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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Driving after a C-section

28 replies

Writerwannabe83 · 01/05/2014 11:34

Hello all, just after some advice please.

It was my understanding that we can drive 6 weeks post CS (which I am) if we feel up to it. However, my friend has said I need to ring my Insurance Company (Admiral) and clear it with them?

I have seen one website say that women must wait until their post-natal check before they can drive, but mine is still over 3 weeks away!!

What did everyone else do?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Racers · 01/05/2014 11:38

I went to the docs after 4 weeks (DH doesn't drive so it was frustrating!) and doc cleared me but I still had to phone insurance company to let them know.

Original poster

Writerwannabe83 · 01/05/2014 11:40

It just seems such a waste of a doctors appointment and so unnecessary....

OP posts:

lisbapalea · 01/05/2014 11:40

Same as racers. I drove just after 3wks as I live in the middle of nowhere and I was going crazy!

VivaLeBeaver · 01/05/2014 11:41

Ring your insurance company. I think the 6 week thing is a bit of a fallacy to be honest. You need to be able to do an emergency stop if needed. If you can do that at 2 weeks, 3 weeks, whatever then that should be OK.

My insurance company were happy that I rang up and said I could do one only 2 weeks after the op.

VivaLeBeaver · 01/05/2014 11:41

I never saw the GP.

lisbapalea · 01/05/2014 11:42

Can't you just ask when you have your 6wk check?

Original poster

Writerwannabe83 · 01/05/2014 11:44

I haven't got it for another 3 weeks - I will be 9 weeks post section by then. I can't wait that long

OP posts:

Onlyconnect · 01/05/2014 11:46

I drove after three weeks. Rang insurers and they were fine with it. I would advise being honest with yourself about whether you are ready though. I have had 2 CSs one where I recovered very quickly and one where it took much longer but, thinking it would be the same as the first one I just got on with everything. Later regretted that!

lisbapalea · 01/05/2014 11:47

No, don't blame you! I would sack off the dr's if you've waited for 6wks and if you know yourself that you could do an emergency stop.

I only saw the dr to satisfy the insurance folk as I wanted to drive before the mythical 6wk mark. The gp I saw was a bit confused by me asking - said no one had ever asked her before, so I don't think it's essential.

GlaikitFizzog · 01/05/2014 11:51

I was told 4-6 weeks when I was discharged. I called my insurance and they said as long as I was acting under medical advice I was covered. I started back on short journeys at 4 weeks. But didn't do anything longer that 10 minutes for about 2 months, but that was because I didn't need to. I could if I had to.

PenguinsLoveFishFingers · 01/05/2014 14:42

Just ring your own insurers and find out what their rules are. I think that they are a bit variable.

Original poster

Writerwannabe83 · 01/05/2014 15:39

I don't particularly want to call them in case they say that I do need medical clearance...and then I'd have to go through the hassle of actually trying fighting to get a GP appointment.

....I'd rather just feign ignorance and go for a nice drive tomorrow....

OP posts:

Racers · 01/05/2014 15:47

Doc very happy to have appointment for this - it's sensible to make sure you're fit to drive because you could mess up an emergency stop and cause an accident if you get a sudden pain and withdraw your foot from the brake. You can probably test this yourself to some extent by stamping forcefully on the ground, bending to touch toes etc. but we all know how insurance companies work, so I would ring them and see what they say.

GlaikitFizzog · 01/05/2014 16:08

What did the literature you got from the hospital say?

PenguinsLoveFishFingers · 01/05/2014 16:11

But if you do that and have an accident you are uninsured aren't you?

PenguinsLoveFishFingers · 01/05/2014 16:12

Sorry, that wasn't clear. What I meant is that, if you feign ignorance and don't comply with whatever conditions your insurer has, you're uninsured.

Familyguyfan · 01/05/2014 16:19

I drove at 3 weeks. I didn't check with the doctor, midwife or my insurance company. If I had any other type of operation, I reasoned I wouldn't have to inform them and would be able to use my judgement. I read the insurance guidelines and it made no reference to it. So I used my judgement and I was fine.

Original poster

Writerwannabe83 · 01/05/2014 16:28

Well I rang Admiral and they confirmed they do need me to have had medical clearance in order for my Insurance to still be valid

I rang my GP surgery to discuss it with the Receptionist and she said she'd never heard of it before, so I'm guessing a lot of people just crack on and drive.

Anyway, she was in agreement with me that an actual appointment probably isn't necessary so she's going to get one of the doctors to call me in the morning.

OP posts:

PenguinsLoveFishFingers · 01/05/2014 16:29

Here's hoping that they can sign you off over the phone and fax/email something to your insurer or something.

Original poster

Writerwannabe83 · 01/05/2014 16:32

The insurance company said they don't need anything in writing - they just need me to have had a doctor tell me I can drive. I suppose they just need proof they can check out in case I do have an accident.

OP posts:

BitOutOfPractice · 01/05/2014 16:33

I asked gp after about 4 weeks. He said he was happy if insurers were happy.

I asked the insurers. They said they were happy if gp was happy

So I went ahead and it was fine

GlaikitFizzog · 01/05/2014 16:33

Balls! I was with admiral, I said to them my surgeon said 4-6 weeks and they said if I was doing it under medical advice I was fine.

Seriously, what did you get on discharge from hospital? I had to argue to speak to a doctor before I left otherwise I was being punted out the door with a bounty pack and a pack of paracetamol.

PenguinsLoveFishFingers · 01/05/2014 16:48

Oh that sounds easy then. GP speaks to you for a couple of minutes and asks relevant questions, confirms she/he is happy. Then, if there was an accident and you needed to claim, it'd be in your notes that you'd been 'signed off' if the insurance company queried it.

Hope it is that simple in practice!

CommanderShepard · 01/05/2014 16:49

I rang my insurance company and they said they had no particular policy so they'd just go with whatever my doctor said.

vestandknickers · 01/05/2014 16:50

I drove after two weeks. Phoned my insurance company and they were fine with it.

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