Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

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

Original poster

When did you start to drive following c-section?

27 replies

millie1 · 01/06/2008 22:11

I know the official advice is aroudn 6w and that some insurance companies will let you behind the wheel sooner provided Dr okays it but what's the soonest anyone started driving? Would 2 weeks be too soon for a very short trip, ie. 3 miles for sports day? Any advice please.

OP posts:
eidsvold · 01/06/2008 22:27

I started at 3 weeks - with the GP's okay but it really was quite short trips - 5 minutes or so to get dd1 to school.

Toothyboy · 01/06/2008 22:32

Can you stamp your right foot on the floor firmly without hesitation? If not, you shouldn't drive yet as you wouldn't be able to perform an emergency stop.

But check your insurance as well.

misspollysdolly · 01/06/2008 22:32

5 weeks but only after I'd spoken to the GP.

Funnily enough when she tried to find the official info from the DVLA on their website (whils I was in the consulting room) she could not find ANYTHING online at all to advise her!!

Ultimately you need to be able to stop the car safely in an emergency, without rupturing yourself and/or swerving the car dangerously due to pain etc.

You will know when you could manage it, but I would recommend not getting behind the wheel until you've discussed it with your GP - at least that way it's down on record that you sought advice/go ahead first.

Good luck!

Original poster
millie1 · 01/06/2008 23:50

Thanks everyone ... at the moment I couldn't stamp my right foot n the floor so that's a good indicator. Maybe by the end of the week but if I can't, then so be it. It's terribly early but it's just that one trip - with DS1 I waited for the full 6w and with DS2 for 4w.

OP posts:
DaisySteiner · 01/06/2008 23:51

I started driving after about 3 weeks with the OK of my doctor and insurance company.

MsHighwater · 01/06/2008 23:54

My insurance company wanted to OK from my doctor but I didn't feel I was justified in taking up my GP's time over it so didn't bother and just waited 6 weeks. I could manage quite well without using the car - in fact, I quite enjoyed being able to walk further than the length of myself at anything like a normal pace (and without waddling!). My dh was able to drive me anywhere I really needed to go by car.

TuttiFrutti · 02/06/2008 09:45

I waited 4 weeks the first time and nearly went mad (live in a small village, no shops or public transport). One morning I tried to make a cup of tea, there was no milk in the fridge and I burst into tears and rang my insurance company sobbing! They were surprisingly relaxed about it, just said they were happy for me to drive if I "felt up to it" and they didn't need a note from my GP. C-sections weren't mentioned on their policies, so recovery was just treated like any other illness.

I wished I'd asked earlier. Had just believed the urban myth about "you can't drive for 6 weeks".

Second time around, I drove after 3 weeks.

Obviously nobody should be driving who isn't safe, so you must have the strength to do an emergency stop. Everyone's different and you must gauge your own strength.

Hulababy · 02/06/2008 09:46

6 weeks. Gp wouldn't sign me as fit until my 6 week check. Insurance wouldn't cover me until G said I was fit to ddrive.

sitdownpleasegeorge · 02/06/2008 09:58

2-3 weeks after cs2 although waited longer after cs1.

My insurance company said I needed to ask my Gp if she thought I was fit to drive and the GP, well she just asked me if I felt up to driving and doing an emergency stop if necessary, so ultimately it came down to me deciding if I felt up to it.

AtheneNoctua · 02/06/2008 10:04

3 weeks after first section. 2 weeks after second. Agreee with the advice about the emergency stop. You culd go sit in your car and try slamming on the brake and see you feel. If it hurts, you are not ready to drive yet.

icklelou · 02/06/2008 10:44

I had an elective section last year, and the hospital official advice on the sheet they gave me was 2 weeks. I called my insurance company before I went in, and they didn't need to know and had no problems with me deciding when I was fit to drive, without a doctor's ok.

As it turned out, I drove one journey after about 2 weeks, but was a bit stiff and sore, so waited another week, and had no problems at all.

Agree with others, if you feel at all uncomfortable, then don't do it, everyone is different.

This 6 weeks thing is old advice, and it makes me mad that it is still used by some people as yet another reason why caesareans are 'a bad thing'.

minster · 02/06/2008 10:55

2 weeks - the insurance company had no policy about it so I waited until I felt safe. Never had a postnatal check so GP wasn't involved.

Highlander · 02/06/2008 10:59

7 days after DS1 (in an automatic)

10 days after DS2. GP said to practice the drill for an emergency stop when the car was switched off in the drive.

I agree with Ickle - the old anti-CS, 'you are an invalid for 6 weeks post-CS is maddening'!

hattyyellow · 02/06/2008 14:23

My Gp wouldn't sign me off until after 6 week check and insurers wouldn't let me drive without all clear from GP.

pootlesmum · 02/06/2008 14:25

I was very naughty, I started driving again after 2 weeks but took a risk and didn't tell GP or insurance company. Fortunately nothing happened.

In my defence I did have twin girls in 2 separate hospitals about 8 miles apart and they were both being breastfed but I know I was wrong to do it.

hotmama · 02/06/2008 14:33

About 2 weeks.

My insurance company was Direct Line. Their guidance was I was covered as long as I could do an emergency stop - but how would you know - stamping your foot isn't quite the same is it (rolling eyes emoticon)

Luckily, I never needed to do an emergency stop so was fine.

My mw was quite chilled about it as well.

pointer · 02/06/2008 14:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lubyloo · 02/06/2008 14:51

Two and a half weeks. Insurance company said they just needed GP to say I was fit. Went to the doctor and he asked if I felt capable of driving. I said yes and he noted it on my file. No examination required! (I felt far more capapble driving at 2 weeks post c-section than at 40+ weeks pregnant!)

Lubyloo · 02/06/2008 14:52

capable

spottedandstriped · 02/06/2008 20:02

Hotmama - that is very interesting. I have just had a c-section and Direct Line have told me that I am not insured until I am signed off as fit by my doctor. I am therefore confined to not driving until I see my consultant nearly 7 weeks after having my baby!!

MindingMum · 02/06/2008 20:16

Within a week on all 3 c/ sections

If you were to have an accident, it would be unlikely that your insurance company would find out unless you told them

Evenstar · 03/06/2008 23:08

I drove around 3 weeks after my C-section with my GP's permission, I had two other children who had to get to school, and walking would have meant climbing a very steep hill with the pram. I had an infected wound which was being dressed daily and the GP said he was happier for me to drive than push the pram up the hill.

lackaDAISYcal · 03/06/2008 23:12

with DS i waited till my six week check and the doctor said I shouldn't have waited and seen him sooner.

With DD I felt I was capable at 4.5 weeks for short drives. It would've been sooner if I hadn't had a nasty wound infection though. I looked in my insurance docs and there was nothing specific about it.

CarrieLH · 03/06/2008 23:15

I'm with Tesco Insurance and they were fine about me driving after 4 weeks after I had my daughter 3 1/2 years ago.

hayley2u · 03/06/2008 23:17

i started again at 2 weeks i rang my insurance and did not have a rule for it, only nipped out for some milk, was so good to get baack behind the wheel ha, i felt graet at 2 weeks too completley fit n better x