Getting home after a c section - which car?

[Boggler]

I'm booked for a elcs due to the baby being transverse and have no idea what to expect - except a lot of pain! But that aside I'm worrying about getting home in the car, we have 2 cars my husband drives a landrover freelancer and I've got a fiesta. The landrover is by far the comfier car but it's quite high to get into, so would I be better coming home in the fiesta? I know this seems like a minor worry but I'm fretting over not being able to get into the car and what about the seatbelt? How do you cope with that?

You can get into a landrover (with help) but given the choice I'd definitely pick the fiesta.

Don't be scared of a lot of pain - take the medication you are given. I found it better than I expected.

Good luck!

It will be easier than you expect. As long as you take it easy either car will be fine - if you have a long journey I would go for the most comfortable one. The seat belt won't be a problem.

The most important thing is to have the baby car seat installed before you even go to the hospital, so that there is no last minute panic as you leave.

Oh, and the pain is manageable after a couple of days as long as you take it easy - lift nothing heavier than your baby, accept as much help as you can bear and take paracetamol. It hurts, of course, but you will get used to it - honestly :)

I would say you'd find it easier getting up into the land rover as opposed to getting down into the Fiesta and having to get back out of it again.

You'll need help, but I am assuming there are steps to get up, not just a jump up?

I've had 3 sections, so pretty much know how hard it is. I'd say for ease, leave it until the third day and you should be a bit more mobile.

I had a cushion to go between me and the seat belt.

Lego,you have to kind of pull yourself up into a landrover,and that's what I found hard - although I did it with help. But we didn't have one of those little step ups so I expect that might make a difference.

I would say it's most important to try to avoid potholes and swinging too much round bends etc on the journey home.Everything nice and easy with no sudden stops.

I may be wrong,but are you exempt from a seatbelt after surgery?

Thanks for the tips, we do have a little folding plastic step - maybe ill get dh to bring that when we go home. I think we will be probably use the landrover just because it's a much comfier ride, and as its automatic you don't get so many jolts when changing gear etc.

No, you absolutely aren't exempt from a seatbelt after surgery.

Petite I stand corrected if that is the case!

Sorry I just realised how aggressive my post came across. I didn't mean it to

No worries Petite.

If I was wrong I think it was important to state that clearly as I wouldn't want anyone to get into trouble,so not a problem!

elective section is much easier / gentler than emergency and they will keep you in for a couple of nights anyway so you should find that by teh time you leave, it's nothing more than a little achey (and i am a wimp of the first order). They'll give you paracetamol adn maybe the option of some morphine based somethign (which I hated, and made me puke - puking with an hour fresh stomach wound was pretty horrid!)

I think after some surgeries it is inadvisable (some types of open heart or breast surgeries) but in those cases they send you home in ambulances (or they do over here). C Section isn't one of them. I was advised to put one of those large maternity pads between the seat belt and my clothes. But didn't need it - just told DH to drive very carefully.

I came home on Wednesday after emcs on Monday morning and I would say defo go for the smoother ride, seatbelt not an issue at all, more the bumps and jolts of the road. Make sure dh helps you get in too, mine was so preoccupied with ds he completely ignored the fact I'd struggle to get in !
Good luck and don't worry, it's honestly all fine

Take a plastic bag to put on the seat then sit on the bag. It will make swivelling into the right position easier both getting in and out. No nasty twisting and turning.