How to explain hysterectomy (1/12) to my young kids

Hi all,

so im scheduled for my LAVH on Jan 12 and I have a 2 and a 3 year old. Im trying to explain to them that mama has a booboo in her tummy but Im feeling ridiculously inappropriate saying that. Any other suggestions?
Thanks!

Hi
I think your explanation is perfect, they need to know but you have explained it to them at a level they understand. They don't need to know anymore, boo boo will get fixed by drs and you will b under par for a week or so and won't b able to carry them for awhile but after that you will b amazing!!! You can have snugs and cuddles ect just get hubby to gently sit them on your lap. Xxx

I'd stick with booboo and be done.


My 9 and 6 year old know I had surgery, know I can't lift, know my belly has incisions (cuts) they have not asked once why that is or why I had surgery.

I agree. They're too young for more info than that. Best wishes

I told my then 7 year old there was stuff in my belly that was making mommy sick, and the dr was going to fix it. She asked if it was surgery and if it would hurt, i answered yes and explained dr would give me medicine so it wasnt so bad but we would have to be very careful afterwards. Arranged for her to stay the night with a great friend. She called the hospital and i even remember talking to her so she knew i was ok, with hubby screening calls as needed. When she was sure i was ok, she had the time of her life!! It was her first night ever away from mom and dad, and my friend made it great.

Funny thing got me though, she wanted to see incisions and i showed her. Next day after school she seemed puzzled, asked her what was wrong. Seems they were studying GI stuff at school, and she wanted to know what the dr did with the poop when he took out the bad stuff!! Quickly assured her my poop was fine, and there was other stuff in my belly the dr worked on that she would learn about later. She was too relieved about the poop to ask anything more!!

I told my 8, 6, and 3 year old that I got my uterus removed. That is was the part of my body that they grew in when they were in my tummy. Of course that's beyond a 2 and 3 year old but was an interesting anatomy lesson for my big boys.

I think what you said is fine. They won't understand more detail. I was in bedrest with both my kids and my 5 yr old remembers that with his brother and so I told him,"Remember how mommy had problems when E was in my tummy? The dr is going to fix that." He hasn't asked any other questions. He saw my incisions and visited me in the hospital. He thought it was pretty cool my pee was going into a bag.

I think for those ages that's enough info. Sometimes more info is not appropriate.

Thanks for the words of advice everyone! I feel a bit better about it now.