad crashing that could happen right when work needs you.

I own my own business, and as far as my clients know, I'm out from baby's birthday until 8 weeks after. BUT, the reality is that I will have emails (inquiries for new projects, etc.) that cannot be ignored for 8 weeks. There's also a chance baby could come early, and I won't have some work done before she's here.

Realistically, I will go 7 days without checking my work email or doing any work related tasks. I'll have an auto-responder that explains when I'll be checking in. Then, I will likely check email a few days per week until I'm back full time. If I have tasks left on my to-list from before baby, I'll have to find time to work on them a bit ... that stresses me a bit, but it's the reality of owning my own business.

So, I do have to set clear boundaries (for my physical and mental health), but I also very-much understand the reality of everything being on me, having a viable business, and the fact I can't just disappear for 8 weeks without it majorly hurting my bookings.

Lastly, DH is taking 5 weeks off, and we'll probably have family coming into town to help. I feel like I'll be able to achieve balance because of that.

Have you talked honestly about this with your OB? I'm all for doing what works for you but I worry about you actually hurting yourself I think the suggestion to hire help or enlist someone to go with you to events and so forth is a good one. Even lifting the carseat, the diaper bag, climbing stairs with the baby, etc. isn't a good idea so soon after your C-section!

@T.H.O.U.: totally agree! My husband will take a few days off and the kids will be off for the summer. So I'll be shlepping the older kids to camp and what not.

In addition to what others have said, I would absolutely push for some kind of leave benefit - even if you are working 25% time, I would make sure you get paid more than that (I'm reading between lines that as part time employee you may not be getting any leave pay)

Can you video call into some of those meetings? I think that would be easier than dragging yourself and the baby into the office several times a week?

@Mrs. Blue: I feel ya. I'm coming more from a place where mine is now 5. I took more time than you but I was also self employed (but just doing contract work here and there) but I was back writing reports when she was 6 weeks. But I'm surrounded by family and coworkers who are having their first and it seems like this is THE END OF THE WORLD. I thought maybe I was remembering it wrong. Yes. It's hard but holy cow, life goes on! So to see so many people discussing how they continied to work, etc was a bit vindicating for me

I hope you get some time to chill and that you're not too hard on yourself all around, especially in your personal life. You sound amazingly organized, dedicated and capable. Im sure you've got this

@Mrs. Blue: that's the spirit!