Driving after c section (UK)

Just check with your car insurance x Mine said it’s fine and don’t need to tell them I’ve had a c section etc unless I’ve been unfit to drive for 3 months

It's recommended to wait until after 6 weeks or when you can safely carry out an emergency stop but they often call you for appointments way before then and some people have no choice but to drive if they don't live near places etc which is a pain.

As long as you can do an emergency stop you can start driving again. I waited 5 weeks but could have really done it after 4. I called the doctors and asked them and they just said as long as you feel fit enough then you’re fine x

The GP doesn’t actually do a ‘sign off’ as such. I rang to book mine in after having my daughter and was told it wasn’t really a thing unless you wanted to be seen and checked over sort of thing. Check on your car insurance and what they say, as it can sometimes void it if you go too early. Typically you’re recommended six weeks by midwives, I drove slightly earlier as I was ready and had to drive to get to my requested GP appointment!

I drive after 2 weeks I know I shouldn’t have but I kinda had no choice and I was safe and did little drives to the doctors and back 5/10 min max and felt safe enough and passed all the safety checked so I guess it’s when your read and feel safe x

My first csection I waited 6 weeks, but wasn’t very able so happy I did. Second csection I drove after 3 weeks as I felt fine, only started with small 15 minute max journeys then as I felt more comfortable upped it x

Thanks so much everyone. I live rurally so not being able to even go to the shop is driving me nuts. Its good to know the GP doesn't formally sign anything off. I might wait a week til 6 weeks and start with some small 10 min journeys. I feel confident that I could safely drive and do an emergency stop without pain now!

I started driving again after a week.. was a little difficult getting in and out of my truck but it was fine 🤷🏻‍♀️

I didn’t drive until 8 weeks because I was scared but was a passenger from like week 3 after going home from the hospital of course. I wanted my OB to tell me it was ok before driving and she said I would be ok to drive as long as I was off the opioids pp. I still wanted to wait until my incision was fully closed because of the seat belt.

Its insurance. Nothing to do with your 6 week check. Your insurance is invalidated after major abdominal surgery for 6 weeks. As it is illegal to drive without valid insurance, you cannot drive for 6 weeks after a C-section.

I drove at about 4 weeks as my partner went back to work and I needed to. The car insurance thing is a myth, no insurance actually says you cannot drive. The doctor who did the surgery told me I could drive as long as I could do an emergency stop x

I drove after 2 weeks, I was going crazy being stuck in and none of my family or friends live close so I would have to travel to see them and I felt so isolated those first 2 weeks even when we had visitors. I was told that insurance companies will say as long as you can do an emergency stop safely then it’s okay to drive x

@Kirsty that’s not true! Most insurance companies don’t actually say you can’t drive after a c section. They say as long as you can drive comfortably and doctor hasn’t specified against it then no problem You only have to inform them and the DVLA if you’re unfit to drive 3 months after surgery 😊xx

@Chloe it's been true for all three of my C-sections so far. And I tend to have a different insurance company every year. The way it has been explained to us at two different hospitals trusts has been that if I were to have a crash during that 6 weeks, my insurance wouldn't cover the crash, which is not a risk i would take. So far, everyone i know who has had a section has been told the same thing. Maybe it's different depending on where you are in the UK but that seems to be the rule in Surrey and Sussex.

Until your doctor signs you off. Even if you're the best driver, if someone crashes into you, your insurance is invalid. It's just not worth the risk

@Kirsty I’m based in Sussex too! Checked with my insurance and they said as long as I feel okay to drive :) x

Check with your car insurance. They said as long as I have ok from hv and can do an emergency stop.

6 weeks