How long did you not drive for after a c-section?

[SeptemberBabies]

I'm three weeks post-section. I have four children and a busy life, but this is my first caesarean so am unsure of the 'done thing'.

I feel absolutely fine and quite safe to drive now.

How long until you started driving again?

#1 - 4 weeks
#2 - 3 weeks
#3 - 9 days

If you feel fine then check with your insurance company, mine told me if I felt ok then it was no problem.

I think for DD1 I left it for the recommended 8 (?) weeks but that was also in part because the way events fell, I didn't need to drive during that time. I had spoken to my insurance company & they told me it was dependant upon my Drs advice, so I called the Drs only to be told that they would rely on the insurance company for advice

With DD2 I was out driving within the week, simply because I was going stir crazy. I think it all depends upon how you feel - I seem to recall that the risk is if you have to break suddenly and the lower part of the seatbelt pulls against the wound. However, I couldn't see what the difference was here between being the actual driver of the car & a passenger.

I wasn't driving after my first 2 sections but by my third baby I was and waited about 3 weeks before I felt able to drive again. Lots of people think theres a 6 week rule but my insurance company said once I felt I could do an emergency stop then I could drive

DC1 - 4 weeks
DC2 - 2 weeks

6 weeks. My insurers had no policy and GP said 'when you felt able' and the hospital said 6 weeks, so I just went with that. I probably could have managed earlier, but didn't need to.

I wonder if it's an urban myth you have to wait to drive after a section?

I have asked the midwife and also practice nurse at doctors, they both said no 'rules', just when I felt ready.

Phoned car insurance company to check and the woman sounds like I was being ridiculous asking, that as long as no medical professional has told me not to drive then it's fine.

10 days for me.

My insurance company said I could drive whenever I felt safe to drive, unless if been told by a doctor not to. Doctors said do it whenever you feel safe to do an emergency stop.

2 weeks for both of mine.

Couldn't walk for miles but could certainly drive. My insurance company said I needed the go ahead from my Doctor. The first time I think they asked me to prove I could do an emergency stop by stamping both feet to the floor whilst sitting. Second CS the doc just asked if I felt up to it

DD#1 4 weeks
DD#2 2 weeks, out of necessity as only way to get DD1 to nursery.
As with others insurance company said it was up to me so long as I hadn't been told not to drive by GP/HV

I've been told by my doctor that it should be 3 weeks. I think it is a bit of a myth the 6 weeks thing and might be used to put women off CS.

I drove home from hospital. But the circumstances were exceptional and I understand that it is not advisable.

3.5 weeks for me, but I'd felt up to it for a while before. I phoned my insurance and they didn't have a rule, just advised me to get the OK from a doctor (which I didn't!) X

About 2 weeks I think. Felt a little funny the first time but fine after that

Nearly three weeks, but I would have driven the week before if the midwife hadn't told me in very serious tones not to do so.

Yes my midwife was adamant that driving would The Worst Thing Ever but I didn't need to drive for 6 weeks anyway.
If you feel up to it, and insurance is ok, then I would do it.

I don't think I drove for 6 or 8 weeks but I didn't need to and I live in urban London- just walked everywhere with the pram.

Felt like I could've driven much earlier if I'd needed to.
Insurance company had no specific policy apart from 'when your doctor says you can'.

Yeah I think it's a bit of a myth, it's when you feel ready.

A close friend had a VB with forceps, episiotomy & 3 rd degree tear. She could barely sit down for weeks on end let alone get in a car and drive around the place.

It's definitely NOT the case that a CS= no driving for 6 weeks

2 weeks. I took DH out with me the first time just in case I struggled and kept it to relatively short distances initially.

My obstetrician told me it was fine once I was comfortable to press the pedals firmly and to twist around to see when reversing. My insurers were happy as long as I followed drs advice.

10 days but wasn't in the UK. I asked my consultant at a check up and he just looked at me like "what are you on about, what do you mean you're not driving yet, of course you can".

I think it's as much about twisting round to reverse as being able to perform emergency stops.....

I didn't drive for six weeks - I checked with my insurance company and they did have a six week rule.

2 weeks but automatic

we called insurance and they laughed at us, not interested

5 weeks, but I was in hospital for 2 of them and DH was around for week 3. By week 5 I was going slightly crazy from doing the same walk around our local area every day!

I was four weeks. Same as everyone else, insurance weren't fussed, doc said when I felt able to do an emergency stop. I will say that it did hurt me a little at first but not much and not for long

2 weeks after first section, 1 week and 3 days after second

I've just had dc3 and he was in neo natal as he arrived at 33 weeks. I was discharged after 4 days and back driving within the week to make the twice daily visits to see him.

I am an expat with no support other than husband so we didn't have much choice.

They say if you can jump off the bottom stair and land without much discomfort then you are ok to drive, similar to the stamp test some midwifes ask you to do before giving you the all clear.

10 days both times. As a healthcare professional, I see no clinical justification for a 6 week rule. When you are pain free and not restricted in movement, there is no reason why you should not be able to drive

About a week. DP did his back in and couldn't move. So I had to drive him home from the hospital!