Driving after a C Section

xzanti · 07-01-2011 08:20PM #1

I had a section 2 weeks ago.. As fair as I'm aware I have to wait 6 weeks before I'm insured to drive.. this is what family and friends have told me however nobody at the hospital actually told me this..

Without actually ringing my insurer to confirm this.. can anyone here tell me if this is still common practice?

I'm going stir crazy already

feel like someone has taken off my legs..

Cheers..

holidaygirl · 07-01-2011 08:36PM

Most insurers will cover you to drive if you have a letter from your gp. I had a section in October and had hoped to get back driving before the 6 weeks. Unfortunately I was very slow to heal and wasn't fit for driving till after 6 weeks anyway.

January · 07-01-2011 08:50PM

You have to get a letter from your GP stating that he/she thinks you are fit to drive and send it to your insurance company.

Thing is, you think you may be totally healed and fine to go, but any strain put on the scar from breaking suddenly etc can really hurt and may set the healing back.

metrovelvet · 07-01-2011 08:54PM

I think it can also depend on what pain management you are on.

xzanti · 07-01-2011 08:57PM

metrovelvet wrote: »

I think it can also depend on what pain management you are on.

I'm not on anything.. got a script for Ponsten but I don't need them, feel fine, been out walking the baby every day in the pram.. Just mad to get back driving as my family live in Dublin and I'm in the back arse of Kildare

Thanks a million ladies

Das Kitty · 07-01-2011 09:06PM

Using the pedals in a car uses the muscles that were cut in the section. I was grand doing anything but when I went back driving it showed just how weak I was.

xzanti · 08-01-2011 04:02PM

He said he wouldn't risk it

I'm so fed up... he examined my wound and all, said I look fine and healing up great but he doesn't want the burdon of guilt on him if God forbid I did have an accident...

So I've another 4 weeks ahead of me with no wheels :mad:

January · 08-01-2011 06:23PM

Just get yourself out and about with loads of walks! Bundle baby up nice and warm and the fresh air makes them sleep great

crazy cat lady · 09-01-2011 12:03AM

The 6 week rule is there for a reason so I'm glad your GP said no to driving for now.

You've just had a baby and major surgery. You may feel fine but your immune system and your body in general has taken a battering so use this time to properly recover and let your insides heal properly.

Let your family come ot you! Let them take you out and where you need to be. Its one of the few times in life when you should be able to rely on your friends and family to help you out. Enjoy it!

4 weeks will go by very quickly anyway, I should know, the past year has just flashed before my eyes! :rolleyes:

kelle · 09-01-2011 01:41AM

After my third baby was born I got a letter from my consultant saying I was fit to drive after 2 weeks, but he was reluctant. I begged him, telling him I had no other way of getting my older kids to school.!

I suppose the doctor is liable if you subsequently have an accident, and nowadays is not likely to leave himself open to litigation!

I had no problems after my sections (I had 3), I drove anyway after my first 2 (not knowing I wasn't covered!!).

Kaybe · 11-01-2011 11:39PM

2 sections here, and back driving within 2 weeks on both. No issues , and neither my doctor nor my insurance company had any problems with it.

There is no "rule"... this thing of 6 weeks seems to be what "they" say, but who are "they"...? After my first section, I was told by a lot of people that "they say you can't drive until 6 weeks", but when I called my insurance company about it the guy sighed and said "I would love to know who is running around telling women this... there is no such rule. If you feel fine to drive, then you can drive". So, I did.
Mind you, at my 2 week check up I asked my GP to make a note in my file that I was fine to drive...just in case!

But, think about it - if you break your hand, or have your appendix removed or are just feeling pretty ****ty from a bad flu or whatever, well there is no letter required from your doctor to certify you as fit to drive again. And, in the case of appendix or other stomach surgery it's similar muscles that are affected.
I checked to make sure that I could lift both feet off the ground at the one time, which is the action you will require if you need to make an emergency stop and hit the brake and clutch at the same time - once I could do this, I was fine to drive.

LashingLady · 12-01-2011 10:13AM

I had my appendix out last week and doc told me not to drive for two weeks. That was with keyhole surgery, if I had had open surgery it would have been three weeks he said.

It also depends on your insurer, I called mine to see if I could drive 4 weeks after section and they told me they needed a letter from GP (who wouldn't give it to me)

I know it's a royal pain in the ass not being able to drive but you really dont' know what your limits are at this stage. I know at two weeks past I would have had great difficultly lifting the carseat in and out of the car with baby in it.

