C-section moms: how long did you wait to pick up your toddler

I’m 1 week post C-section from baby #2 and have a 17 month old. I have help from my husband and mom but it has been so hard not being able to pick up my toddler. They told me to wait a month but that seems actually impossible; I can’t even put her down for naps or bedtime myself because I can’t lift her into her crib. She only weighs 18lbs and I feel like I can probably pretty easily lift her very soon but that goes against the OB recommendation. I don’t want to prolong my healing at all by not listening to my doctor but I’m already feeling really good pain wise. So when did you start picking up your toddler because waiting a whole month does not seem realistic.