https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:28:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-c-section-and-nicu-time-with-older-los-at-home#post-2787101 Fri, 17 Nov 2017 10:39:07 +0000 jhd 2787101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: so much great advice! Thank you! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-c-section-and-nicu-time-with-older-los-at-home#post-2786931 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 16:39:40 +0000 gingerbebe 2786931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a repeat C-section when DS1 was 20 months old. About halfway through my pregnancy we shifted most toddler care to my husband. DH had already handled bathtime and half the bedtimes, but he went to doing almost all of the bedtime routine. He also did any MOTN waking or sick care for DS1 during my pregnancy. Most weekends, they had father/son dates to the park so I could rest, but also to cement "their" activities. We did this knowing I would have a C-section and a newborn to care for. DS1 is super routine driven, so this was key.</p> <p>DS1 was my NICU baby. I liked having my Boppy there with me for nursing and also to sorta shield the incision. If you need to pump, they will provide one at the hospital, but not a pumping bra, so I would pack one if necessary. Both times post C-section, I was horrifically itchy from the meds leaving my system. The best thing I found was a combination of Aveeno cortisone cream (it was the longest lasting), with Benadryl itch GEL (fastest/easiest to apply). If your hospital doesn't provide a belly binder, I would buy one I found them very necessary the first 5-7 days. Oh, and for some reason, day 4 or 5 was when I had the WORST postpartum swelling after both C-sections. My legs were like logs - so gross. Don't be freaked out by it. Drink a LOT of water postpartum and get walking as soon as possible. I recovered extremely fast after both my sections. Also, DON'T be a hero - take your pain meds on schedule. The soreness doesn't really kick in for a few days and you don't want to be cavalier about the meds and then be dying 5 days later. I was on a combo of Norco and heavy ibuprofen for about 10 days to 2 weeks, and then I was able to wean to just ibuprofen. </p> <p>You also want a 10ft iPhone cord and a good hand cream because you have to wash your hands constantly in NICU. I liked wearing a nursing tank with DH's huge zipper hoodie on top for clothing. I could nurse quickly and zip up, or I could pump while wearing the zip up over the pump gear. Your baby will likely be in a diaper, but I found hand-knit hats stayed on better than the hospital hats, and sometimes they let you put on booties or socks. If your child can be dressed and they need lines in, you want snap sleepers or kimono shirts, not zipper PJs. If you will be sleeping at the hospital in a NICU parent's room or something, I'd bring a sleep mask with me.</p> <p>At this age, you could talk to your son in advance about how Mommy will have a big owie on her belly and that he can't touch it. You can even give him Bandaids or something to put on your shirt for you if you want. It may be something you work on as your pregnancy proceeds (i.e. not let him sit in your lap, let him side right next to you instead, teach him to be gentle with the pregnant belly, etc) so that its not that different once the baby arrives. I also kept a pillow or Boppy in my lap for a long time after the baby was born to block my toddler. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-c-section-and-nicu-time-with-older-los-at-home#post-2786928 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 16:24:12 +0000 jhd 2786928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@iluvboba637: ps i was going to say, what an awesome routine you had going, but it must have been so exhausting! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-c-section-and-nicu-time-with-older-los-at-home#post-2786926 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 16:23:04 +0000 jhd 2786926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tiramisu: thanks so much for your reply. i'm relieved to hear your c-section recovery went better. i added that c-section salve to my list of things to purchase. LO has a major mommy preference. i've been SAH/WAH his whole life and i know we will both struggle with the separation at times. we're going to work on changing up his routine and letting DH, granny, etc. help with things that I normally do. like this am DH took him to school, even though I usually do that. thanks for sharing your experience! it helps me! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-c-section-and-nicu-time-with-older-los-at-home#post-2786924 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 16:19:30 +0000 jhd 2786924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@iluvboba637: this helps me so much. so many great tips! sorry i took forever to reply. my mom was already thinking ahead to how we can keep a really stable routine for my older son. he likes to know what to expect and for things to be the same! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-c-section-and-nicu-time-with-older-los-at-home#post-2786922 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 16:17:27 +0000 jhd 2786922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsbubbletea: thank you! :heart: you are sweet to think of me. i'm 21 weeks so there's a lot of time to get everything figured out. i'm just anxious and making lists, pinning products people suggest, etc. is helping me feel more in control. ;) how's your new little one? is your son enjoying being a big brother? