When can you drive after a c-section?

snorkelingluvr · April 2012

Hello. I had my cs Tuesday and assumed I would have info in my discharge papers, but they said nothing except how to wash my scar. I had heard I can't drive but how long?

ChiTown Bridget · April 2012

My dr said no driving for 2 weeks.

becketts · April 2012

I think 2 weeks is pretty standard. Be sure you're no longer taking any narcotic pain meds.

snorkelingluvr · April 2012

Thanks guys! No pain meds, I had the 24 hour Morphine in my Spinal and then just ibuprofen. 2 weeks isn't horrible I guess.

lucylea · April 2012

I think there are lots of different recommendations. My OB said once I was off pain meds and could sit and stand comfortably. By those standards I could have driven home from the hospital. I drove myself to lunch the day after I was discharged.

pinkmoonlight · April 2012

I was told no driving until my 4 week pp visit. After that my doctor told me short distances only until 6 weeks.

jjhp2018 · April 2012

My papers were also one that stated 2 weeks but my DH had to leave back out on the boat before my 2 weeks were up and I had no help so I had to start driving again a little before that. 2-3 days before or something I think.

pepomntpat · April 2012

pinkmoonlight:
I was told no driving until my 4 week pp visit. After that my doctor told me short distances only until 6 weeks.

This is what I was told as well.

HarrietNJMommy · April 2012

I drove around 2 weeks PP all 3 times. I didn't take any pain meds in the hospital or at home, so that made a difference.........

aandg · April 2012

My dr said 2 weeks or until I was off the narcotic pain meds.

magdalina.h · April 2012

As long as I was on pain meds I couldn't drive. Both times I waited a month. First because I was too upset to drive and second time MH was home for the first month (company closed) and he drove us everywhere.

sabrina69barnes · April 2012

lucylea:
I think there are lots of different recommendations. My OB said once I was off pain meds and could sit and stand comfortably.

This is what I was told. I drove for the first time at 8 days PP but it was less than a 10min drive. The next time I drove was at 2 weeks PP and that was a two hour car trip. I had to pick up my stepkids so I didn't really have a choice. I did just fine.

callmeAl19 · April 2012

I was told once I was off pain meds, but also to make sure I could turn at the waist easily. The other thing that the doctor and a couple of other people told me was to go out to the car and slam your foot on the brake before you try to drive. If you can do it without pain, you're ok to drive.

appylovee · April 2012

The say 2 weeks. I was driving 2 days after I was discharged. They don't want you driving on narcotics. My ob let me drive because well if I didn't I wouldnt be able to go visit my son in the nicu

ourlove4ever · April 2012

pinkmoonlight:
I was told no driving until my 4 week pp visit. After that my doctor told me short distances only until 6 weeks.

this is what mine said

aubreyalise · April 2012

callmeAl19:
The other thing that the doctor and a couple of other people told me was to go out to the car and slam your foot on the brake before you try to drive. If you can do it without pain, you're ok to drive.

this exactly. my dr said no driving until my 2 week appointment and at that appt she said only if i could slam my foot on the brake which i wasn't really comfortable with for another week or so.

CMM4828 · April 2012

Not until after my first PP visit...which I think was like 4 weeks after?

BananaPancake · April 2012

The general rule is about 2 weeks, but this really depends on the mom. For sections, if should be once you're off pain meds, once you're doing most of your tasks without help and once your bleeding is light. It should ALSO be once your mood has leveled out and you're VERY comfortable with the baby's crying. I know this sounds crazy, but one major reason I've been (by several OBs) told post-partum women shouldn't drive is because they're incredibly distracted and highly reactive. It's a bad combination behind the wheel. Try to wait until you know that there is no risk for a massive post-partum bleed and you're feeling like your old self again. It usually takes me about 2 weeks to start feeling like my head is working and I can actually handle the task of thinking through things.

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