When did we start driving after a c section?

Honestly I was driving about 2/3 weeks post section. I know how you feel. I couldn't wait to get back driving. I just did short trips to see how I felt and harsh breaking. I never needed to get cleared by the docs and I checked with my insurance and they didnt have an issue either. Its just whenever you're comfortable

I’m feeling the same way. I asked the hospital & they said they give 6 weeks as a blanket to everyone. They mentioned I could drive if I wanted too once feeling better although if in an accident and was my fault, insurance wouldn’t cover it. Your Dr should be able to give you an early clearance though!

Yes 6 weeks or your insurance may be invalid depending on where you are and honestly moving your legs to drive hurts more than you’d think, not to mention if needing to do an emergency stop 😩

Yes, as everyone’s said the insurance thing is an issue! But you usually can get a note saying it’s fine. If everyone’s informed, you should be fine.

I had an emergency section was told to wait 4-6 weeks I was driving 4 days later cabin fever set in and I needed out !!

I was driving after 9 days..your insurance is not void, google it. If that was the case, you’d have to inform both your insurance company and dvla that you’ve had a section 🤔🤣x

Listen you have to do everything they tell you honestly, people have come down with side effects that are lifelong after CS because they didn’t take their time till it was the right time. It’s just 6 weeks so take it easy

I just drove right after. The doctor and nurses never told me not to and I’d had no idea (it was my first baby and I ended up with an emergency c section). But no one told me and I didn’t know so I was driving right away.

Also if I hadn’t then I wouldn’t have been able to make it to my follow up appointments for both baby and I (we lived an hour and a half away from hospital and pretty much everything).

I only found out during one of my follow up appointments that I wasn’t suppose to drive after my doctor was like “wait you drove all the way here?” She knew how far I lived. And I was like “yeah why?” And she replied something like “You shouldn’t be driving—you could rip your stitches, say if a deer or something runs out in front of your car and you have to slam on your breaks” and it was too funny cuz literally on the way there a deer had actually run out in front of my car and I had to slam on my breaks lol!

Fortunately no ripped stitches came from that tho.

Thanks ladies. Probably just going to stick it out or wait until doctors clearance

I was told (& read) 2 weeks as long as I felt good.

Aftercare instructions also said no lifting more than 15lbs the first 6wks. I have a 15m old. I was lifting him as soon as I got home (3 days later). I made sure I wasn’t bending over to pick him up. I squatted down and lifted with my whole body. 🙃

I drove to my two week follow up

I didn't drive for 9 weeks cause I didn't feel like I could do an emergency stop. Hope you can manage ok lovely xxx

Yes listen i tried and it was so bad i didn't realise it can open up the cut and I couldn't drive normal because of my pain and worry

I was told I only needed to wait 2 weeks

girl same !

I drove after 6 days because I was driving back to the hospital to visit my NICU baby. Doc said NICU moms recover faster because they are up walking and moving

Typically if you can perform an emergency stop without pain you are safe to drive. I practiced in my driveway, slam on the brake pedal and see how I feel. However you should check with your insurance and local laws to insure you're in the right.

The 6 week rule is old advice. It frustrates me when colleagues still give it out. The answer is entirely based on you and your insurance policy. I was driving 3 weeks after both c sections. My insurances basically said as long as I could wear my seatbelt, comfortably do an emergency stop and wasn’t on any strong pain killers they weren’t bothered what I did

I didn’t have much choice after my first, it was lockdown and we had appointments to get to after my husband went back to work and it was too far to walk

13 days later

I listened to what was said and I personally feel like I couldn’t drive comfortably before that.

As someone who works in crash testing, I waited 6 weeks to fully heal. The steering wheel airbag in a collision will open your abdomen. We only test on “healthy” crash subjects, not people recovering from surgery. Our bodies are strong but not that strong.

Be careful as your insurance policy may not cover you if you’re in an accident.

My docs also said wait a minimum of 2 weeks, but they caveoted that I need to feel good enough that I could slam on the breaks if needed. That's a different level of healing than just being able to get into the car without pain.

I tried to drive 5 days after and said heck no 😭

My discharge paperwork said 2 weeks but also said whenever I felt up to it. I was very mobile after mine so it depends, I think. I think I was driving a week later. It felt good not to be trapped at home. You will be numb for a while and the numbness starts to recede over time The seat belt started bothering me later when I was less numb.

I'm 4 weeks post c section and after a 10 minute test drive without baby I've decided I'm going to drive tomorrow! Im 7 mims from the sea front and beed some sea air! I think you need to listen to your body and drive when you're ready. I was advised to speak to my insurance company though beforehand