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Baby A slept in her swing for about three nights, and then in her crib (with the mattress as high as it goes) thereafter. I didn't feel like picking her up out of the crib or the swing was too much. It certainly didn't hurt. I found that trying to use my abs alone to do anything hurt. I couldn't lean forward from a sitting position and had to pull myself off the couch, etc. I had to use my arms to push my body around in bed - couldn't just sit up without assistance from my arms/DH.

Either her bassinet or swing. It wasn't too horrible picking her up.. Sitting up was worse.

We bedshared. I got the Arm's Reach because DH was worried about safety, but as I read somewhere, it became the "world's largest nightstand." It still is, as I keep my book, glasses, etc. in there and baby sleeps in the bed with us. I have had two c/s and the first time I had baby in a crib. I found that to be much harder recovery-wise. This baby, for the first few nights I slept in a recliner and DH (wonderful DH!) brought her to me for night nursings and did the diaper changes, or she just slept on me. That was the best in terms of comfort. It does get better...

We have a couch in the nursery, so I fed her while sitting on that and used My Breast Friend.. I haven't tried feeding her while lying down yet. Everyone recommends it, but I have this irrational fear of trying it, falling asleep, and rolling over on her. Need to get over that.

I did the same as @Monkula: sitting up and then twisting to pick up LO out of the cosleeper was so painful in the beginning. Despite the warnings of bed sharing she slept next to me and we did side-lying for nursing. Now she is in the cosleeper for most of the night and next to me after her 4am feed.

The bad thing about the Arm's Reach is the "lip"-- it has a slight edge. Great for keeping baby inside and secure, but might as well have been the Great Wall for all I was able to lift baby over it several days post-section while I was lying down. And forget trying to sit up! I have seen some people build up the mattress part with foam. DH is an engineer (well, a farmineer he calls himself because he has an engineering degree, but farms) and he did that for us pre-baby, but I still found it easier to have her in the bed. But if you build up the mattress part you should just be able to slide baby over to you. That way you can mostly do it on your own. I hear you about wanting to afford DH some extra sleep, but I really think that if he is willing, I would accept all the help he offers in those first days. Soon you will find you are feeling better and can move more easily, and THAT would be a great time to repay him by letting him rest while you handle some nighttime parenting. The co-sleeper is nice, but if you are a former bed-sharer and are looking for something to just extend the length/reach of the bed, I think you will be disappointed. At least without some modifications. I second everyone who said that picking up/lifting baby was the least painful and that sitting up was hard. With my first I was married to someone else (first daughter's dad) and I remember that since she was in the nursery I had to try to get out of bed. He wouldn't help in the night, and once I fell to the floor trying to get out of bed to get to baby when she cried.

I used the Arms Reach mini cosleeper. It was nice to have her so close without worrying about rolling over on her (which I wouldn't worry about now), but I couldn't lift her up on my own while I was lying down, so I would get my husband to help me sit up so I could pick her up. I took her to the couch in her nursery to nurse her, because it was more comfortable than sitting up in bed. I liked the cosleeper more after I recovered a bit and could sit up easier.

In a pack n play right next to the bed on the bassinet level. I had DH sleep on that side of the bed and hand the baby to me until picking him up was easier.

We also used a rock n play which was right next to my side of the bed. I loved the convenience of it. DS was so comfortable in it. Unfortunately, I was not so cozy in my own bed. Couldn't sleep flat on my back, my side, or my belly so I slept kinda reclined on my bed wedge the first week or so.