how do you manage (lifting, etc) young child after ER & ET?

i'm so scared about how i'm going to take care of my almost 2.5 yr old DS during my ER and ET.

i read that i'm not to lift anything over about low 20s lbs after ET for awhile (days).

my son has to be lifted into the car and into the car seat and out of the car seat. plus, crib and stroller (he may truly refuse to walk when we're out so i have to bring the stroller. he's 33 lbs and i have pelvic damage from pregnancy so i can't carry him for too long, especially while walking.

my DH goes to work at 5AM and usually comes home after DS is in bed for the night during the week.

i haven't had luck finding a mother's helper or babysitter who could be at our house early in the morning to get DS out of the crib (he really would not do well in a toddler bed yet). DS is up by 6AM.  i guess we could give him a toddler bed but he will probably not sleep much in a toddler bed. i cannot go back to sleep for about 3 hours once i'm awakened so i'd be severely sleep-deprived during the cycle and that doesn't seem good for outcome either.

can anyone advise me what i can do to not ruin my cycle by lifting DS? thank you!

 I had 3 young boys (oldest was 4.5) when I cycled and other than the 1 day of bedrest after ET, I lifted and picked them up all the time.  My youngest probably weighed about 23 lbs when I cycled.  

I don't think you will ruin your cycle by lifting your DS.  

HTH

I had an almost 4 yr old and a almost 2 1/2 yr old when I did my ET & ER. My 2 yr old was already in a toddler bed. I had him crawl up into the car seat on his own and told him he was a big boy and he needed to do it on his own. I just didnt' pick him up and when he really wanted to be picked up. I would just sit down in a chair or on the floor and hold him. I told him my tummy would hurt if I held him so I needed him to be a big boy. It really seemed to work.

Wishing you good luck.

I lifted my DS the day after ER and the day after my 2 day ET rest. I wouldn't worry too much about the ER. You will have to have someone watch him while you are on bedrest from ET anyway and you can lift him soon after. Can you put a step stool in the crib when he is ready to get out, have hime stand on it then you are not lifting as much. I would also start teaching him to step up into the car and with help crawl into the car seat. My son is 21 months and we just started this and I have an SUV which makes it even harder. It is a pain trust me and it is sooooo slow but if you start now and kind of make it a game he might be ready by then. 

Less than 24 hours after ET I loaded my 2 yr old into her carseat and took the kids to preschool.  I was back to normal routine.  After ER is no big deal unless you get OHSS.

DH did a lot of the heavy lifting (carrying DS #2 who was just over 1 at the time, laundry baskets, etc), but I did lift him into his crib and out, but I changed him on the floor (not the changing table).

And I let him climb up the stairs and we held hands walking down. And he climbed into his car seat also.

Hi Jen: I know my girls who are two now can crawl/climb into the highchairs, carseat, crib with my help --I hurt my back while back nothing serious and I had to have them climb in the crib -- I just put the side down and helped them get in by climbing and carefully holding their arms to make sure they did not fall.  The girls thought it was funny and I just kept telling them mommy's back hurt and I can not pick you up and they seemed to find the climbing on their own kinda of fun.  I hope your son can do that as well and just just climb into things with your guidance and holding his arm so he does not fall.  I hope your crib has a side that comes down lower like mine-- it made it so easy for the girls to climb in.  My doctor told me no lifting for couple days to let my back heal so I had to do that because I was in so much pain.    Good Luck with your cycle!