Why 2 Weeks No Driving After C-section?

The slamming on the breaks thing does make sense, but my doctor didn't even tell me about that rule and I had 2 c-sections...I heard about it from other people. He didn't seem to think it was an issue. If you're off pain meds I think it's probably fine, but you could always have Hubby drive you and drop you off someplace fun and then come and fetch you! ;)

I drove a week after the C....You are pretty sore before that time anyway. 2 weeks would have driven me nuts.

I had 4 C-Sections and with my first they said no driving for 6-weeks. The others were 2-weeks. It's because your response in an emergency situation could be slower or lacking because of your wound. It's considered major surgery and you need extra time to heal. You'd be amazed how you need your stomach muscles during an emergency manuever. At least that's what they told me and I have to agree. Good luck!!

When you have a C-section, they aren't just taking a baby out. They are cutting through the muscle. When you drive, you are sitting up and using those muscles. if you had an accident, you could really damage yourself.

Just follow the doctor's recommendation and keep yourself safe and healthy. You have a sweet little baby who needs you around!

Twisting and turning to look behind you, bouncing around in the car even though minuscule movements may open the incisions deep inside and cause you to bleed out without even knowing you are hurt. IT's the same with any major surgery.

Think of where that seatbelt lands on your abdomen... now imagine having to slam the breaks and having that seatbelt tighten... ouch! You also contract all of your abdominal muscles when you react in an accident- not a good combo on an incision.

I drove myself to my 2 week appointment b/c my doctor didn't tell me about the driving thing and my husband had to work and my mom stayed home with the baby. Let's just say I think the doctor down the hall heard the nurses, "YOU DROVE YOURSELF HERE!"

I didn't think about it at the time, but it was stupid and I won't make that mistake again.

it's about reaction time - with an abdominal incision you just don't respond as quickly as you would if you hadn't had surgery. It'sonly 2 weeks out of your life - you need to heal and get better. See if there's a girlfriend around who's offered "let me know if there's anything I can do to help" - and get a chance to get a few girlfriend hours too!

.

When you cut muscles anywhere in your midsection, you are not only affecting muscles in your abdomen but every muscle from your shoulder down to your sides above your hips. If you ab muscles don't heal correctly w/less trauma, your recovery may take longer than it needs to b/c you can't use your arms or shoulders - things you really need while driving.

That's how it was explained to me after my c-section.

its for healing purposes......i wasnt allowed to drive for 6 weeks. the muscles need to heal

I thought it seemed silly too, but just stick with the rule. You've got plenty of time to run errands. Just take it easy & take some time to rest. :) Enjoy your new baby! Congrats!

My instructions were no driving until I was done with the pain meds.

My ob's instructions were no driving until I was off pain meds. I was driving about a week after my last c-section with no problems or discomfort. It didn't even occur to me that there would be any reason not to drive.

You have just had a baby and your body is not used to it not having (baby) inside of it. Plus you had a surgery which means your body is getting itself back together from having had trauma of the incision(s).

When you have a baby your muscles are stretched and don't respond to your commands to move as they did. Also you do not realize how much and many times a day you use your stomach muscles to sit, stretch, move, twist and sit. Driving makes you do all these things at once and if you have never experienced a surgery prior you will not undertand until it hits you and you feel very very sore.

As other posters have mentioned just the act of sitting in a car with the stitches still in pulls on your body and it hurts.

All I can say is take it easy now after baby and REST not run all over the neighoborhood because you have just had baby and feel free. The human body needs time to heal from anything that you do to it from falling down bruising, to birth, to surgery. What's the rush you have the next 20-30 years to get there. Take care of your body and it will take care of you. I say this as such because what you do to it now will show up later down the line like 30 to 40 years.

The other S.

PS I had a hysterectomy and stayed home for the two weeks which is very similar to a C-section and was sore. Just take your time and heal then you can run a marathon and not have pain anywhere.

I believe that with most surgeries the general advice is not to drive because IF you were to have an accident you might bust open your incision.

Oh stay home and make hubby run errands....you will be doing them again soon enough.

Good morning Molly,
The reason that you are not supposed to drive (I was told 10 days, but same difference) :-) is that if you were to get into a situation that you would have to slam on the brakes unexpectedly there is a risk of your stitches not being able to with stand the pressure. Not only the stitches that you can see, but the stitches in your abdomen may not hold through the stiff contraction of the muscles. (One of the reasons you were also probably told no sit-ups etc.)
That's what my doctor told me. (both times UGH!) Honestly, I waited, I figured in the long run...I'm going to be running errands all my life, 10 days wasn't that big of a deal. (plus it's not every day my husband chauffeurs for me! LOL!)
Best wishes for a speedy recovery! J.

In the event of an accident or even a near accident, if you slam your feet on the floor & cars hit your car, there's danger of the incision bursting open. That's what my doctor told me & you do not want the effects of the spillage of vital organs! That's a crude way to put it, but it did the job for me!

I thought it was a silly rule until I hopped behind the wheel... it only took getting to the end of the driveway to see why they recommended against it. When applying pressure to the brake, there was immediate, intense pain to the pelvic area. I can't imagine repeatedly going through that every time I needed to stop. It felt like I was about to rip out the stitches!
I just threw it in reverse, parked and decided that having someone else drive me wasn't so bad. :)
Don't cause any unnecessary damage to an already sensitive area! I recommend to wait the allotted time.