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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Csection and driving

27 replies

Newmum102 · 27/06/2017 07:55

If you had a Csection when did you feel comfortable enough to drive. Just over 2 weeks here and it's starting to drive me a bit crazy that I can't just jump into the car and go out like before.

OP posts:
JohnLapsleyParlabane · 27/06/2017 08:00

I would have felt fine after about 3 weeks I think but my insurance had a caveat that I had to have had my post birth check (6wks) before I would be insured again.

BusyBeez99 · 27/06/2017 08:02

I drove after 3 weeks. left baby at home with mum and went out with husband to a quiet empty car park to try emergency stop and all was well. contacted insurance company and they were fine with it. I was going crazy without being able to drive

ButtMuncher · 27/06/2017 08:03

I think your insurance invalidates you for 6 weeks after a c section so you'd need to check your particulars. Some maybe less, but I know a lot of policies won't cover before 6w.

notarehearsal · 27/06/2017 08:05

Two weeks, no choice as no public transport from rural area and had to take DD to school, DH back at work

YerAWizardHarry · 27/06/2017 08:05

The whole insurance thing is a myth most insurance companies state that as long as you feel comfortable performing an emergency stop then you're fine to drive and will be covered by them

BusyBeez99 · 27/06/2017 08:06

DirectLine were fine about it - asked if Health Visitor had spoken, she had, and was I happy with emergency stops, I was, so they said was fine to go ahead.

EchoesOfLeon · 27/06/2017 08:15

Check with the insurance but mine said the 6 week thing is a myth and not their policy. As long as I felt safe to drive I was good to go. For me it was between 2 & 3 weeks. My HV said that unless there were major complications 4 weeks is long enough.

Original poster
Newmum102 · 27/06/2017 08:16

Yeah I've searched through my insurance policy and there is no mention of it whatsoever. Most posts I come across seem to agree with the feeling comfortable doing an emergency stop. Personally I feel ok, and I think I'd be fine but it's one thing to feel fine and another thing to actually try an emergency stop.

May get someone to look after the LO and get my OH to take us to a car park, give it a bash.

OP posts:
superking · 27/06/2017 08:30

I drove after 3 weeks but did check with my insurer first. Re the emergency stop, I heard that if you are comfortable/ able to jump off a step then you should be ok to do a stop.

lorelairoryemily · 27/06/2017 08:31

I drove after 3 weeks

Heirhelp · 27/06/2017 08:33

I could not drive until 7 weeks but I had complications.

The issue with an emergency is stop is not just that you can do one but you can do one without causing damage to yourself. If you still have your midwife's number I would then a ring and ask.

megletthesecond · 27/06/2017 08:38

I waited until 6 weeks every time. You may feel ok and your stomach may look like it's healing but internal wounds take much longer to heal. Post c-section mums just aren't treated as well as other abdominal surgery patients and we're expected to take more risks, I didn't.

Unihorn · 27/06/2017 08:39

I drove to the shop about half a mile away after 4 weeks to see how I felt, and started driving properly at 5 weeks I think, because that was the first time I felt comfortable enough. It was the turning round to reverse that I found hardest. My pain seemed to last longer compared to lots of people though, I was in labour and pushing for a few hours before I had to have an emergency one though so I don't know if that's why.

welshweasel · 27/06/2017 08:40

I drove after 10 days. As others have said, so long as you can do an emergency stop it's fine. There is no blanket 6 week rule.

BurntBum · 27/06/2017 08:43

I drive after 10 days and felt fine. It was much less strain than pushing the pram up the steep hills that are in our town!

BurntBum · 27/06/2017 08:43

drove

PhilODox · 27/06/2017 09:39

4 weeks for the first, 5 for the second- I checked with my midwife and insurance each time, and had no problems.
Congratulations on your baby! Flowers

mimiholls · 27/06/2017 13:00

2 weeks as I was 100% fine. As soon as you feel able to do an emergency stop you're ok.

babynelly2010 · 27/06/2017 22:11

Just over 3 weeks and it was fine. Just one thing to remember that they stitch number of layers in your abdominal. The top layer takes the least time to heal while deep tissue can take up to 6 weeks. I have 3 children and my mother left after 3 weeks so I had to drive otherwise I would of waited 6 weeks.

SnowiestMountain · 27/06/2017 22:14

I drove after 10 days. I called my insurance company to check and they had no idea what I was on about, said it was absolutely fine!

Shootingstar2289 · 28/06/2017 21:10

With my first (now 6) I started drives after two weeks. Bad I know but I lived on a massive hill and it was better than walking that hill. I only did quick trips to the shops within the town I lived in for a couple weeks.

With my second (2) I waited a little longer - maybe abou 4 weeks. It's not that I didn't feel able to drive. But I now live in the middle of nowhere with narrow roads and lost tourists who don't know the roads and I was worried if I had to stop quick, it would do damage. Plus I was a little more nervous having two children in the car - 6yo can be a monkey in the back of the car!

The six week isn't set in stone and there is no law on it.

😀

FruitBadger · 04/07/2017 21:48

I drove at 5 weeks, could have done so a week or so earlier but DH was off work over Christmas so no need. I called the insurance company and was told that as long as I hadn't been advised by a medical professional not to drive they were happy.

OoohSmooch · 04/07/2017 22:55

I had a c section in April and drove at 4 weeks. I decided the vibrations of the London busses I was using was much worse than me driving. I practised an emergency stop and as the lap part of my seatbelt was well above my scar it was fine and in no way made me hesitant to do an emergency stop.

I have a company car and called the leasing company but they said its down to my work so I didn't bother calling my manager, would have taken them 4 months to get me an answer haha.

SummerRayne17 · 04/07/2017 23:32

I am 3 weeks post c-section and have tentatively just started driving again. Taking it steady and just making small journeys. All feels ok whilst driving tbh.

I am getting twinges in my wound, but they are related to doing other essential activities within the home, sometimes i twist too much and feel
It pinch etc, which reminds me that i still need to take care. DH goes mad at me, but my feeling is that I need to get on with things again, as much as i can, he is out at work all day!!

toffeeboffin · 04/07/2017 23:35

Two weeks. No choice, DH at work, DS needed to go to nursery.