I sew up the opening by hand, pin, and machine quilt, doing the edges last. Depending on the thichness of batting, backing etc., I will have a line of stitching 1/2" to 1" inside the edge. I iron before the birthing and don't feel I need to afterwards.
I have fallen repeatedly due to a really bad ankle (now fused) and have broken my right wrist several times, even with a cane. I am very good at binding, but it gives me pain, so I birth lap quilts or small quilts for children. Tiying quilts also bothers me. I have long since adjusted to living with my damaged body, so I work with its limitations and still make many charity quilts.
Most of my smaller children's quilts are backed with flannel, brushed denim or cord. All of these should have at least 1/2" seam allowances, which I take into account in my seams, both before and after birthing.
I discovered very early on that rounding the corners makes the job easier, so I do that.