C-Sections and Driving

I had my ECS nearly 3 weeks ago now, and am feeling great - man I loved it compared to my natural delivery!! - but am wanting to get in the car again...nothing major, would love to be able to pop down the road for milk, or take the kids to the park. I don't have insurance at the mo, so that's not an issue. have spoken to MW and we are going to discuss it when she comes round next week, but I was wondering if anyone on here started driving again before the recommended 6 weeks was up, and how you found it??

If you can stand up and stomp your foot down onto the ground really fast and hard without your guts hurting then you can drive.

The reason you need to be able to stomp down is that if you have a crash you need to be able to stomp your foot on the brake quickly. If your muscles are not healed enough then you will not be able to do it and may end up crashing. If you can do it fine then you can drive.

I had no choice but to drive at about 2-3weeks post-c-sect last time as DH had to go back to work & I had to take kids to school/kindy- ob had ok-ed it, just said if I could stomp my foot down & turn around from my waist whilst sitting that I would be ok on short trips. I overdid it slightly & did end up a little achey. Would definitely recommend a paracetamol beforehand, especially as you get that slight pain re-lapse around the 3wk mark anyway.

Thanks everyone, excellent feedback. I tried the foot stomping thing and the turning at the waist thing, and can do both no probs! Good to get the heads up about the pain increase at the 3 week mark too - i had come off pain meds a day or two ago, but am feeling it today...! Just had to take 2 panadol. Will wait til I get the go ahead from my MW this week, but I think I'm good to get back on the road

You may want to check with your insurance company I have heard some need a medical approval to drive before 6 weeks,

State was sweet tho, they were happy as long as I was happy to drive. It was about 4 weeks for me, but DH was off till then to drive me round.

I drove today for the first time (12 days) as i had no choice - doctors appt then needed to get to the hospital to see DS and hubby was working. I felt totally fine apart from the fact I have an infection and that bloody hurts

I had the lumps too, a couple of them were pretty sensitive for a day or three from memory. MW checked them out, and she said it's because there are a few layers of sutures they need to do, so it'll most likely be your internal dissolving sutures that haven't dissolved yet - they knot them a few times at each end to make sure they're well and truly secure.