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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Can I drive home after C section if baby discharged today?

272 replies

Agrette0 · 03/11/2025 12:28

Hi, probably a daft question but I’m really not sure what to do and I don’t want to get in trouble.

I had my baby girl on Friday morning by C section, she came a bit early while we were up visiting family in Preston. We actually live in Great Barr (Birmingham area) and were only meant to be staying the weekend but my waters went suddenly on Thursday night.

Baby’s doing well and they’re saying we can be discharged later today. The problem is we’re quite far from home and I don’t really have anyone who can come get us. My partner can’t drive (we usually use my car) and my mum doesn’t drive either. Everyone’s saying wait a few days but we’re stuck in hospital and I just want to get baby home and settled.

I feel ok in myself apart from being a bit sore when I get up or twist, but I can move around fine and it’s an automatic car. It’s about a 2 hour drive mostly motorway (M6).

I know they say not to drive for 6 weeks after a section but is that like an actual rule or just what they recommend? I’d obviously take it slow and stop if needed.

Has anyone here driven sooner and been ok? I’m desperate to get home now and baby’s not sleeping well here at all.

Thanks x

OP posts:
TartanMammy · 03/11/2025 20:23

Agrette0 · 03/11/2025 17:40

I’ve managed to get hold of one of the volunteer driver people the midwife mentioned - he’s going to drive my car for me tomorrow and his wife will follow in theirs so he’s got a lift back. Bit of a lifesaver honestly! It’ll cost a bit but at least we can get home safely.

They’ve decided to keep us in overnight anyway just to double check baby’s temperature and weight before we go, so it’s worked out for the best. I feel a lot better knowing I don’t have to try and drive.

Baby’s finally asleep on me now after screaming all afternoon so I’m just enjoying the quiet 😅

Thanks everyone for being so lovely and helpful, I’ll update when we’re home x

I'm glad you got it sorted. Make sure you reimburse him at the very least for his petrol and for him an his wife to go out for a nice lunch. If you can, please also make a donation to the volunteer driver charity, this is definitely going above and beyond. There's good people out there ❤️.

xxAnnaxx · 03/11/2025 20:26

No - you cannot drive for 6 weeks. Your insurance would be invalid and technically you'd be driving without due care. Better to get the train back home, enjoy family life at a slower pace for a few weeks. Then either get the train back to collect your car or arrange for auto recovery to bring it back for you.
Congratulations on the birth of your baby xx

Howlongdon · 03/11/2025 20:27

AmbassadorWyler · 03/11/2025 12:30

Your car insurance is going to be the problem. You need to speak to them to find out when they’d be happy for you to drive. It’s usually six weeks.

A long drive so soon after a section is a terrible idea either way.

Urban legend re the six weeks!

Howlongdon · 03/11/2025 20:27

No - you cannot drive for 6 weeks. Your insurance would be invalid and technically you'd be driving without due care.

This is not true!

Howlongdon · 03/11/2025 20:28

Your insurers can’t make that decision, you have to be declared fit and well to drive by a doctor/midwife.

This is also untrue.

Possiges · 03/11/2025 20:33

Oh mate no way. I thought I was moving ok 3 days after a C section. I had reduced down my pain relief and was ready to go home. One ever so slightly awkward twist and I was screaming in agony and needed morphine. Luckily I was still in the hospital at that time. It took two nurses and about 10 minutes to move me 1 metre back into the bed. It was like being stabbed. Never felt pain like it and I have a high pain threshold.

But even forgetting about my pain, I would never risk a newborn driving like that.

DysmalRadius · 03/11/2025 20:34

Glad you've got it sorted OP.

For the record, my insurers said I could drive whenever I felt able after my last c-section and they said that they recommended jumping from the bottom step onto the floor as a test for whether I would be OK to do an emergency stop.

MrsLizzieDarcy · 03/11/2025 20:34

You can't risk your baby in this way, OP. Why on earth didn't your DP learn in the last 9 months?! It's not like it's any form of shock arrival. He should be embarrassed as fuck putting you in this position days after giving birth.

IsFearrCuplaFocalNaCuplaFuckAll · 03/11/2025 20:38

I’m glad you’ve made the decision not to drive as it will really hurt. I drove after three weeks and it felt like it pulled all my abdominal muscles and was sore during and after.

my insurance said to speak to my doctor but if I felt safe and well, it was fine. My doctor said to speak to my insurance but typically I need to make sure I can do an emergency stop safely. I think it would be safe but that it could tear and would really fucking hurt.

id get the confirmation from your insurance just in case once you do feel safe but im a worrier.

Floundering66 · 03/11/2025 20:38

Oh that’s a horrible situation to be in with a new born and completely understand that you just want to get home!
I had a c section and I honestly wouldn’t risk it! It’s amazing how quickly you can go from feeling fine to being in absolute agony as different meds wear off. I had a 30 minute journey home (partner driving) and can remember getting into the car feeling fine, but the journey quickly became awful - honestly every bump in the road felt like a jab to my stomach and the seat belt was very uncomfortable. For the first two weeks I would feel fine for hours then suddenly get a shooting pain and be unable to move, so definitely wouldn’t have driven.