You sound like you're healing really well, so maybe doc would consider signing you off to drive at 4 weeks past?

rylie · 13-01-2011 04:15PM

My GP refused to give me a letter and I have to say it was kinda nice having the excuse to just hang out with baby rylie and get to know him for the first 6 weeks!

Word of warning though, don't be tempted to drive without the GP letter- my first drive after the 6 weeks were up and I reversed into someone in a carpark

I was so thankful I was covered under my insurance- I did €1200 damage!!!

xzanti · 14-01-2011 01:30PM

Kaybe wrote: »

but when I called my insurance company about it the guy sighed and said "I would love to know who is running around telling women this... there is no such rule. If you feel fine to drive, then you can drive". .

God I'd love if that is the case.. Do you mind me asking who you were insured with?

ellee · 14-01-2011 03:03PM

Ah flip's sake, if you feel able to drive, I wouldn't go asking anyone or telling anyone anything I'd just go do it. Plus, they don't always cut your muscles nowadays so healing time is much faster. No one in the hospital said one thing to me about driving and while I can't remember what I did now driving wise I certainly just went for it when I felt able. That said, I was only going a mile or two to the shops not a 100k trip anywhere!

And if you do have an accident, what are you going to do? Jump out of the car and say oh my god I've just had a c-section? I don't think so.

What your insurance company doesn't know won't hurt them and plus, if they haven't alerted you to their "rule" it's pretty hard to make it stick.

Thing is, once you go asking for permission people get cautious. I'm certainly with Kaybe on this one.

implausible · 14-01-2011 11:18PM

Kaybe wrote: »

when I called my insurance company about it the guy sighed and said "I would love to know who is running around telling women this... there is no such rule. If you feel fine to drive, then you can drive". So, I did.
Mind you, at my 2 week check up I asked my GP to make a note in my file that I was fine to drive...just in case!

I got the same from the insurance company. Afaik, some insurance companies consider you a liability after major surgery, so it's an ass-covering exercise. They might use it as an excuse not to pay out on a claim so just in case, I went to the medical centre and got a note from my doc saying I was ok to drive.

Just as well he didn't ask me how I got there:D:D

January · 14-01-2011 11:36PM

ellee wrote: »

Ah flip's sake, if you feel able to drive, I wouldn't go asking anyone or telling anyone anything I'd just go do it. Plus, they don't always cut your muscles nowadays so healing time is much faster. No one in the hospital said one thing to me about driving and while I can't remember what I did now driving wise I certainly just went for it when I felt able. That said, I was only going a mile or two to the shops not a 100k trip anywhere!

And if you do have an accident, what are you going to do? Jump out of the car and say oh my god I've just had a c-section? I don't think so.

What your insurance company doesn't know won't hurt them and plus, if they haven't alerted you to their "rule" it's pretty hard to make it stick.

Thing is, once you go asking for permission people get cautious. I'm certainly with Kaybe on this one.

Pretty bad info to give, insurance companies can and will hire private investigators to follow you if they have their suspicions about any claim you are making.

lonestargirl · 14-01-2011 11:41PM

6 weeks!! :eek: I'd be driven spare.

My doctor says I can drive when I feel comfortable to. I was back in the car on Wednesday (5 days post-section). I have no pain and no problems sitting up or lifting.

implausible · 16-01-2011 12:37AM

lonestargirl wrote: »

6 weeks!! :eek: I'd be driven spare.

My doctor says I can drive when I feel comfortable to. I was back in the car on Wednesday (5 days post-section). I have no pain and no problems sitting up or lifting.

I was the same, it's just the 'what if' factor. I'd hate to give an insurance company an excuse not to pay out, if heavens forbid, anything happened.

Das Kitty · 16-01-2011 12:49AM

I drove too early myself. I was too weak really. One of my internal stitches came loose that week, I'm convinced it was the driving. I can feel a little lumpy bit there still now. (Got it checked by the doc at the time btw)

lonestargirl · 16-01-2011 12:52AM

deemark wrote: »

I was the same, it's just the 'what if' factor. I'd hate to give an insurance company an excuse not to pay out, if heavens forbid, anything happened.

True, but my insurance company are ok with me driving.

maiden · 31-01-2011 11:56AM

When there was talk of me having a section I rang my insurance co and they told me that abolutely I would be insured! They said that they could NOT discriminate between a man and a woman having surgery!

They said to, of course follow medical advice but at no point would i not be insured.

Driving after a C Section

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