Coping with small children and THR

[Girtongirl]

Hi all,

I'm a newbie and have already got a lot of reassurance from reading other posts.

I have just seen the surgeon and he is willing to put me on the waiting list for a THR (4 months wait or so). However, I have a 4.5 month old baby and am trying to work out whether to go for it so I am better when she is walking, or whether to wait until she is walking and needs me less.

Can anyone tell me of their experiences with young children or even young grandchildren?

I'm not in a lot of pain, but can hardly move my hip, so no playing on the floor, no going for nice walks on sunny days etc.

thanks

Girton girl

 

[ship4]

Hi Girtongirl, Welcome!
I am a BTKR from last June and a family child care provider for the past 28 years caring for 6 preschool children daily. I was a K-12 Physical Education teacher for 5 years before that.....
My advice for you is to get the surgery done ASAP while your child is still relatively immobile. If she is 4 mo now and you have to wait for another 4 months, she will be rolling, sitting and crawling at that time. She can still be confined to a pack n play for AM and PM naps during the day. As she gets older she will be standing and holding onto the furniture, climbing, and walking which leads to running on their parts! So, the sooner the better!
Best,
Crystal

 

[Jamie]

I completely agree with Crystal. Go for it now. Do you have someone who can help you out for the first couple of weeks after surgery?

 

[JudyS]

As a mom of 4, (they are all older now) I would strongly suggest you do it now. When your baby starts walking they need you just as much if not more to see what they are getting into. Go for it now you will be happy you did.
Welcome
judy

 

[Girtongirl]

Thank you!

I do look forward to when she is more mobile, but would love to be mobile with her.

I think both my mother and mother-in-law will be willing to be around as well as fabulous hubbie, but have to start having those conversations with them I guess....

 

[Judles]

Without reservation, I would have the surgery NOW! The longer you wait, the tougher it will be for ALL of you! Oh......and Welcome,

 

[Jamie]

So glad to hear you have resources for help during those first critical weeks. That makes all the difference in the world. It's certainly not too soon to begin discussing who will do what and gather some things you will need during that time (frozen meals, ice packs or machine come to mind).

 

[Judles]

Stool softeners!!!

 

[Jamie]

Oh, Judles....RIGHT!!! Buy them in bulk!!! So to speak (LOL - a little stool softener humor).....

 

[Judles]

Yep! Time to fix dinner!!!

 

[Girtongirl]

sounds like (apart from stocking up on stuff!) I should go for it...

any idea about recovery - I guess I won't be able to pick my little girl up, but how long before I can do hugs and cuddles - either sitting or standing? Does a buggy count as crutches if I go walking with that?

 

[Peta]

Hello and welcome Girtongirl! I had a LTHR on in October last year and I would think you would be able to give your little one a cuddle even while you are in hospital! (Lying down or sitting) Providing she is on your unoperated side (and not too much of a squirmer....! LOL) you should be fine. Just make sure someone is there to take her if she starts to wriggle too much!

When you say buggy do you mean her pram? If so - I would probably give it a couple of weeks before trying that. Once you are confident moving around I'd give it a go. But again - have someone else around just in case! Around the 3 week mark I wasn't using crutches - just a cane if I was in a busy shopping centre and wanted people to steer clear of me! So by then you may well be able to use the pram for support.

I think you will know when you are ready to attempt it! And be guided by what your OS tells you. Good luck!

Peta

 

[UTdave]

I'm a father of one hyper-active little 16 month old. I definitely needed help after surgery and had my parents and in-laws come to live in for a few weeks. It's the scooping off the floor and bending over to grab/intercept them that gets you! But several months down the line, you'll be glad you did it!

 

[Texas]

You can still love that heck out of that lil girl . I think as long as she can see mommy and you can be with her she will be fine.. Sounds like you are an excellent mother. She will be fine. And UT Dave what does the UT stand for ?

 

[Judles]

Utah???

 

[mdakota]

hi there, well i have three 12, 8, and 7 months mine is scheduled for 5 weeks from now. she is still happiest to sit and play by me and loves taking naps with me , still 2 a day. once my son started crawling i didnt sit down till he was 5 years old. lol. and when they start crawling your not only getting on the floor to play your running, getting them out of everything and keeping everything out of their mouth. you'll need to be ready and that is the one thing you can do to get their. i cant even carry my baby girl much right now and i look forward to being able to bend over and get her off the floor. alot of the reason i want this is for her, pain gets worse over time and slowly you stop doing things that make you hurt till you find your self not wanting to to anything. if it happened suddenly you would notice it more and fix it. that is why this is a hard decision

 

[Texas]

I thought UT might be University of Texas ...Oh well.........

 

[Judles]

Maybe it IS, Tex!

 

[JudyS]

mdakota
Easy for me to say it is an easy decision, my kids are kind of grown. But you will be so happy when it is all done. You can play with your kids and really enjoy everything. I was amazed and still am at all my hip can do pain free. I had my right hiip replaced at 51 last jUne. I can get on the floor and get in all kinds of crazy positions that I am not even trying to do, all pain free on the new improved side.
You'll be glad
judy

 

[Girtongirl]

I completely agree mdakota. at first i thought I would rather have all my children first and then a new hip, but after a pregnancy and now not being able to do all that floor stuff I thought no - do it now. Its good to hear that other people think so too.

I hate not being able to do all that stuff and also feel guilty about it, which I know is stupid, but still I do.

I'd love to hear how it goes for you. Its funny - before I got pregnant the world worked in months or years, but suddenly everything happens in weeks, so on one hand 5 weeks doesn't sound that far away, and on the other, its ages away! Lots of best wishes for it anyway