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-c-section-and-nicu-time-with-older-los-at-home#post-2786869 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 13:36:45 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2786869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: hi ! I saw another one of your posts and wanted to check in with you, but haven’t gotten around to it. I don’t have any advice about the c section or nicu time, but just wanted to say thinking of you, and i hope your pregnancy is going well. How much longer do you have? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-c-section-and-nicu-time-with-older-los-at-home#post-2786493 Wed, 15 Nov 2017 01:26:32 +0000 iluvboba637 2786493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have a csection but I can share my experience with an unexpected NICU stay and a 3y/o at the time. </p> <p>We talked to my son a lot about what will happen when mommy goes to the hospital to have the baby. He came to visit right after I gave birth and we explained that little sis needed some extra care and would be home with us soon. We showed him pictures on my phone. I face timed him a lot while I was still in the hospital. Once I was released to go home my husband, my mom, and I took shifts at the NICU. My mom lives with us and DS was still at home/Grandma care at the time. </p> <p>My husband would go visit Dd at the NICU ~4-5:00 am (they allow almost 24 hour visitation from parents except between 6-7? Am and pm When they changed shifts. He always went in the early morning before the night nurse got off her shift so he could get an update from her rather than hearing it from someone else. He would leave and go to work during that block of time that they did not allow visitors. </p> <p>I would wake up and have breakfast with DS then quickly rush to the NICU by 9:00 because that's when the doctors did their rounds. I would always go home around noon to have lunch with DS and also pump. He was used to having lunch with me because I was only working part time at the time. Then I would put DS to nap because that was routine for us. As soon as he fell asleep I would rush back to the NICU and go home ~4:00 pm to switch with my mom who would stay at the NICU until they kicked her out during shift change. Again routine was that I always the one to prepare and have dinner and get ready for bedtime with DS. Once we put him to bed my husband and I would go back to the NICU together until -11pm-12am. </p> <p>Every afternoon when I came home from the NICU I would share pictures and updates with him. To our family, keeping the routine so that we didn't throw DS into a frenzy causing tamper tantrum was the most important. I didn't need any other stress from him and we trusted and loved the NICU staff dearly!! </p> <p>Our NICU also encouraged us to call for updates at anytime when we were not there. They also told me that I could pump in their lactation room. </p> <p>I recommend bringing the boppy or whatever nursing pillow you love to the NICU if they allow you to try to nurse. After they took out DDs breathing tube they allowed me to try to nurse her but would supplement if necessary. Pump as much as possible if you plan on breastfeeding. Fortunately I was able to pump enough for the two weeks of NICU time and they didn't have to give DD formula but I would have been ok with supplement with formula too. </p> <p>I bought lots of new snacks and lots of little toys from the dollar store and dollar section at target. Whenever he was having a super hard time allowing me to pump or go the NICU one of those snacks or toys would magically pop up. I know this is not the best strategy but honestly I was tired and stressed and needed him off my back rather than dealing w him crying. Luckily none of Those extra little toys during the 2 weeks of NICU ruined him. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-c-section-and-nicu-time-with-older-los-at-home#post-2786484 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 23:37:06 +0000 tiramisu 2786484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: I have some experience with this, although my DD was younger (barely 2) when my DS was born via emergency c section at 25 weeks. Our NICU stay was over 3 months long due to his prematurity. </p> <p> Does your older LO have a major mommy preference? If so, I'd recommend involving dad alot more now to make the transition easier when you're recovering from the c-section and in the hospital. Also try to arrange as much help as possible with family, grandparents, friends, etc.