Driving after vaginal delivery

[sleepymama3]

Hi mamas, anyone have any empowering stories about driving soon (days?) after a vaginal delivery? I've looked up the NHS website and there's no advice that I can see, other than not for 6 weeks after C section. DC1 was born during lockdown so wasn't driving anywhere then....

There’s no medical reason you wouldn’t be able to drive following a straightforward delivery
Sitting for ages may be sore but it’s not like a section which is major abdominal surgery

My niece drove home from the maternity unit 24 hours after vaginal delivery. I drove 3 weeks after a c section

DC1 I drove after about 4 days. I could barely sit down before that

DC2 I was driving the day after he was born (no stitches that time!).

I probably would have been capable of driving home from hospital after both of my 2 but I hadn’t slept for 3 days with DD and had an epidural with DS so legs a bit weak

DD was born on the Friday night. On the Sunday I had to drive her to the hospital as she had a mysterious rash. 45mins on country lanes in the dark during a heavy snowstorm.

To add... in hindsight this seems extremely bonkers and I do wonder why the hospital discharged a 2 day old baby into a snowstorm like that!

You'll be fine after a couple of days if it's a straightforward delivery.

You'll be a bit uncomfortable if you need stitches. Getting in/out is the worst bit.

I drove after 2 weeks to get DC1 to school. Have a little practice drive and take it a bit easy. I used to love the little drive home with the baby asleep, windows down and I got to pick the music!

I drive the same day, no issue.

Why couldn’t you drive? 🥴

I had an episiotomy and still drove the next day. Was a bit sore getting in and out of the car but was fine once I was sat down. Didn't go far but far enough to get me out and keep me sane.
I drove 3 weeks after my c section. The 6 weeks thing isn't actually true, it's when a doctor says you can. I healed really well so my gp told me to go sit in the car with the engine off and slam on the breaks. If it hurt I wasn't ready, if it didn't I was fine to go. You just have to be capable of an emergency stop.

Maybe she's worried because she's intending to push a whole human out of her vagina 🙄

I drove the next morning to take the dc to school. I had already births and dh ran his own business and everytime I had a baby he had to get straight back.

*easy not already

The 6 weeks C section thing is a bit of a myth. I drove at 10 days post section with DD2 and felt absolutely fine doing so, so there's every chance you'll be fine.

I drove 2 days after DS1 was born ( vaginal ) and 12 days after DS 2 was born ( EMCS)

Thanks everyone! Lockdown restrictions kicked in pretty much straight away on DC1 @BriarHare so can't go by previous experience - I'm sure I could have physically driven had there been a need, but had nowhere to go.
Good to hear all these stories ladies, thanks

I don't remember ever thinking twice about driving. Not sure if I actually did drive though.

Unless you have a fourth degree and are physically crippled with pain (caveat; don't even know if a 4th degree would mean that - I had a 'nearly third degree' tear and it was just a little tender with no chronic pain), I would assume you can go about your normal business.

my sister was wonder woman when she had her baby she was back home 6 hours after she gave birth in out home .
Doing the washing the next day.
17 years later she has son number 2 and drove home from the hospital her self 2 days later .

Sorry for the off topic reply, but reading the heading I can't shake off the mental image of an Amazon delivery van driving around doing vaginal deliveries. 😂

I had my baby in lockdown and drove myself in to hospital to be induced then drove myself and baby home 6 hours after birth (husband only drives a motorbike and was at home with other child). Not sure what the midwives would've said had they have realised my intentions!! I think the adrenaline got me through it to be honest. It wasn't in anyway ideal but more than do-able in my situation!

Had baby girl in feb - vaginal with episiotomy and I drove to her 5 day check for sure. Probably drove earlier than that to the shops etc too. Bit uncomfortable but doing anything is uncomfortable after pushing a whole human out right?!

I drove home from the hospital 48 hours after giving birth. I drove there in labour.
This was in the late 80's. My husband left me for another woman when I was 5 months pregnant. No family to help and friends were all at work

I drove the next day both times. Admittedly I didn't have stitches with either, but it was absolutely fine.

I had a 2nd degree tear and stitches both times and found getting into and out of a car pretty uncomfortable. But I could do it, and since DH isn't allowed to drive due to a medical condition I didn't have much choice (although we did get picked up from the hospital).