Hello!
Thought I'd add my bit. I was sleeved three weeks ago (25.01) and have two boys aged 6 and 2. My youngest is VERY active and doesn't even had a mid day sleep. I was in hospital 3 nights and came home on the 4th day. The day I came home my eldest was at school and the youngest was at day care. To be honest I had a bit of a melt down the day I came home and found everything overwhelming so was glad the boys weren't there. My husband took the rest of that first week off work but that was all he could manage.

So the following week I had to do the school run and care for my 2 year old. I also went back to work two days that week. To be honest being at work (I have a desk job) was more relaxing than being at home and I probably got more rest there.

The first week was pretty tough and I really needed my husband around. The kids were good and I showed them my tummy so they knew to be careful with me, but definitely no changing nappies or baths. I also wasn't good at preparing any food that week so I'd made up lots of meals and froze them before my surgery which was a huge help.

The second week I still had some gas pain but was much more mobile and felt okay. Definitely no lifting of my two year old (had to get him to climb into his car seat in the car by himself, changed nappies on the floor rather than change table, no gymbaroo, no bathing) in the second week.

Now i'm in week three and am totally mobile and can do everything. No limitations at all and no pain whatsoever.

I hope that helps! I find this site really useful and hope I can give back a little than I have gained from it!

Best of luck.

Hi
It sounds like you have had your questions answer below, but I will added to it just incase it helps. I have been recently sleeved and have a 3 year old boy. I was told that I couldn't lift anything heavy for 2 weeks post op and tried to stick to that. But 3 days after surgery I was up and walking around the city with my boy and doing all the other stuff. I just made sure I didn't lift him up. I would sit on the lounge and play and stuff. I had to remind him several times that "Daddy had a sore tummy", but from the ocassional knock or accident things have been fine.

For the last week I have been caring for my boy while my wife is at work and everything has been fine. You will have lots more energy post op. I am finding that I am playing alot more with my family and I am only 2 1/2 weeks post OP.

Best of luck.

Hopefully soon I can tell you... I have 4 kids ages 7,4,2 and nearly 5months (formula bubs) so Im thinking for me it will be ok as I have had c/s's for all the kids so I have helped look after them while recovering. The bonus this time will be hopefully sleeping all night in hospital and not having a baby to get up to...oh BLISS...lol...I sleep like a log and I actually love sleeping in hospitals.... the only thing I will be spewing about is no great private hospital food...haha bugger but heh thats why Im here...

I dont actually have kids, so I cant comment on that side of things, so i hope you dont mind me posting LOL...

I was very suprised at how well i healed up. I stayed in hospital 5 days, then had a further week of work (so 2 weeks in total). I found that by week 3 I was pretty much back to normal (still watched what i was lifting etc) but in terms of cooking and cleaning etc I didnt have a problem. I started driving again when i got home (which was a few days after i got out of hospital as we had to stay in perth a few more days).

I know everyone heals up different, but i reckon you will be suprised at how quickly you come good!

Aaaah, I am dreaming about 5 nights in hospital LOL Alas, I'm pretty sure unless there are complications I may only be in for 2 nights.

How fabulous your husband can take 2 weeks off! That should be a huge help.

I've purposely booked my surgery for the day before school holidays so there will be no driving for 2 weeks and have already organised for pick ups and drop offs for those two days I will be in hospital.

Whilst my children won't be so tiny when I get my sleeve done, they will be 4, 5 and 8 - can't quite take care of themselves and since DH works for himself we can really only afford to take a few days off. My mum is going to help as much as she can - she'll take the boys overnight for a few nights after that first weekend. Might get DH to take the few days off AFTER that first weekend...

I'll cook and freeze a fair few meals for DH and the kids. And organise a couple of play dates for the kids to keep them occupied.

I may even hire a cleaner for the first couple of weeks :o

Good luck!!

Have you got your mum or MIL close that can help? even your girlfriends..if anyone at all offers you help...take it :)

My children werent young as such...3, 6, 10, and two 16 year olds...I was in hospital for 5 nights (my choice...it was a nice break lol) and before I got home my parents came and took the two lil ones back to their place (800kms away) so that everyone left could fend for themselves..Hubby was awesome!! he is normally so undomesticated but he tried so hard to keep on top of everything and did very well...the teenagers helped him of course and it all went smooth.

In a sense there does have to be that little part of selfishness to make sure you are looking after yourself during that crucial healing stage but yeah it does make it more of a battle when you have little ones :)

My children were 13 months, nearly 5 and 7 when I was sleeved.

My husband took 3 weeks off work (the first 3 days I was in hospital) so around 2 1/2 weeks at home with me. I think it was my second day at home when my children had their first ever encounter with lice (gross!) so I was up de-lousing one whilst my husband did the other one!

Because of a big scheduling conflict, my husband spent those final 2 weeks at home installing our below ground pool leaving me to look after myself, my daughter and him!

I used to get my daughter to lay on the floor in front of the lounge and just used to bend over from sitting on the lounge to change her. I had a friend who did the school run for a few weeks after hubby went back to work and my husband did the shopping for a few weeks.

I just let the housework go....hubby did the washing in the evening and ironing was a thing of the past for a few weeks. I did most of the cooking and making lunches from about my second day at home. It was not fancy but it was food. My children do not go to daycare and I did not have too much help other than hubby (who was much more interested in the hole in the ground!) but somehow we all muddled through and 2 1/2 years on it was all well worth it and the pool has been a blessing this summer instead of the cursed thing it was during installation!

Everybody heals differently though so it is always a good idea to try to have a plan B if you can. Good luck!

I was sleeved when my daughter was only 18 months old.
It was a bit difficult initially as I spent almost a week in hospital so we had to work out between the grandparents who could watch her while she wasnt at daycare.

Once I got home I just made sure that if I needed to change her nappy or clothes etc, I just got her to climb up onto the bed so that I wasnt having to lift her. I did arrange for extra daycare for the first couple of days I was at home, and then after that either my mum or my mil would come down for a couple of hours and watch Lily while I rested. And help me cook dinner and do the washing etc.

I hope I have helped a bit, if you want to ask anymore questions I answer them as best as I can.

xx
Tamara

Hi everyone
I hope I am posting this query in the correct section. I am planning to be sleeved after my 2nd son's first birthday as I would like to breastfeed him until then. Which means I will have a 1 year old and a 3 year old.
I am wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation and has any advise. I watched a blog on u tube and the girl is saying about basically how selfish she has had to be to heal and just can't deal with anyone else's 'issues' during her recovery. Well as a mother of small children you can't really indulge in selfishness and my children have 'issues' daily LOL, sometimes several times a day. My husband said he would take 2 weeks off work (which is unheard of so I am very grateful), but I can't check out of my life to heal IYKWIM.
Anyway, I would love to heal from anyone who has been in a similar situation.
Cheers!