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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to want to drive post C-sec

41 replies

ssmile · 07/09/2011 03:19

Hi had my 2nd C-sec nearly 2wks ago feeling fit. Phoned insurance company to find out when I could drive they said "when I was medically fit" I asked for clarification does it need to be in writing from Dr? "no they said just medically fit, but if I had an accident they would check". What do I do? I need to drive by a wk thurs as DD starts school and that's the first day I have no help lined up so I will be 20d post c-sec then I think I will be fine. When did you drive post section?

OP posts:

parentfailure · 07/09/2011 03:22

I drove at 8 days with DS and sooner than that with dd. To cover your insurance, just clear it with your gp. All they are concerned about is your ability to perform an emergency stop.

My gp said this 6 week rule is cobblers.

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/09/2011 03:52

My midwife said that, as long as you can shoulder check and stamp your foot (emergency stop), you could drive. I drove in a little over a week. I love driving though and felt very well.

Meglet · 07/09/2011 03:53

Yes, yabu. You won't be any where near healed up properly after 2 weeks.

Internal wounds take longer to heal than you realise and if you bugger up the healing now then you might end up with problems.

I drove 6 weeks post both cs's. Can't you just get taxi's or get a friend to drive you?

My hospital told me post cs mums are given piss poor care and should be resting and recovering for far longer than they do. When I had a hysterectomy they gave me a lecture about ignoring what I did post cs as the maternity ward bascially 'winged' it and cs's should be given far longer to heal than they are.

AlpinePony · 07/09/2011 03:58

I drove at 10 days, but then I was active anyway and had been walking around, doing housework et al.

Obviously this isn't your first, but I'd have happily ruptured my scar with an emergency stop having my PFB in the back.

lady007pink · 07/09/2011 04:29

Be careful! If you end up in an accident the insurance company will use it as a way to invalidate the claim, even if the action you took had nothing to do with your scar.

A letter is required from your GP to confirm your fitness to drive less than 6 weeks post cs, but they are reluctant to write them!

lady007pink · 07/09/2011 04:33

Incidentally I was well able to drive post cs's. In fact I had to carry my ds then aged 23 months the day after dd1 was born, as I let my DH spend time with his new daughter while I said I would supervise ds on corridor. He ran off down a stairwell, I had to chase him (pulling my dripstand), grab him then walk up the stairs carrying him . Either that or he would have been out to the carpark.
Driving was nothing compared to that!

parentfailure · 07/09/2011 04:39

My gp didn't give me a letter but did add it to my notes, so it could be checked if needed. I would def. Make sure you have some evidence....

lady007, when dress born, DS was only 14 months old so he couldnt movethatfast, but you have my sympathies!

MaMattoo · 07/09/2011 04:41

If you really have to and have no choice, and feel ok then drive. I agree with previous post..insurance co will find a way around to blame you if something does happen. CS is major surgery apart and 6 weeks is min time for major healing on the surface..complete healing happens later on, this is probably why a GP won't write a letter for you. However needs must etc!
Congratulations to you for baby!!

Original poster

ssmile · 07/09/2011 06:08

Thanks. I am taking it really easy its just harder when u have other children to look after. Think will go see GP next wk to cover myself. The school run is only 5 min drive but as is hilly I don't want to walk it with a buggy yet as too hard with c-sec.

OP posts:

mousesma · 07/09/2011 06:14

Also try sitting in the car and stamping your foot on the break. If you feel hesistant to do it then you're not ready yet.

BettyBloomfield · 07/09/2011 06:14

I drove after about 2 weeks and felt absolutely fine. The 6 weeks thing is historical and needs updating. I remember people telling me I shouldn't lift a kettle etc. I think advice is out of date and should reflect how the patient feels....whilst recognising that support is not always there.

Did they really think I'd have a maid with me for 6 weeks?

Finallygotaroundtoit · 07/09/2011 06:17

Is it worth the risk (to yourself and others) for a 5 min drive?

Allow extra time and walk it

BettyBloomfield · 07/09/2011 06:20

What risk though?

Seriously?

I could perform an emergency stop. What hidden risk do you think is going on ?

