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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask when you drive after a C - section?

36 replies

lingo1234 · 04/03/2024 10:00

I'm 5 days PP and recovering well. I'm obviously not going to drive yet as it's way too soon and I still have some pain but just wondering when others started driving again after their CS?

My DH is due to return to work in 2 weeks so ideally I would need to start driving by then so I can drop DS off at school.

I hear 6 weeks mentioned a lot but does anybody really wait that long? 😬

OP posts:
Sparklesocks · 04/03/2024 10:01

Yes 6 weeks just to be safe. It’s probably overly cautious in most cases but you don’t want to do an emergency stop and risk damage. Your insurance might also be invalid if you try before, unless a doctor has signed you off.

StellaElevator · 04/03/2024 10:03

It also depends on your insurance and if they‘re happy to cover you sooner than 6 weeks post op. Mine said I was fine to drive as soon as I could do an emergency stop which was around 4.5 weeks after my c-section.

user1471481356 · 04/03/2024 10:03

Within a week both times. Could have driven home from hospital if I needed to, but my husband was home. The first time I got a doctor certificate to state I was fit to drive to ensure my car insurance wasn’t voided, but I didn’t bother the second time.

Muddywoof · 04/03/2024 10:03

I was warned that my insurance would be invalid for the first 6 weeks.

ohfook · 04/03/2024 10:04

I've had 2 c-sections and was advised by both my midwife and my insurance company that I can drive when I feel I can safely do an emergency stop. That was ten days with my first and 14 with my second.

My insurance was with admiral at the time if that makes a difference.

Saymyname28 · 04/03/2024 10:08

6 weeks by midwife and insurance. I actually drove about day 5 to take DS to his hearing test because they discharged me so soon they didn't even have time to do that in hospital. Carried him in his car seat up and two flights of stairs.

I was a married single mother though and that was just one of many things I did that wasn't good for my health. Took a year and a half (and leaving ex) for it to stop feeling like I had a knife jammed in there still.

Your healing is super important. Really try to talk to DHs work about him being able to do drop offs and collections for the 6 weeks.

IlonaRN · 04/03/2024 10:09

6 weeks

hedgehoglurker · 04/03/2024 10:09

My insurance company said there was no 6 week rule. It was best if a medical professional approved it, which usually coincides with the 6 week pp check.

(In the US, the Dr had no issue with me driving after 2 weeks, as I had to drive to medical appointments.)

Mel2023 · 04/03/2024 10:18

I was told 6 weeks by my doctor when I had mine. She said many people feel well enough earlier but that car insurance companies likely wouldn’t insure me to drive before the 6 weeks as it’s against medical advice. This was the case for my insurance. Also got told the first time I do drive, to do an emergency stop to see how it feels against the scar and make sure nothing hurts. So I waited the 6 weeks. My DH did have 6 weeks off though so that did really help, but otherwise I’d have just got taxis or walked where I could. I can still remember the first time I drove, my friend had come to stay and we drove to the park with DS. Halfway through the journey I braked a bit too hard by mistake, and I cheerfully told her this was the first time I’d driven in 6 weeks - should have seen her face 😂. I probably physically felt well enough to drive about 3 weeks pp. We did a long drive to my parents (2.5hrs) at 2 weeks pp and I really struggled with the seatbelt and getting comfortable. Luckily DH was driving so I could fidget and loosen the seatbelt, but I wouldn’t like to think it had been me driving then.

cooldarkroom · 04/03/2024 10:18

I drove within a week, no-one told me not to ( in another EU country)
I had a 4 yr old to take to school etc.
6 weeks is ludicrous

NCasOuting22 · 04/03/2024 10:28

around 12 days post c section each time (I’ve had 4). I checked my insurance and they said that I could drive as long as I was in control of the car and able to do an emergency stop.

the 6 week rule is a myth, very very few insurance companies have this condition

Pussygaloregalapagos · 04/03/2024 10:30

I drove pretty much straight away. Put a cushion between seat belt and wound. Obvs try not to hard break.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 04/03/2024 10:35

I had heard the 6 week limit too.

I called my insurance company to find out. They said I could drive when my doctor said it was ok.

I asked my doctor and he said as soon as I felt comfortable to drive. Can’t remember if he specifically mentioned emergency stops or not but that is what I used as my ‘comfort level’ for resuming driving.

I think I could have driven 10 days postpartum but I waited until about 3 weeks.

I didn’t have any issues driving after a c-section.

Willmafrockfit · 04/03/2024 10:36

i heard 6 weeks but am not sure if that was correct.
the not driving was very difficult for me

InTheRainOnATrain · 04/03/2024 10:39

Confirm with your insurance company but it’s usually whenever you feel well enough to. I was driving after about 2 weeks with mine, could definitely have done it sooner because driving is certainly easier than pushing the pram up the hill with a toddler on a buggy board which I was doing after about 7 days, but I didn’t need to go anywhere that required the car.

Evenstar · 04/03/2024 10:39

My doctor gave me permission to drive after three weeks, my husband had gone back to work and we lived at the bottom of a very steep hill and I needed to get my other children to school. I had a wound infection and was having daily dressings and the GP was more concerned about me walking to school and back which would have involved an even steeper hill on the return journey.

He recorded it on my notes that I had medical permission to drive, he said the main thing they considered was if you would be able to do an emergency stop or would you be inhibited by the pain.

Ukholidaysaregreat · 04/03/2024 10:45

Saymyname28 well done for getting rid of the husband. Really felt for you in that post.
C sections are a major op and there are no rewards for pushing yourself too soon.

FrozenGhost · 04/03/2024 12:17

I drove after a week. Felt fine so there was no reason not to.

Lavender14 · 04/03/2024 12:30

I waited 6 weeks. What you need to consider op is an emergency stop at speed with a seat belt digging in over your scar. When you feel like that won't hurt you, then you're good, for me that took the 6 weeks.

BarbaricPeach · 04/03/2024 12:30

It's stated as six weeks, but everyone I know was back driving after about four or so (with their insurer's permission). Essentially all they care about is that you could do an emergency stop if you needed to.

Confused19831983 · 04/03/2024 12:32

I was driving after about a week.

MuchTooTired · 04/03/2024 12:35

Two weeks to the day after mine.

Bsmirched · 04/03/2024 12:39

As others have said, there is no 6 week rule. My GP said it was my judgment as to when I felt I could safely do an emergency stop and that a way to judge this was if I could jump down a small step.

CCLCECSC · 04/03/2024 12:42

Do you feel comfortable to do an emergency stop? I found speed humps very painful post section too so took my time.

Is there an alternative to driving kids to school? Could you walk or ask a friend to help out for a little bit. Usually people are jumping to help new mums

Scaffoldingisugly · 04/03/2024 12:45

10 days.. Insurers said at your own descretion... Whenever you can do an emergency stop basically are the rules..