Driving after a c section

Dinah93 · Apr 3rd, 2012, 10:40 AM

I've heard people say 6 weeks - is this medical advice or just how long on average it takes to feel up to it? I've been very active since my c section as I need to walk quite a way to see my baby in the nicu, I'm being discharged probably tomorrow so I'll need to come back daily, another 5 weeks seems like a really long time until I can drive again.

heathersa · Apr 3rd, 2012, 13:24 PM

The recommendation is 6 weeks. However everyone is different. Ill be honest I drive after 2 weeks as I felt ok to. They said to me drive when you feel ready to. They said practice doing an emergency stop and if it hurts your not ready. One thing to bare in mind though is if you had an accident. I'm sure I read on here someone had an accident and ruptured their wound. They said the pain was unbelievable. I rang the insurance company too and they said no specific guidelines just go off docs advice x

sunshineray7 · Apr 3rd, 2012, 13:50 PM

I think they usually state 6 weeks because that's when you have your follow up appointment with Dr. I saw the Dr after 3 weeks for mastitis and I asked him while I was there if I could drive and he said as long as I felt happy manoeuvring the car without any pain, then it was fine. I also rang my car insurers to check with them and it was fine.

babyblog · Apr 3rd, 2012, 14:57 PM

I believe it's due to insurance purposes. The main thing you need to do is check with them, last time mine told me that as long as a doctor had said it was ok then it was ok with them

ZoMo · Apr 3rd, 2012, 16:21 PM

The insurance company also told me that its fine whenever the doctor clears you - make sure the doctor writes it on your health records. My surgery gives a minimum 4 week restriction before they will examine patients. I was cleared to drive 4 weeks and 3 days after having her and it was like getting my freedom back!

NERAK · Apr 3rd, 2012, 20:15 PM

Everything I was told and read recommended that you wait 4-6 weeks and until you were able to do an emergency stop. I started driving after 4 weeks as I felt physically comfortable in doing so and could no longer stand being so restricted in getting out and about. One thing I made sure was that someone else carried LO in his car seat until 6 weeks, or I left the car seat in the car and carried LO to and from it or used his push chair, so that I didn't over do it carrying anything to heavy. Also my doctor didn't mention it at my 6 week check.

jd019 · Apr 4th, 2012, 09:26 AM

My doc told me 2 weeks!

Hobnob · Apr 4th, 2012, 14:26 PM

I'm fairly sure I was driving at about 4 wks post section.

davidjoemum · Apr 4th, 2012, 16:32 PM

hi i had my section two days ago and i drove today to supermarket.it was fine just make sure u can hit the brake in emergency!

littlelegs83 · Apr 5th, 2012, 06:17 AM

I had to get the doctor to ok it as my insurance company wouldnt cover me.
Once i had the nod from dr. I was driving with ease at two weeks

Apr 3rd, 2012, 10:40 AM	#1
Dinah93 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cleveland, England Posts: 952	Driving after a c section I've heard people say 6 weeks - is this medical advice or just how long on average it takes to feel up to it? I've been very active since my c section as I need to walk quite a way to see my baby in the nicu, I'm being discharged probably tomorrow so I'll need to come back daily, another 5 weeks seems like a really long time until I can drive again.

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Apr 3rd, 2012, 13:24 PM	#2
heathersa Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: manchester Posts: 257	The recommendation is 6 weeks. However everyone is different. Ill be honest I drive after 2 weeks as I felt ok to. They said to me drive when you feel ready to. They said practice doing an emergency stop and if it hurts your not ready. One thing to bare in mind though is if you had an accident. I'm sure I read on here someone had an accident and ruptured their wound. They said the pain was unbelievable. I rang the insurance company too and they said no specific guidelines just go off docs advice x

Status: Offline

Apr 3rd, 2012, 13:50 PM	#3
sunshineray7 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Wales, UK Posts: 761	I think they usually state 6 weeks because that's when you have your follow up appointment with Dr. I saw the Dr after 3 weeks for mastitis and I asked him while I was there if I could drive and he said as long as I felt happy manoeuvring the car without any pain, then it was fine. I also rang my car insurers to check with them and it was fine.

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Apr 3rd, 2012, 14:57 PM	#4
babyblog Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3,095	I believe it's due to insurance purposes. The main thing you need to do is check with them, last time mine told me that as long as a doctor had said it was ok then it was ok with them

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Apr 3rd, 2012, 16:21 PM	#5
ZoMo Other Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: UK Posts: 464	The insurance company also told me that its fine whenever the doctor clears you - make sure the doctor writes it on your health records. My surgery gives a minimum 4 week restriction before they will examine patients. I was cleared to drive 4 weeks and 3 days after having her and it was like getting my freedom back!

Status: Offline

Apr 3rd, 2012, 20:15 PM	#6
NERAK Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Croydon Posts: 53	Everything I was told and read recommended that you wait 4-6 weeks and until you were able to do an emergency stop. I started driving after 4 weeks as I felt physically comfortable in doing so and could no longer stand being so restricted in getting out and about. One thing I made sure was that someone else carried LO in his car seat until 6 weeks, or I left the car seat in the car and carried LO to and from it or used his push chair, so that I didn't over do it carrying anything to heavy. Also my doctor didn't mention it at my 6 week check.

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Apr 4th, 2012, 09:26 AM	#7
jd019 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: US Posts: 85	My doc told me 2 weeks!

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Apr 4th, 2012, 14:26 PM	#8
Hobnob Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 3,094	I'm fairly sure I was driving at about 4 wks post section.

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Apr 4th, 2012, 16:32 PM	#9
davidjoemum Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: kent Posts: 762	hi i had my section two days ago and i drove today to supermarket.it was fine just make sure u can hit the brake in emergency!

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Apr 5th, 2012, 06:17 AM	#10
littlelegs83 Trying to conceive (TTC) Active BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Wales Posts: 36	I had to get the doctor to ok it as my insurance company wouldnt cover me. Once i had the nod from dr. I was driving with ease at two weeks

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