To report a parent

[Fandabydosey]

So this sounds judgy, but my anger comes from a place of concern. So a mum I know had a c section 6 days ago and she is back behind the wheel of a car driving her 3 year old about. I have offered to take her but she said the HV said she is fine to drive. She looks so pale and is clearly in pain. Should I report her. Would she be able to do an emergency stop without risking stitches bursting open. Not only is she risking herself but other riad users and her own children. Would you report or leave it. Surely its a safeguarding issue. She has a husband

Do you understand what that piece says?

No actual research is ever used on MN, just random opinions and experiences.
That said, just mind your own business OP, if she tears her stitches it's her own problem

No leave her alone and mind your business

This has to be a joke?

Well not a funny one

This journal of physiotherapy also clearly states that this statement offers guidance and not to be regarded as prescriptive.

It also says that ‘such general advice will always require to be modified in line with the needs of
any individual patient and the clinicians experience.’

The evidence for the guidance in this journal comes from sources dated 2007, 2009 and 2011. That is over 10 years ago and a lot can change. Surgical procedures etc. may have improved in that timeframe.

Anyway, the Op is not the clinician who has examined this woman and really has no evidence that this woman isn’t medically fit to drive.

ranzcog.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Driving-after-abdominal-surgery-including-caesarean-section.pdf

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Women should be advised that the period of returning to driving after surgery is variable. It may take 1-6 weeks before women are ready to resume driving after abdominal surgery such as caesarean section.

Conclusion

The pattern of recovery after surgery is variable. Women and their clinicians should consider a number of factors when considering resumption of driving after abdominal surgery including caesarean section and hysterectomy.

This statement has been developed and reviewed by the Women’s Health Committee and approved by the RANZCOG Board and Council.
A list of Women’s Health Committee Members can be found in Appendix A.
The committee acknowledges the contribution of Dr Antonia Shand to this document.
Disclosure statements have been received from all members of this committee and contributors.
Disclaimer This information is intended to provide general advice to practitioners. This information should not be relied on as a substitute for proper assessment with respect to the particular circumstances of each case and the needs of any patient. This document reflects emerging clinical and scientific advances as of the date issued and is subject to change. The document has been prepared having regard to general circumstances.
First endorsed by RANZCOG: November 2012 Current: March 2020
Review due: March 2023

The nhs website just says:

When you go home, you'll need to take things easy at first. You may need to avoid some activities, such as driving, until you have had your postnatal check-up with the doctor at 6 weeks.

It says you may need to, not you will need to. So, it probably depends on individual patient recovery.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/caesarean-section/

I rang insurance after my first section to ask what the rules were. They seemed completely confused by my question and said I could drive whenever I felt able to.

I was up and about a day after my c section while many were bed bound still. I didn’t drive for a month but I could have. Would have been able to break easily.

Get a life

Beak out OP!

Before I had my c-section I called my insurers to double check how soon I could drive. My husband works away a lot and I just had to drive sooner than the 6 weeks I thought I would be out for. The guy I spoke to said as soon as I felt safe to do so, but if I had an accident I would have to provide a letter from my GP to state that I was safe to drive. I asked to speak to his supervisor to double check, and the long and short of it is if you feel safe, they accept that.

Are you one of these professionally outraged types?

Wow what a nosy and judgemental curtain twitcher you are. Instead of adding to her woes why not do the Christian thing and offer to take her children on the school run if it bothers you that much, rather than adding to her stress at an extremely vulnerable time.

You really are a curtain twitcher who has way too much time on her hands. Ur probably the type who has a glass near every connecting wall 🤣🤣 FFS leave them alone I'd be more concerned about your own rational thought patterns that need to be addressed.

I was allowed to drive at that point (checked with doctor, midwife and insurance company!).

And I was finding it difficult to walk owing to continuing Pelvic Girdle Pain, and probably looking pale and rough due to a lack of my usual makeup.

Hopefully OP was meaning well. But hopefully also has had a change of mind - I know that I'd have been enormously stressed if I'd had to deal with someone reporting me, however confident I was off the outcome.

You just don't know that.

When I had my c section with DS, I felt awful for the first few days, but absolutely fine by the end of the first week. Spoke to my GP and they said it was nothing to do with them, no such thing as ok'ing someone to drive after a section anymore. Likewise my insurer said if I felt fine then they had no issue with it 🤷‍♀️

Keep your nose out.

Why don't you just offer her some help yourself getting the kids to school or going to the shops?

I could have driven at 6 days. In fact I tried moving the car on the drive to make sure I could manage an emergency stop and the seatbelt was ok. In fact I had to wait until 11 days as my insurance company wanted GP sign off and that was the earliest I could get an appointment.

My baby was in nicu and my husband didn't drive. We were relying on cabs several times a day and they bounced me around over speed bumps, etc even if I asked them to take it easy. Driving myself was much more comfortable.

Mind your own business.

If you’re so concerned you could always offer to help.

Pretty much sums it up.

You sound like a complete busy body

If you're going to report it do it through 101 not dvla.

However you at lose your friendship with her. If she learns it was you.

I was driving pretty quickly as my insurance said it was ok if I felt I could do an emergency stop.

Why don't you talk to her or if you don't know her, talk to a mutual friend?

Ask how she is.

YABU - do not report her

There is nothing to report. I was driving a few days after my c-section and the operation didn’t impair my ability.

Youd be better of using your time to get to the root cause of why you want to report her and addressing that issue.

No I wouldn’t ‘report’ her. Who would you report to anyway?
Put it out of your mind and get on with your own day. Jesus.