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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

post cs driving - how soon?

11 replies

mac12 · 17/04/2011 10:39

I've seen a few posts recently where people have been driving within a few weeks of having a CS. How do you do this - I thought you needed GP sign off and consent of insurance company? I've had two CS so far and both times waited the full six weeks, which was incredibly frustrating and restricive, esp as we live in v rural area and can't get anywhere without a car. My first CS was EMCS and recovery was very rough (wound re-opened and got infected) so driving early was out of the question but my second was ELCS and recovery was so much faster I'm sure I'd have been fine to drive before. I'm pg with number 3 and still considering birth options - to be frank, it's the not being able to drive that is a big factor in leading me to consider VBA2C. So what's the deal with driving sooner? What were your experiences?

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TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission · 17/04/2011 11:37

I rang my insurance company who said if I felt I could do an emergency stop and if no one had told me not to drive then I would be ok to drive. May be ring your insurance company and ask what their policy is, I couldn't have waited 6 weeks either, was comfortably driving again 3 weeks post em cs.

fruitybread · 17/04/2011 11:48

My insurance company didn't require me to get any formal 'sign off' (would form would that take, exactly?) after CS to start driving. I rang them when I was pregnant and checked.

They said that people have operations all the time, and it is up to them to be responsible and only drive when they are able. Of course, someone might want to see a doctor to involve them in that decision, but people have operations ALL the time, for hernias, appendices, leg surgery.... eye surgery, for goodness sake! the principle for CS is no different. I sometimes wonder if an insurance company telling someone to 'ask their GP' is a commonsense suggestion, not an insurance requirement. A verbal OK from a GP, relayed by a patient to an insurance company would seem a little flimsy in court, unless that GP had recorded it in the appointment notes.

The issues for driving after a CS are (a) physical strength. Lifting your legs to work pedals and having enough strength and control to do an emergency stop is obviously vital. If you have lingering abdominal soreness, this might be a problem. Some women might find the torsion involved in steering tricky, I don't know.

(b) you take longer to heal internally than you do externally. If you are in an accident, you are more likely to bleed internally or rupture something if you are still healing. This boils down to our attitude towards risk. Some women might feel their risk of crashing is very low, and if they feel fine and strong after 2 weeks (as I did after my ELCS), then it's a risk worth taking. We risk an accident everytime we get in a car, after all. Other women won't want to take any risks at all, and will wait longer than 6 weeks before driving.

I guess if in doubt, have a detailed conversation with your insurance company. I have friends who had been told by NCT teacher they couldn't drive for 6 weeks after a CS, and for a couple of them (rural like you) this was a HUGE PITA, as they felt they could drive beforehand but didn't.

HappyAsASandboy · 17/04/2011 14:34

I rang my insurance company (after funding nothing ^in the policy wording) and they said no reason not to drive as l

HappyAsASandboy · 17/04/2011 14:38

Opps ....

No reason not to drive as long as I felt ok. When u pushed a bit harder, she said to check with GP, so when I was in there anyway at 2 weeks, I mentioned it. GP was surprised to be asked and said if insurance people are happy then go for it.

So I drove after 2 weeks. Would have done it sooner if DH hadn't been off work for 2 weeks though.

Sorry for split message!

Sparklies · 17/04/2011 14:40

My insurance company said as long as a doctor is happy. The doctors I spoke to all said "when you feel you can do an emergency stop" which in the case of normal healing is probably around two weeks or so. I drove at two weeks.

nunnie · 17/04/2011 19:31

It was four weeks for me and my insurance company required consent from GP, didn't have to be written verbal was fine, so I rang and spoke to GP and got the all clear at 4 weeks.

Chynah · 17/04/2011 22:42

No1 2 weeks (felt could have driven sooner though)
No2 8 days

Checked with insurance company and they told me (in writing) that they had no policy on it.

bibbitybobbityhat · 17/04/2011 22:43

I am afraid I was driving within 2 weeks of my second c/s. Not something I am proud of but obviously was physically capable of.

MayDayChild · 17/04/2011 22:48

4 weeks
Verbal ok from gp that I was feeling ok so go ahead
Insurance wanted gp clearance (tesco)
So just call have chat and explain you want their agreement so it's mentioned and dated on your notes just Incase!!
It's all about emergency stops. Stamping on brakes.

CointreauVersial · 17/04/2011 22:53

Same as Sparklies - my GP said if you're confident and feel OK, I'm happy, and the insurance company weren't bothered. I think I waited 2-3 weeks, then I had the school run to do!

mac12 · 18/04/2011 09:29

thank you so much for replies. that's great to know. will check with insurance company and hopefully will be strong enough to get back behind the wheel much quicker this time and be there for school run etc. thanks everyone.

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