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Becky Parker
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| Posted: May 29 2007 at 5:27am | IP Logged
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My husband and I were discussing co-sleepers this past weekend. I was expressing my desire to have one and said how they are supposed to be helpful for those of us who have to have c-sections. My dh said he doesn't know how. Since I don't nurse laying down, he said the act of twisting my torso while sitting up in order to pick up the baby doesn't sound any easier than just sitting up and getting the baby out of a bassinet. So now I'm not sure which would be better. We have to get one or the other because after our last baby was born we got rid of a lot of baby stuff. Any advise on this?
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Fuzzy
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Becky, have you had a c-section before? I have not had one myself (but have had abdominal surgeries) and I agree with you on this. I did not nurse lying down, but I would sit in the bed and nurse, so getting UP to get the baby, and then getting BACK in bed (climbing is the better word) with the baby would be so much harder. I think a co-sleeper would be easier on you, in that it will keep you from climbing in and out of the bed, and I think a bassinet would still be hard on you.
HTH!
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JennGM
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There are a few other threads on cosleepers, just search for co-sleeper or Arms Reach.
Elizabeth mentioned in this thread that her co-sleeper really worked well after her c-section.
I am trying to figure these things out for myself, too.
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JennGM
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| Posted: May 29 2007 at 8:25am | IP Logged
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And I agree with Fuzzy. Getting out of bed was the hardest thing for me. I don't nurse lying down, either, but I do thing the co-sleeper might work. Bottom line, there's pain especially the first week. I had dh hand me the baby, change the diapers all the first weeks anyway.
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JSchaaf
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I haven't had a csection but still found it very hard the first night home getting up from and back into bed.
Put the cosleeper on dad's side. Then NOBODY has to get out of bed, and you can avoid twisting your torso to bring the baby over to you.
Jennifer
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mellyrose
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I had a c-section a month ago and have a co-sleeper. I LOVE it. I can reach into the co-sleeper and bring the baby into bed easily. I don't nurse lying down when the baby is this small either, but I sit up with a tv/lounge pillow behind me to nurse in bed. I was home in less than 48 hours after my c-section, and she has slept in the co-sleeper ever since. (well, when she's not sleeping on me on the couch or recliner - LOL)
It's easy to lay her back into the co-sleeper when she's done eating, and it's also easy for me to reach over and keep a hand on her while we're both sleeping. I didn't really experience much twisting/turning in getting her and putting her back.
The biggest problem the first couple weeks was the fact that I had to scoot down to the bottom of the bed in order to get out of bed myself. Well, I still have to scoot down past the co-sleeper, but it's not a painful issue anymore. We have the wooden, sleigh style co-sleeper which I think is bigger than the others sold -- and I still have my bedside table -- so that meant more of the bed is closed off. Keeping my bedside table was important though, bc I keep my water, the remote, my ipod, the nightlight, a book, etc. on it. I nurse in bed quite a lot the first few months so I can catch extra sleep when possible.
This is the first babe we had a co-sleeper and I much prefer it to a regular bassinette.
Just my experience! Good Luck deciding what to do.
Melanie
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Angel
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I agree -- getting out of bed and back in after a c-section is much harder than just sitting up. (I've never been able to nurse lying down either.) Although to be honest, I think during the time I was in the most pain I was mostly in the recliner and the baby(ies) slept on me. But we used a co-sleeper beyond that point with babies #2 and #3 and found it worked pretty well.
An added question: we now have a high king-size bed. Do they make cosleepers that are taller for these kinds of beds? Our co-sleeper didn't make the move, so we need something new.
--Angela
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teachingmom
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Angel wrote:
| An added question: we now have a high king-size bed. Do they make cosleepers that are taller for these kinds of beds? Our co-sleeper didn't make the move, so we need something new. |
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I have a rather tall bed and bought the extension legs for the cosleeper. I use all three of the attachments in order to make the cosleeper come up to the correct height for my bed. I think I found the details regarding the height requirements on the Arms Reach website. It's possible that your bed may be too tall to work with a cosleeper safely. They only suggest using 3 extensions at the most, and I could see the cosleeper becoming unstable if it were built up more.
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I finally got one for #5 after lots of thought and discussion. (thank you Irene for all your advice/opinions) I have not yet used it - but dh has put it up and I have done a "trial run" and I have been trying to figure out the easiest way to do organize things. We put a floor lamp up so that I do not have to have my bedside table right close and so I can get out of bed at the top. I am still trying to figure out water and alarm clock, cd player etc - I have a basket on the floor with all my books, rosary etc I am wondering about whether to use the side pocket on the cosleeper for the bottle and clock.
I just like the idea of not getting out bed, c-section or not and of the baby being so close. I also have a 3 year old who jumps into our bed often in the early mornings - so having an infant in the bed would not work.
The other thing is that you could get a changing pad and even change the diaper in the cosleeper without getting out of bed - especially in the first few weeks.
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Becky Parker
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Thanks everyone! Your replies were very helpful. I think I'll just print them off and let dh read them!
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hopalenik
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I have C-sections and I nurse lying down...I think it is way easier. Toss up though between twisting and sitting. We borrowed a cosleeper and had the cheap fold up bassinet-$45....can't remember the brand. Why don't you make the decision while you are in the hospital? You will have a good gauge at day 2 as to what kind of movement you can do and how the baby is going to nurse, then maybe you hubby could slip up and get what works....
Holly
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KerryK
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I have had three c sections, and used both a regular pack and play with bassinet and the co-sleeper. The co-sleeper, which I am still using now, at three months, has been much easier for me. Scooting down the bed was hard at first, but got easier with time, and I loved being able to easily reach out and touch the baby easily, as well as grab him for nursing without getting up.
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: June 05 2007 at 7:24am | IP Logged
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Well thank you everyone! This has been so helpful. Last weekend a friend had a baby shower for me and one of the gifts that they all went in on was a co-sleeper! I am very excited to give it a try. Our bed is the height it is made for so I wont need leg extensions. I kind of think the 4 inch lip on the side makes it a little more difficult to just slide baby over, but I understand the safety regulations. Anyway, now we're all set for baby and I'm counting the days!!
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: cosleepers and c sections