CausalInference · 03/11/2025 20:38

How embarrassing for your husband, you'd think he would have done something to learn to drive before you fell pregnant. It's going to be a complete nightmare if he refuses to learn to drive as your child gets older, you'll be driving around here there and everywhere meanwhile he'll be sat at home no help. I hope the embarrassment of this situation pushes him to actually learn now.

PortSalutPlease · 03/11/2025 20:39

Glad you have a solution! Just to make sure you know - you’ll need to break the journey every 30 mins as that’s the max a newborn can do in a car seat safely.

one of the main reasons aside from an emergency stop that you shouldn’t drive is in the event of an accident the steering column/air bag would cause absolutely catastrophic damage.

Helen1625 · 03/11/2025 20:39

When I had a hysterectomy last year, I specifically asked about driving and was told around 6 weeks. I rang my insurers to see if they had specific rules, they said follow the advice of your doctor and as a general rule consider whether you can safely perform an emergency stop. Don't forget you'll be sat upright, a seat belt across your lap, using your core to look over your shoulder, push and pull the wheel, push on the pedals etc.

The other thing to consider, and it's worth remembering when you start to feel better....just because you 'can' doesn't mean you 'should'. In other words, you might feel up to doing lots of things, including driving, but there's a lot of healing going on inside. There's a lot of stitches in there! Give your body the best chance of repairing itself by resting and not taking unnecessary risks.

Congrats on the baby x

Floundering66 · 03/11/2025 20:41

Possiges · 03/11/2025 20:33

Oh mate no way. I thought I was moving ok 3 days after a C section. I had reduced down my pain relief and was ready to go home. One ever so slightly awkward twist and I was screaming in agony and needed morphine. Luckily I was still in the hospital at that time. It took two nurses and about 10 minutes to move me 1 metre back into the bed. It was like being stabbed. Never felt pain like it and I have a high pain threshold.

But even forgetting about my pain, I would never risk a newborn driving like that.

I had the exact same pain, I was discharged after 24 hours and at home - was feeling completely fine then twisted slightly to reach a cup of tea and MY GOD! Was like someone was running a knife a long my stitches! I don’t know how I didn’t pass out.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 03/11/2025 20:41

As well as the breaks you need to take so baby can come out of the seat, you also need to sort out insurance for the driver in your car - hopefully you're all sorted already, but don't assume because he's fully comp on his own car that he's insured to drive yours, it's getting rarer and rarer for that to be included in a policy.

McGregor33 · 03/11/2025 20:41

My insurance was ok as long as I could do an emergency stop. I was a week before I tried, 3rd C-section, I literally had to move my car in the hospital carpark as it was building up parking tickets 🙈 I went for an appointment at 25 weeks and baby was delivered within an hour. I’m a single parent so had no one to move it for me and I was stuck in the hospital for 14 weeks. Depending on your level of pain, painkillers and insurance then do it if you feel comfortable to. Could someone come with you on the drive?

What I would say, is sit in the car and see how the belt feels on your wound. That should tell you if you think you’ll manage.

Teenagehorrorbag · 03/11/2025 20:42

Glad you are sorted!
I was also told the 6 week thing. I was home and climbing the walls so rang the hospital who said they just say that to cover their backs. Rang the insurers who said it's fine if your gp or consultant have no issues. Rang consultant who said it was fine.
The risk apparently is would you avoid doing an emergency stop because it might hurt! I mean - nobody thinks before an emergency brake, you'd do it and then scream...😀
So my insurance company were totally fine with me driving almost straight away. Thank god!
Enjoy your lovely new baby....

Horsemadlady1234 · 03/11/2025 20:42

You will not be insured. I rang mine to ask if I could drive after 4 weeks and was told if I drive before the 6 I would need a letter from my dr to say I had healed enough to drive that was with Hastings

PurpleH · 03/11/2025 20:43

There must be someone you can hire to drive your car? That must be a thing surely?! Try local facebook groups maybe- see if someone is willing to do the drive for a fee? Don’t forget to insure them!

Ivy888 · 03/11/2025 20:46

You’re not insured to drive so soon after major abdominal surgery. You need to find another solution.

Tammygirl12 · 03/11/2025 20:46

Have had 3 sections. No I would not be driving. I wouldn’t have been able to react to accidents as needed. It just wasn’t safe to twist and turn

SweetBaklava · 03/11/2025 20:47

Absolutely not!

SweetBaklava · 03/11/2025 20:49

Ahhh just seen your update, that’s brilliant! I bet you can’t wait to get home - I know there a cost, but it will be worth it!

Anyahyacinth · 03/11/2025 20:49

You could ask the hospital to post an appeal for someone trusted to drive your car maybe from the volunteer driver scheme…perhaps with someone following to get them back home. Do you have the baby seat etc..?

edit …my post whizzed to the end and I see all is well. Congratulations on the new baby 💐💐

Alpacajigsaw · 03/11/2025 20:49

I think even being a passenger in a car would be super uncomfortable let alone driving. I didn’t have a section but even so I wasn’t able to drive for a couple of weeks after my first. I was too sore and had no strength in my core. Plus it’s such a long journey for a tiny baby. I think taxis to/from
the main stations and a train from Preston to Brum sounds the best bet