</p> <p> I tried to keep my daughters schedule as normal as possible while my son was in the NICU. I sent her to daycare at the same time each day, went to the NICU, then picked her up and kept her dinner/bedtime routine. I basically accepted that I couldn't be at the NICU 24/7. </p> <p>If you're planning to breastfeed/pump I'd recommend getting lots of extra pump parts if your LO can't breastfeed right away. I'd also recommend this C-mama healing salve by Earth Mama Angel Baby. </p> <p>Like others mentioned, try to take it easy although i know its easier said than done. I had bleeding for almost 6 weeks i think from walking so much. Overall tho i think my recovery from the csection was easier than the vaginal delivery i had with my daughter when i had horrible tearing. </p> <p> :heart: Hugs. Hope everything goes well and you have a very short NICU stay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-c-section-and-nicu-time-with-older-los-at-home#post-2786442 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 19:02:11 +0000 jhd 2786442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@charlotte: thank you so much! Such great ideas. Yes, recovery and over doing it are very much a worry for me. I had a vaginal delivery with lots of tearing last time and I know I had a tougher time healing because I was walking too much too soon. I hope you and your little ones are all doing well now! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-c-section-and-nicu-time-with-older-los-at-home#post-2786406 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 15:01:45 +0000 charlotte 2786406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I recently had my 3rd c-section and my baby needed a couple weeks of NICU time. A few random little tips:</p> <p>-bring your favorite lotion for after c-section. I always itch after them and it helped a lot and made me feel more normal even though I couldn't shower yet.</p> <p>-organize lots of help (family or babysitters) and loosely plan your NICU visiting schedule ahead of time if you can. Since you won't be driving for a little bit, think about how you will get to and from the hospital for NICU visits. My husband and I had my mom or nanny watch our older kids and we rode to the NICU together. My mom and sister also took NICU visiting shifts when I needed to be home with the others or my husband worked.</p> <p>-listen when they tell you not to overdo it. I had my first incision infection this time from walking the parking lot to the NICU every day and sitting in an awkward position in the chair there. Use the wheelchair escort things that the hospital provides! The infection was the most painful thing I have ever experienced and all of my doctors believed it was from all of my activity those first few weeks.</p> <p>-if your 3 year old is sad / curious about why baby isnt home (my 4 year old was), have him make a sign for the baby's NICU crib or decorations for coming home. We just told him our little guy needed a little more hospital time with his doctors and he was okay with it, but enjoyed celebrating his brother by making him things.</p> <p>Thinking of you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-c-section-and-nicu-time-with-older-los-at-home#post-2786397 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 13:29:06 +0000 jhd 2786397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: sorry you went through that! We have already been talking about how we will go to the hospital to have the baby and he will be with grandparents but that’s great advice to talk through exactly what will happen. Like bath time and them taking him to school. And I didn’t think about prepping him for seeing me in the hospital. That really helps, thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-c-section-and-nicu-time-with-older-los-at-home#post-2786395 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 13:23:35 +0000 Mae 2786395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't have any NICU time thankfully, but I did have a planned c-section and an unplanned second hospital stay for me of 4 days a week after my c-section. The biggest things that helped were lots of talking in advance about what to expect (that I wouldn't be able to pick her up for a while, wouldn't be able to put her to bed for a while, would be in the hospital for several days, that grandma/papa would be staying with her), and having lots of family help (if possible). </p> <p>We talked for weeks beforehand about all these things, and she got really excited about the fact that grandma and papa would get to give her bath, put her to bed, and get her from school. I feel like that really helped with her being away from me for a couple days. One thing I wished I'd prepared her more for was how I'd look after birth. She came to see me the day Zoe was born, and I was in a hospital gown with lots of cords and wires still. It really freaked her out. I hadn't thought to explain all that before. </p> <p>And of course having help is just wonderful if you have people around. We tried to focus a lot on how fun it was that she got to spend so much time with my parents, and then with my second unexpected hospital stay my brother/SIL helped a bit to watch both the kids and she thought it was really cool that they came to play a few days in a row. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-c-section-and-nicu-time-with-older-los-at-home#post-2786388 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 13:04:57 +0000 jhd 2786388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Any tips for preparing yourself and family (we have a 3yo) for a planned c-section and NICU time? Things I should purchase ahead of time to help my recovery or save to my Amazon wish list for easy ordering later? Tips for what worked for your family, or what didn't work?</p> <p>We've done the NICU thing before, but not the c-section or care for older sibling while going through it. </p>