C-Section and Driving question

I had 2 csections. Crash and scheduled

Asking for a friend. She had a very traumatic experience with her first DD b/c she was born with a condition where she had to be rushed to NICU and spent months at the Philly hospital.

She is pregnant with a 2nd. Everything is going perfect so far so it's a little weird for her and her DH. They're not used to be excited and having everything healthy.

She wants to go for a VBAC, but will have a scheduled date just incase. She said she had such a hard time recovering with her c, but I also think it was b/c of the stress and running to the NICU so much she didn't have time to recover. She's nervous about a c b/c she had a bad experience last time.

I'm supporting her for either, but I was telling her that having a c is fine too and recovery will be better than her last time. She also told me that her OB said she can't drive 6 weeks after c.
I never heard that! I heard 2 weeks the most. I know with DS2 I was fine driving a week later. I also told her they said no for 6 weeks
They laughed and she said she was positive it was for driving so of course I said... yeah, driving her DH.
Does that sound right? 6 weeks driving?

Re: C-Section and Driving question

I had a c/s and was told no driving for 4 wks.

Also, my DD wound up in the NICU and I had a hard time recovering so I think you're right about that part. I wound up with one after stalled labor and my body had been beat up by all the pitocin I was given and the next day I had no choice but to walk to the NICU every 3 hours to see my DD. I was walking down a long hallway within 12 hrs of her birth to be able to do it. It was quite painful as the meds wore off coupled with having to walk a lot.

Good luck to your friend, I hope the recovery this time is not so bad!

Re: C-Section and Driving question

I think it was 3 weeks for me.. I gotta say i felt good until I tried to turn to look back. I wasn't thinking and man I felt that. then on i was just more careful twisting. I had to drive. Then again I also had to do stairs from day one as I lived in a second floor apt.

Re: C-Section and Driving question

Ob told me two weeks
I felt great after the c section and drove for the first time after 12 days to class.


eta: Getting in and out of the car was a little rough for the first 3 weeks though.

Message edited 3/19/2012 11:40:27 AM.

Re: C-Section and Driving question

My OB allowed me to drive 2 weeks to the day after I had my DD by c-section. I had no problems at all.

Re: C-Section and Driving question

Re: C-Section and Driving question

Re: C-Section and Driving question

I had to wait 3 weeks.

Re: C-Section and Driving question

I was allowed to drive right away with both my c-sections. I drove myself to my 2 week followup appt.

Re: C-Section and Driving question

I was told 2 weeks but I did drive before the 2 weeks were up.

Re: C-Section and Driving question

I couldn't drive for 2 weeks but I drove after one. I was stuck at home with just the baby and I decided I needed coffee.

My Dr said no for 4 weeks.

Re: C-Section and Driving question

I was told 2 weeks but i could have driven sooner. My doc said once you can go from the gas to the break without feeling pain you're good to go.

I had a major abdominal surgery also and it took me 3 weeks to be able to drive again.

6 weeks seems like a really long time!

Re: C-Section and Driving question

I had to wait 2-3 weeks def not 6

Re: C-Section and Driving question

I don't remember... and I was so sleep deprived that I didn't want to go anywhere but to bed!

I've heard 6 weeks though. The seatbelt sits right on your incision, so if you're in an accident or stop short, you could really get hurt.

Re: C-Section and Driving question

My OB honestly never said how long to wait. I drove to have my staples removed a week later. I had only taken motrin and felt fine to drive.

Re: C-Section and Driving question

I just had a c/s 3 weeks ago. My OB said no driving for 2 weeks. I drove locally (a few blocks) about 10 days later. I felt back to normal by then. It was my second c/s, but I had a vbac in between and my first c/s was almost 8 years ago.

Re: C-Section and Driving question

i was told no driving for 2 weeks.. with C #1 i drove 7 days after birth.. with C #2 i was driving 4 days after birth...

but i never heard 6 weeks

Re: C-Section and Driving question

it was 2 weeks for me for driving, 6 for

Message edited 3/19/2012 7:50:37 PM.

Re: C-Section and Driving question

I was told to not drive for 2 weeks.

Re: C-Section and Driving question

I was never told anything about driving. It never even occurred to me that it might be a problem. I think I drove to a doctors appt about a week after. I wasn't taking any pain mess or anything though.

Re: C-Section and Driving question

I had a c/s after 6 weeks of strict bed rest and was not permitted to drive (nor was I physically able to drive) for 6 weeks. I had muscle atrophy after the birth of DS. For my repeat c/s with DD (transverse breech) I was permitted to drive after 3 weeks. HTH

Re: C-Section and Driving question

Re: C-Section and Driving question

I drove to my 2w pp checkup. Felt like such a big girl.

Re: C-Section and Driving question

I had to wait 4-6 weeks before I could drive!

Re: C-Section and Driving question

2 weeks and as long as I was off the narcotic pain meds.