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

[Agrette0]

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

I drove a week later but I was confident I could do an emergency stop. More of a problem for me, both times, was the sleep deprivation that would have rendered me unfit to do a 2 hour drive!

No your driving insurance won't be valid for 6 weeks. Get an Uber if you have no one who can drive you.

That's a myth.

Your partner should probably prioritise learning to drive - total ballache for you having to always be the driver.

It’s also not just about your safety but other road users. You will be overtired and you may also subconsciously be tentative about doing an emergency stop to protect your wound. It’s a crazy idea but i think you’ve decided against it which is a relief.

Sorry haven't read the full thread but several people have mentioned emergency stops being a specific concern and suggesting getting a driver/ taxi. Surely being a passenger in a car that has to do an emergency stop is just as traumatic as being the driver (or am I missing something?).

Ignore people telling you your insurance would be invalid for 6 weeks. That’s NOT true. Your insurance say you are fine to drive if you’ve been medically cleared. That varies depending what medical guidance you get. Some healthcare professionals will say not to drive for 6 weeks (that being when you usually have your 6-8 week check), some will say you just need to be able to perform an emergency break and not be taking any painkillers/medication that could affect your ability to drive. People get so caught up on 6 weeks, but that’s such an arbitrary number. You could equally not be fit to drive even after 6 weeks if you have a complicated recovery.

That said, I wouldn’t have driven that quickly after either of my sections and I had super straight forward recoveries both times (was driving after about 3 weeks) so I’m glad you managed to get it sorted.

I think it’s less about the trauma than the ability to actually perform it. That’s always been my take anyway.

Great update. How kind of the volunteer and wife.

Not sure what your financial situation is but can you get a taxi and then use Shiply to get your car transported? That's what I'm doing when I move house...it's very expensive but I'm prepared to pay to remove the stress of driving.

I thought a Doctor had to give you the ok to drive otherwise you're driving without a licence and insurance.
Hope you find a way home. It must be so difficult.

I’d try an emergency stop and call your insurance company. Mine said as long as my dr says it’s ok then I’m covered, I called the GP and he said as long as I feel I’m ok to drive then I’ve got permission to drive. I was back driving at 2 weeks post section, a few days seems risky.

Ask the hospital if they can sort out transport for you, they might get you a taxi

Congratulations on your new arrival OP.

Just to add my warm wishes for you, and also for the lovely volunteer and his wife. Isn’t it amazing that people give up their time in this way, such a worthwhile thing to do to help people in need.

p.s re your husband I was a late driver, didn’t get lessons until I was in my 20s and hated it. It’s scary but ultimately fine and the thinking about it was worse than actually doing it. I love to drive now, and never, ever, thought that would be the case. Just as a positive story for you both.

Are you serious? My DD was told not to drive for 6 weeks when she had a C section when she had hef DD. But congratulations on the birth of your daughter.

Oh I am so glad you've got something sorted. Congratulations and enjoy your new daughter when you get her home. Take care. 💐

Unless your insurance specifies c section or you told not too then it’s ok I drove 24 h after

You were staying with family, can one of them not drive you home then get back by train or bus? Or could a friend from home travel by train or bus to you and drive you home?

No…
You may feel fine, but you are putting not just yourself and baby at risk and anyone else in the car, but also other road users.
Don’t do it!.

I had to drive after a week or so as I had a baby in Nicu. The doctor said it was fine when I went for my check up. But, and this is a big but, I couldn’t lift my kettle without pain for the first few days, I would expect releasing a handbrake or turning a tight corner in a car would have been agonising but that pain does (ime) only take a few days to improve.

The insurance thing is a myth.

What’s not a myth is how much being in a car hurts! I felt every bump and knock when my DH drove me home the day after my section. I really wouldn’t have wanted to be the driver!

ffs at least read the OP's updates you lazy sods! 👍🏼

I would try stay with family has baby will need to be registered at the registry office for the hopsital she was born in which would mean traveling again. I'd register baby and then think about how to get home.

I called my insurer after my c section and asked when I could drive. They said it was up to me to decide if I felt I could do an emergency stop (ie slam on the brake pedal). I would suggest calling your insurer to determine whether you are covered.

in my case, I had a practice try of kicking a bin and decided it was fine. People’s physical state after a c section varies a lot, I was also out hiking and replaced a sink within a week of mine but I’ve heard of many people who were quite incapacitated, lots of pain, couldn’t get off the loo etc.

Absolutely not. Everything thinks it’s just the emergency stop but it’s not, you also need to twist to see your blind spot and you’ll probably want a pillow between the seat belt and your scar. Didn’t drive for 6 weeks after either of mine. You’ll almost certainly affect your insurance.

thats great news op! I bet you can’t wait to take your lovely baby home.