To drive 2 weeks after ELCS?

[csectionsoon]

My midwife said the 6 week rule was outdated and it’s usually just when you feel fine to emergency stop, which I think I would be but it’s not really something you can test. Think I’ve only done one emergency stop in all my years of driving

I am lucky to have had a very straightforward recovery so far, was going for short walks on day 3 PP, longer walks by day 6 PP. I no longer needed any painkillers by day 5. The skin on my tummy is still a bit sore (assuming where nerves are reconnecting) and the scar itself is numb, but otherwise I feel like my mobility is pretty much normal.

My insurance (Admiral) have a section on their website about it which I’ve attached a screenshot of below

I don’t want to set myself back but have huge cabin fever! I could go out with DH and the baby but that would take forever and I might like to pop out for 30 minutes to the shop on my own.

AIBU to drive this early? I know no matter how I feel it’s still major surgery, but feel it would mentally do me good.

The issue would be if you were in an accident would Admiral cover you? I would imagine your doctor would say stick to the 6 weeks (despite what the midwife said) as we are a largely risk averse society and no one wants to be the one seen to be saying ok to risky behaviours.

I don’t know, my sister drove 3 weeks post but not sure if she spoke to her doctor first

I drove after two weeks.

Did you consult your doctor first?

Everyone seems to break this rule but I'm pretty sure it's there beacsue of your internal healing.

More suprised you'd be happy to leave a 2 week old baby but each to their own.

For half an hour? OP's hardly jetting off on holiday for two weeks.

I drove after 2 weeks, after a telephone consult with my GP just to make sure my insurance would still cover me. Didn't have any issues.

Based on what your policy says, I'd check with your GP first just to be safe.

I drove at about 10/12 days post section . I spoke to my GP who said as long as you can do an emergency stop with no problems it’s fine and this was 25 yrs ago .

I think it’s the part where it says ‘to reduce the risk of further injury’ which is important.

You might feel fine but your body has been through so much and the strain of an emergency stop could cause internal damage.

I appreciate your point about your mental health but can family and friends come to visit you at home? Also you said it will take forever to go out with husband and baby but it’s going to be harder to pop out now you have a baby, everything takes longer! So this might be normal for now!

I drove at two weeks

This is the sort of nonsense which keeps GPs unnecessarily busy.

If you feel healed, comfortable and safe and that you could do an emergency stop then call your insurer and tell them you intend to start driving.

This is outdated nonsense

You don't have any more chance of internal injury than anyone else

(I'm an abdominal consultant surgeon)

I think getting a doctor to sign off would be good, as if anything happens the insurance company will try anything to get out of paying a claim.

I drove after 3 weeks but did see my Dr first who was fine with it

I was back driving in about two weeks. My insurance company said as long as I was happy doing so they had no issue with it. Used to pack me and DS into my tiny classic Mini and head out for the day on a regular basis. I’m sure it saved my sanity.

I drove after 2 weeks on my first, but after 4/5 days on my third. Wasn't able to just stay at home with older kids etc

I checked with my insurer and they said it was fine when I felt able. No rules about six weeks or anything. Think I drove after about two weeks.

I had an EMCS and definitely needed to wait 6 weeks before driving, I could barely walk for a lot of that time.

After my ELCS I was fine to drive within a few days. I checked with my GP and they basically said 'if you feel like it's ok, then it's ok'.

I drove at two weeks and was fine, though only you know how you feel. I read on here someone was told that if you feel OK to jump from the hight of two steps, then you'll be ok to do an emergency stop, to give you an idea of the kind of jult you need to be able to cope with.

Id call the insurer and ask if they definitely need doctor approval. It may be that actually they don’t

I think it sounds safe to do small journeys but whether or not you’d be insured is another matter entirely. I bet many of those driving after 2-3 weeks don’t

I drove after 4, had to as husband went back to work after pat leave and I needed to do nursery runs for my eldest.

felt fine to be fair, carrying the car seat was the harder bit.

know your post wasn’t about walking but do be careful as I overdid long power walks in the first 6 weeks and I needed anti fungal cream as a couple of tiny bits separated, felt sore and smelled cheesy. A couple of weeks of rest and it healed back over so totally sealed now 10 weeks pp

Ps I’m also insured with admiral, was with both of my sections and I felt their wording was intentionally vague, I don’t think they care about doctor sign off as it isn’t an official thing!

Yeah I think you know how you feel. If you can sit comfortably in the seat, use the pedals without causing pain - including slamming on if needed - reach for the handbrake/gearstick etc - it will be fine. You know your own body.