To all moms

[Leanna26]

Question for you guys. How hard was it to take care of your baby in the first 2 months?

Can it be done one handed?

The reason why I ask is I have an important decision I may have to make. I got a call from one of my docs yesterday in the specialtiy center for women. I had seen him on thursday and he was checking out my hands for carpel tunnel syndrome. He said that I had it pretty bad in my left, which is true. Its numb most of the day, and kinda useless most of the time. It does wake me up at night with pain.

So they called and want me to go to the hand surgion when the baby is born to get the surgery to fix it. The thing is the doc doesnt think it will get better after the baby is born, but I only have 6-8 weeks after the baby is born before my insurance runs out to make the decscion.  I want to give it some time to give it a chance to get better on its own. But if I need to get it done, I think its gonna be very difficult to take care of baby during the day. A 3 month recouporation time is pretty long, and my hand will need to be in a splint for weeks.

So what do you guys think?

[JoyRenee]

I like what LosingMyMindinGA said. Have someone around to help you because it's going to be a challenge to get dressed, shower, not to mention bathe, carry, feed, and change a baby (who needs head/neck support).

[JoyRenee]

I think it'll be easier to take care of a newborn with one hand than a baby who is a little older (one who can fight you and crawl off, etc.). The reason I say this is because I slit my thumb open, severing nerves, while I was pregnant with my youngest. I had to do everything with one hand. The pain was intense (but I couldn't take pain meds because of being pregnant---you'll at least have the pain meds).

I had to take care of a toddler with one hand. Which meant making food, giving baths, changing diapers---all of that my husband had to do. I couldn't even shower very well and he had to help me get dressed. The pain was unbearable for me. I still don't have feeling in my thumb because of the severed nerves. I had the option of getting surgery after I had the baby and I didn't do it.

I say you should do it because you're either going to have the surgery to correct the problem and have pain for a little while or you're going to take care of a baby with an injured hand for a long time. Either way it's going to be a challenge. You should get the surgery, especially before insurance runs out.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I think for someone who is USED to dealing with that type of "disability" it would be no big deal.  But for someone who used to having function in both hands/arms it woudl definately be a challenge.  MY hubby had shoulder surgery when my middle child was 3 mos old.   It was definately a challenge for him.  

If you really feel that the surgery is necessary and will be beneficial then I say go for it BUT plan to have someone around 24 hrs while you recover to help out.

[martikadragoon]

Well I'm not sure about 1 hand.. but my mom took care of all us kids and she has 1 leg and is missing a couple fingers on her left hand. (birth deformities due to a medication my grandma took while PG with her)

So she managed just fine. I'd say try to get someone to stay with you for the first couple weeks.

[irrelevance]

:( I'm sorry about that. Do you have a partner who can help you? I would say it would be next to impossible, from my own opinion. It takes two hands to pick up a baby, let alone to change diapers, make bottles [if you formula feed..] and everything else. Sometimes I feel like I need about 4 hands just to get stuff done! Is there going to be someone around to help? Maybe a family member you can ask to stay around for the first few weeks? I'm really sorry that you are having this problem. I really hope you can work something out..