Driving after c section

[Melaniemiller]

I’m 3 weeks pp after an unplanned c section but no complications and I’m recovering well. I’m going a bit mad being unable to drive as my husband works long hours and we don’t live near good public transport links. Midwife said to wait for 6 week clearance from GP but nhs website just says you may need to wait to drive until you’re ready. Did anyone else drive earlier than 6 weeks? My car is automatic so I think will be easy and comfy to drive…

It's basically whether you are confident doing an emergency stop with the extra high pressure on your stomach from the seat belt.

I waited until 6 weeks. The internal wound takes longer to heal than the external one. 6 weeks is no time to wait in the bigger scheme of things.

You need to be able to turn well enough to check mirrors and blind spots. You also need to be able to do an emergency stop and be able to drive again after the extra pressure from the seat belt on the wound. If you drive too soon amd something happens, your insurance company may refuse to cover you. There is no blanket time period as everyone uses different.

Ring your insurance and ask what your policy states. I was back driving within 3 weeks of my last c section but waited 7 weeks after my first as had a double stitches abscess

I definitely drove before 6 weeks after I had my daughter by CS because I was doing the nursery run for my eldest (not walking distance), and I know for a fact I did that well before DD was 6 weeks old. My third DC is 4 weeks old on Thursday and I plan on driving to an appointment on that day. My car is automatic too so not too taxing on legs/core.

I drove at 3 weeks post c section. No problems whatsoever. My OB said it's mostly an insurance issue, drive when you feel able to stop suddenly.

I think women who live in an area where they can walk to things don't understand the desperation to get out.

Check your insurance small print. Mine said 'when you feel ready'. I drove myself home from the hospital.

With my 4th section my GP cleared me to drive after 2.5 weeks.

You don't need clearance from anyone, it's when you feel fit and ready to do so. Most insurers also say the same so just check with yours. Mine specifically say you don't need to contact them or let them know, and drive when you feel able. For me, I was driving in just under 2 weeks.

The 6-week thing is a myth, so it's a shame to see a midwife pedalling it. Some myths take a long time to die I guess.

Insurance companies differ but most say you can drive when you're ready or when a GP has cleared you, which you can ask them to do at any stage if you fit ready. Lots of women are back driving within 2 to 3 weeks.

I asked my GP if I would need her sign off to drive and she said no, adding that most women feel able to drive around the 3-4 week mark.

They cut through so many layers before stitching pretty much all of them back together. I would try to leave it as long as possible before driving. You are healing and recovering, you may feel fine but you have no way of knowing how well it is all knitting back together inside you. I have had 2 c sections.

It is soooo hard not to drive for 6 weeks but if there was an accident before the 6 weeks, the insurance company could use the fact that you weren’t fit to drive to not pay out. I think it’s in policy wording.

I was up at hospital today (3 weeks on tuesday) and cleared by the surgeon to drive. Insurance noted it on file and said I was good to go.

I did a 29 min drive and im sore though so dont set expectations too high!

I was driving about a week after c section. I did check with the GP but bearing in mind I had walked 1.5 miles uphill with a double pushchair to the surgery he laughed and said I’d be fine. You need to be able to do an emergency stop and be able to turn sufficiently well enough to check mirrors and reverse etc