Picking up infant after BA!

How long did it take for you to be able to carry/pick up your child? Was there any safe way to get around this if it was absolutely necessary before the recommended two weeks? If not, how did you handle it? (I nanny and am trying to figure out how long I need to take off that's safe for me and most importantly, for the baby. She's a precious, chunky, almost 1 year old.)