Lugging a buggy up a steep hill with DC might cause more damage.

When pregnant you lose more control - an emergency stop would be less welcome and your abdominal muscles are not as able to act. Shall we stop all women driving when pregnant?

Original poster

ssmile · 07/09/2011 06:27

Yes my point was the hill is too steep to walk with buggy and 4yr old 20d post c-sec but I feel fit enough to drive as different movement. I've got help with 90% of school run its just 2days I haven't because we got mad 3wks of half day finishes at 11.30am that's causing problems.
Thanks its gd to see range of opinions, I will try the foot stamp thing next wk.

OP posts:

minibmw2010 · 07/09/2011 06:33

I rang and asked my midwives and was told that if I could do an emergency stop, reverse park by looking over my shoulder plus put a belt on comfortably I was fine and our insurance company said that was fine (this was almost 2 weeks after). My mother by the way was horrified but then I think she was a bit disappointed I was up and about quickly as she had wanted time with DS But a lot of it is just down to generational differences I guess.

mummytime · 07/09/2011 06:36

Okay it is a pain.
BUT....a friend of mine was standing in the kitchen after her third CS, and I think she sneezed. She then went on to have a Uterine Rupture. I would not want to drive after cs, just in case.

livinonaprayer · 07/09/2011 06:38

I think generally most people would be fine, although I did wait mainly because it was my PFB and I was doing it by the book!!

That said there are still guidelines and it is major surgery. Would people so readily ignore guidance after having other serious operations? I would be worried about insurance too unless something was in writing.

argghh · 07/09/2011 06:49

I drove after about 10 days - husbands back went so just had to. No problems.I didnt think about the insureance bit though but wouldnt have driven if I had felt unsafe.

coccyx · 07/09/2011 07:00

I get a feeling that women think 'hey look at me 1 day post section and i can cart wheel' . it is major abdominal surgery. You may feel ok but all the different abdo layers will not have healed

RustyBear · 07/09/2011 07:00

Depends on your GP - we were talking about this at work the other day with a friend who's having a CS on Monday - one person said their GP gave them a letter after a couple of weeks, another said hers refused because he said if anything went wrong 'he would be held responsible'. He may well have been talking crap, but the result was, my friend didn't get the letter her insurance company wanted, so she couldn't drive.

parentfailure · 07/09/2011 07:15

I can agree with that, RustyBear.. I just went to the drs as I cut my fingers reasonably badly with a kitchen knife (I do not recommend this, btw!) and he has littered my notes with caveats as I refused to go to A&E (I have a 2YO and a 3YO and no childcare... and they expected me to drive them there with me.... with 1 hand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), I just asked him to stop it bleeding and said I would worry about loss of feeling / scarring later. He was obviously very worried that I might appear later (I did end up with 9 stitches the next day) and blame him... I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have got the A-OK to drive after 10 days from him

I also think GPs will look at the circs. For me with DD (second CS), I had a 14MO DS and DH was working abroad... It was safer for me to drive (short) distances than it was to try and push DS, DD and whatever I needed to carry about all day.

faverolles · 07/09/2011 07:37

I spoke to my GP who asked me questions about how much I was doing around the house and how much pain I was in. He OK'd me, said he would write it on my notes, and also said that I must ring the insurance company so they knew a) I had had a cs and b) the dr had declared me fit to drive.
I was 4 w post cs. I didn't feel ready before then.

GypsyMoth · 07/09/2011 07:59

Great..... So if an accident happens your insurance is unlikely to pay out?

So what about the rest of us drivers then? Any consideration?

BettyBloomfield · 07/09/2011 08:04

ILT - my insurance company said it was fine so why wouldn't they pay out?

parentfailure · 07/09/2011 08:07

Sorry, IloveTIFFANY, I think you have misunderstood - those of us who are suggesting that it is ok to consider ARE suggesting that you both (i) contact your insurance and (ii) get something in writing / in your notes from your GP / Doctor.

I did both times and, as I said earlier, this was less than 10 days in both cases.

I felt (and feel) that this was the best option for me. I also feel that this '6 week' nonsence is mostly spouted by people who support natural childbirth. (that's a whole other debate though, so shall leave it there!)

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