When did you drive?

juliane2004

I know the doc's answer is 6-8 weeks but when did you really drive?

HarrietNJMommy

I've never had a driving restriction. I've driven myself to my 2 week PP visit since DH is always back at work. I start to drive when I get home. Not long distances, but short trips to the market, kid drop off, etc.

BUT, I don't take any pain meds in the hospital or at home, so that makes a bit of a difference. 

RayRay007

I know I drove at 3w2d (it was a Friday to meet friends for lunch), but I can't remember if I drove earlier than that. I also had to carry DD in her car seat for 2 blocks to the restaurant. That I wouldn't recommend, but the driving was fine.

coromble

I got clearance to drive, go up and down the stairs, carry LO in her car seat, push the stroller, etc at my two week appt.  Now, all that was in moderation, but it was okay at that point!

mben1119

6-8 weeks seems really long!  My doctor cleared me to drive at 2 weeks, as long as I wasn't taking my pain meds.

mlf625

My doctors have never said 6-8 weeks. That seems ridiculous to me. I was told it was fine to drive as soon as I felt up to it and was off the Percocet.  I stopped taking that a few days after we got home, and drove around the 2 week mark.  Right at 2 weeks for DS's 2 week check up, and just before 2 weeks after DD when I went to Target alone.  I would've been fine sooner, but I had DH and/or my mom around and just let them drive to be safe.

kcisthebombdotcom

My doctor's rec was 2 weeks and that's when I drove. DH was out of work that long so he drove everywhere.

tawillers

I have never heard of a 6-8w driving restriction.  6-8w has always been the restriction for sex, but not driving.  With my doctor, at least.

I was released to drive at 2w pp.

Kie310

He said 2-3 weeks for me!

stemms8810

I was told 2 weeks and I did just that.

Zimger

My doctor wanted me to wait at least 2 weeks before driving. It was a very long two weeks! I did wait the amount of time my doc suggested...If he had said 6-8 weeks I may have laughed at him! I have things that need to be done.

Daisy22

My OB didn't give me a time. Just said I could when i felt like it and I was off the percocet for over 24 hours. I don't know anyone that was given a 6-8wk driving restriction. If anything it was 2wks

bitsybubbles7

I had a nurse home visit at one week pp and she said I could drive whenever I got off the painkillers.  I stopped that day and drove the next; I was going nuts!  So I drove lo down to work (about a mile down the road) and showed him off.  Then we took a nap.

lil_jen051708

Nurses told me 2 weeks because they wanted you not to worry about slamming on the brakes and hurting yourself.  I drove 9 or 10 days after my c/s because DS had a dr appt and DH was back at work.  I only took ibuprofen in and home from the hospital so drugs weren't a concern. I'm not sure where you heard 6-8 weeks.

juliane2004

Thanks everyone.

Just to clarify, I was told by the nurses before leaving the hospital that overall, it takes 6-8 weeks recover. If I want something to happen before that (like lifting my kids, or driving, etc) I need to be cleared by a doc first.

Thanks again.

CMDR513

I drove to my 2 weeks PP. I went to my uncle's funeral about 40 minutes away 1 week PP.

HotChocolate79

I think it was 5 weeks after my CS but it had nothing to do with restrictions - I believe my OB said I could drive as soon as I was off painkillers and feeling comfortable.  I was in a really dumb car accident at 39 weeks, so it just took me a while to feel comfortable behind the wheel again.

penguingrrl

My doctor said 3 weeks even though I wasn't on pain killers. Part of it was because my car is a stick, so it requires more movement to drive.

MichelleL1118

The only restriction I was given with driving was not to drive while still taking the narcotic pain meds.  Once I was on advil only for pain management, I was clear to drive.  I drove for the first time less than a week after my c/s to take my mom home (5 minutes each way) and just over a week after my c/s to get DS's newborn photos done (about an hour each way).

aandg

My dr said 2 weeks or after I stopped taking the narcotic pain meds. I drove after my 2 week PP appt.

Neener73

LucyD1029:

My doctor said 2-3 weeks or whenever I was off painkillers and could slam on the brakes.

This is what I was told.  I haven't had to drive yet.  DH is a teacher, and the school year doesn't start until the end of the month, so he has been doing all of the driving.  My mom actually has my car for the month because she is visiting from out-of-state.  (No, she's not staying with us for the whole month.)

Msbean22

Geez, I was never advised of restrictions, other than to take it easy. I drove myself to my appointment to have my staples removed 5 days after the operation, and have drove a few times since. Never more than a few miles in town, though.

ilovelife

tawillers:

I have never heard of a 6-8w driving restriction.  6-8w has always been the restriction for sex, but not driving.  With my doctor, at least.

I was released to drive at 2w pp.

This!

juliane2004

GhostMonkey:

2 weeks when my doctor cleared me.

I don't know why you bother with a doctor since you don't listen to anything they tell you anyway.

Maybe you were told that long because you have had 3 c-sections in less than 3 years despite your doctor telling you to not get pregnant close together due to complications.

 

Following me here, too?

M&M227

My Dr. said 4 weeks but I drove after 2 when DH went back to work.  I couldn't stay in the house without going crazy and it was June so some days too hot to take baby for walk outside.  Every few days we'd go to Target or some other store and walk around.

annabelle.27

day 5. No one mentioned a driving restriction to me, and by the time I heard about it, I had been driving for some time. It didn't seem like a big deal to me.

Mrs. Alice

I don't remember them giving me any restrictions and I know better than to drive while on painkillers but I would say a few days after I got home.  6-8 weeks is ridiculous.  I was fine and driving 2 hours each way to the NICU by week 2.

JustAhopin

They told me not to drive in the first 2 weeks. I've only driven twice and tomorrow is 4 weeks. The two times were to the store a mile away too. The first time was the day 2 days before 2 weeks, I still didn't like really lifting my foot, so for me I knew the restriction was accurate. BTW, both times I drove, I was solo.

luckylindy

My doc said 6w...I was driving week 2.

ShelbehhRawrr

I drove at 10 days pp. They said 2-3 weeks but I never took anything but motrin and it was 2 miles to the grocery store to pick up an extra bottle.

appylovee

Two days after I went home. I had to drive myself to the NICU to see my son! I told my dr, and he wasn't too concerned. He said I had to do what I had to do. Just to be careful with the percs and driving. I can't take NSAIDS, so I had to take the percs.