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Pregnancy

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Original poster

driving after a c-section.

20 replies

fairydust · 20/11/2005 16:32

My friend had a c-section 2 weeks ago and has recovered really well - she was told by the midwife that if she felt ok then she could drive.

i thought it was 6 weeks anyone know any different?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Yorkiegirl · 20/11/2005 16:36

Message withdrawn

vickiyumyum · 20/11/2005 16:36

it depends more on your insurance company than how you feel.

if she were to have an accident then she may discover that the insurance would not pay out on her claim because she was not medically fit to drive!

after my c/s i rang my insurance company and was told that it was ok to drive after 4 weeks, so tell her to ring them and ask how long there policy requires.

Original poster

fairydust · 20/11/2005 16:36

thanks YG -any idea how much earlier than 6 weeks - 2 weeks sounds a little early to me.

OP posts:

highlander · 20/11/2005 16:53

The 6 week advice has not chnaged in the UK since the old vertical CS scars.

In Canada it's 10 days. I was lifting my neighbour's toddler after 7 with no probs.

Of course, if you are overweight and unfit then you take longer to heal.

Bellie · 20/11/2005 16:56

My insurance company said that I could drive as soon as I wanted as long as I got a doctors certificate to say that I was fit to drive or after 6 weeks. Couldn't get an appointment until 5.5 weeks after having a c-section -decided to wait until the 6 weeks were up!

polly28 · 20/11/2005 17:38

I drove after 2 weeks,gp said it was fine,insurance co said it was fine if gp said so,no cert needed.

bobbybob · 20/11/2005 17:49

Yep, driving against medical advice is something insurance company would get mad about, but if they have said it's okay. Might be an idea to get it written in your notes in case you are ever called on it.

aloha · 20/11/2005 18:06

I was given no medical advice. And I felt perfectly fit. Do people worry about this after any other procedure? I really don't think so.
I tend to think that much of it is part of the huge amount of anti-caesarian propaganda you hear.

Witchycat · 20/11/2005 18:09

My midwife's advice was that I could drive so long as I felt I could do an emergency stop without hurting myself. I.e. could I make a sudden, violent movement and feel perfectly ok?

I rang my insurance company to check and they weren't bothered in the slightest. Didn't have to prove anything.

I drove after 3 weeks - after both sections.

futurity · 20/11/2005 18:10

First time round (almost 4 years ago) I was told 6 weeks...this time round (9 months ago) I was told 3 weeks which I found fine and that I was ready by then to be responsible and safe to drive a car (apart from having had no sleep of course! )

mumfor1sttime · 20/11/2005 18:11

Hi, I wasnt given any advice from the hospital, but HV told me not to drive for 4 weeks.
I had a driving test booked within these weeks (which I cancelled as I didnt feel well enough to take it) and when I spoke to the DSA they said they had no problem with me sitting my test!
Not sure there is a legal time limit. Ask your friend to check with her insurance company or doctor.

ladymuck · 20/11/2005 18:37

Aloha, some motor insurance policies will have clauses in that cover any major op (and yes, for these purposes, a c/s counts). In fact motor insurances have a lot more medical clauses in that I ever realised. I think that the 6 weeks seems to be still bandied bout by the NCT though (not only have you succumbed to the cascade of intervention, but here is your just reward!)

First port of call is your insurance company to findout what their rules are. Most will say once your GP has OK'ed it. I phoned my GP and he said it was OK if I felt that I could perform an emergency stop safely (so no examination etc).

I think that I was driving by 4 weeks both times, and from memory did one journey well before that as I had asked my mother to take myself and ds1 somewhere (doctors or hv), only to find that she arrived in her 2 seater....

mawbroon · 20/11/2005 18:38

Same as many others have said. I called my insurance company to check their policy. Was told six weeks unless given the ok sooner by the doctor.

Also worth bearing in mind that lifting your feet to work the pedals does put a large strain on your abs and might not be advisable so soon.

geogteach · 20/11/2005 18:41

I found I could drive (after about 4 weeks), but couldn't lift toddler into car seat thus limiting the opportunities to drive anywhere anyway.

Blandmum · 20/11/2005 18:42

I drove before the 6 week point, probably at about 3 weeks with ds (elective)

Two weeks I was still too sore

fruitful · 20/11/2005 18:48

My midwife told me to put a matchbox upright on the floor, sit on a chair next to it, stamp on the matchbox and crush it. If it didn't hurt, I could do an emergency stop. She also said short journeys were fine but long ones might not be a good idea.

The hospital said "probably about 4 weeks".

It was about 3.5 weeks before my brain felt well enough to drive anyway.

aloha · 20/11/2005 18:52

I think it's far more dangerous to drive with a 3/4 year old in the back who WON'T STOP TALKING!

ladymuck · 20/11/2005 18:53

Wait until he can fight with his sibling!

Hazellnut · 20/11/2005 19:25

my insurance company said it was up to my doctor. The doctors at the hospital had acutally told me that there was no medical reason for not being able to drive after a c-section (mind you that was when they were persuading me into it ). At 4 weeks I went to my GP and got the ok and was definitely fine to drive at that point.

tex111 · 20/11/2005 19:40

Must admit I drove a week after my recent cesarean but it was to take DS to the doctor and only because I had no other choice. Agree that the hardest thing was getting DS in and out of the car seat.

My insurance company said I could drive as soon as I had my GP's approval but haven't gotten around to scheduling an appt yet (2 weeks 5 days since cesarean now).

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