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A Guide to C-section Births
What Dads Need to Know
By Angela Harris
Spend as much time playing with younger children so they do not feel threatened by the new baby," she says. "Encourage older kids to help 'caretake' and clean up after themselves."
Also, expect to run lots of errands while the new mom is recovering. "My husband always called before coming home from work to see if I needed anything from the store or if I needed him to pick up dinner," says Debi Salanitro, a mom from Vineland, N.J. "The doctor impressed on him that it was a lot harder to recover from a C-section than a vaginal birth, so he really went out of his way to be considerate."
Emotional support will also be needed, as surgery is a difficult thing to recover from, especially when paired with a brand-new baby. "My husband was quite overprotective after we came home from the hospital," says Rebecca McCoy, a mom from Eagan, Minn. "He was right to prevent me from doing things like driving and vacuuming, but I was so tired of not being able to do things on my own that I often took my frustrations out on him."
McCoy gives this advice: "New fathers should understand that after a C-section, their wives are likely to be in pain for a while, bored and quite possibly irritable. It's nothing personal – don't let it get to you, but do let them vent."
Time alone can help a new mother recharge her batteries. "Encourage Mom to take a walk when you come home from work – all by herself – for exercise and fresh air," says McNitt. She also reminds new fathers to exercise a little empathy when dealing with a recovering new mommy. "Ask Mom how she is feeling and listen to her response," she says. "Be sensitive to Mom's needs."
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