Driving after a c-section

[Positivity2020]

Hi can anyone advise as to when you were able to drive after a c section ?
Thanks x

I thought it was 6 weeks all being well

I took about 8 weeks to feel ready, but my theatre nurse friend scared the shit out of me with horror stories of people's stitches bursting after braking too hard etc. Check also with your insurance as if you drive before the 6 week check and need to claim you might invalidate it.

It’s officially when the GO says you’re safe to drive.
For me it was 8 weeks, but I know a lot of people who were earlier than that x

2 weeks, but I was driving an automatic and I did ask the insurance company.

I have had 4 sections, and no one told me anything about this, (Not based in UK). As DH doesn't drive, I had no options, so I drove as soon as my parents left after each birth, so after 2 weeks roughly (except DC1 when I was alone, and so I did a big shop as soon as I was out of hospital, when he was a week old).

If possible, ask others to help you out.

The GP signed me off to drive after 3 weeks

Ps I took advice from my insurance company & they advised the above was ok 🙂

They tell you 6 weeks when you leave the hospital. This amount of time felt about right.

GP signed me off to drive at four weeks.

My insurers told me that if I felt safe to drive including doing an emergency stop then I could drive.

I drove a week after my section and felt fine to do so.

Some insurance companies want GP sign off; others let you self-certify. Mine wanted GP sign off. I checked I could move the car on our driveway, operate brake and clutch together, do an emergency stop, etc. on day 6. That was all fine. It took me a few days to get a GP appointment (where she seemed to have no idea what to do and just asked me if I felt ok to drive) so I got signed off on day 11.

I was in a hurry as my baby was in nicu and my husband didn't drive. Cab drivers seemed to find every speed bump in the borough, so I was a lot happier driving myself as soon as I could.

There is no set time. It’s whenever you are able to fully control your vehicle and perform an emergency stop safely. Very few insurance companies have policies on it but do check, as a few will ask that you have been cleared by a health care professional, but this is very much the exception rather than the rule.

I drove at 2 weeks with my first and 10 days with my second.

I drove after 6 weeks and felt dreadful afterwards. It only stopped pulling after around 8 weeks and felt completely normal around 12 weeks after

Felt fine after 4 weeks so went to gp to get signed off to cover myself on the insurance. Gp just made notes on the screen to say I’d been and she couldn’t see any reason for me not to be driving

2 weeks / I checked with gp and insurance co

Thanks everyone x

I had to drive myself and DD home. Went steady, and took lots of paracetamol. It had been a few days after the operation which helped.

I didn't know I had to wait 6 weeks and drove much much sooner. I remember not having pain at all, but I have an automatic gear.