Ladies that had a c-section... riding long distances?

[Piecey]

... one of my OB's orders after my c-section on June 3rd was to have "Limited car riding."
I didn't think to ask "for how long"... and now DH and I are in a disagreement.

I realize I can call and ask my OB but I'd like more of a personal answer from someone who has actually HAD the surgery, not performed it, as I know riding in the car too long would only make things uncomfortable for me... not kill me, kwim?

I'm thinking of accompanying my father to pick my brother up from the airport (about a 2 hour drive) Wednesday morning. The trip is straight there, get him, and straight back.
I get out just fine and have been going out to eat/shop/the movies with DH since last Tuesday... but he doesn't want me to go because I need to "rest" and because of what my OB said about "Limited car riding."

I can't imagine the trip being a big deal.
So.. did anyone with a c-section take a 2 hour car ride two weeks after the surgery and live to tell about it?

(I do plan to call my OB and get it OK'ed for DH's peace of mind if I do decide to go..)

 

[minkydog]

I haven't had a c-section, but I have had abdominal surgery a few times. I'm also a nurse so I think I know where your doctor was going with this. Riding in cars for long distances after major surgery can put you at risk for deep vein thrombosis--blood clots. One thing you can do to lower the risk is to break up the trip so you can stop and walk around for 10 minutes every hour.

The only other thought I had is the doctor is probably considering your energy level post c-section. A lot of women feel extra fatigued due to the healing of the surgical site and the hormones and demands of being a new mom. After my own surgeries I found that I just didn't have the stamina to go long distances and when I got over-tired I had more pain and more bleeding(TMI).

Talk it over with your OB and see how he feels about it. He can tell you what his concerns are, then you can decide if you still want to make the trip.

 

[Feralpeg]

I had a C-section. After two weeks, I was driving and riding in the car all over the place. A lot of what you should and should not do depends on how you are feeling. I think one of the reasons they discourage driving and long car rides is due to the possibility of an injury from the seatbelt. That would be bad.

The only thing I was very careful of was not to pick up heavy objects for a month following my surgery. Since I was alone, I was doing house work, laundry, shopping and taking care of the baby by myself from the day I got home from the hospital. If something bothered me, I stopped doing it.

 

[HunnyPots]

The worst thing is the seatbelt. After an hour or so it can really start to be uncomfortable. I had this problem 18 years ago after my c-section and again 2 years ago after my hysterectomy. What I did was, I took a hand towel and rolled it up and placed it over my incision site so the seatbest would not cause so much pressure. It heped tremendously.

 

[fussymonkey]

I went on a 9 hr car trip to go to a cousin's wedding two weeks after my c/s. I was perfectly fine. My cousin was getting married two weeks after my c section was scheduled. She's several states away and I realllllllly wanted to be there for her wedding, and to introduce my son to our extended family. Seriously no problems at all, it really went well. In fact, while we were in DC we visited Arlington and Mt. Vernon, so I was even sight seeing. I know not everyone is able to be that mobile after a c/s, but the car ride was not a problem at all.

edited to add that I had my OB's permission for the trip.

 

[Beca]

I had a C-section. After two weeks, I was driving and riding in the car all over the place.

Wow!! You had a really nice OB!!! Mine said no driving for SIX WEEKS!!!! After about 4 weeks, I had horrible cabin fever and decided I really needed to go to Taco Bell (btw...I HATE Taco Bell) to get a taco. Of course, my dh had the phone in his hand threatening to call my doctor if I left. I was so mad, I told him HE could have the next baby!!

I thought my six-week ban from driving was standard practice, but I guess not!!!!

OP.....I think if you feel fine, you are probably fine.

 

[We Love the Mouse!]

Two weeks after I had my second child (and my 2nd C-section) we headed out on a 10 hour car ride to vacation at the beach. Took more breaks then usual and was careful but had no problems.

 

[T16GEM]

I wasn't allowed to drive for 6 weeks either, I think your car insurance may be void if you are driving before this time as you may not have the strength to brake hard if need be. As your riding in the car my Dr. didn't say anyhing about limiting time, although I can understand what other posters have said regarding DVT.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I've had 3 plus one additional abdominal surgery and my OB said the same thing, limitied driving for 6 weeks (as a passenger, no actual driving for 6 weeks). I don't know how 2 hours fits in, the seat belt was so bothersome (I used a pillow) for about a month that I didn't argue it. The only time I was tempted to was after our first DD was born, I really wanted to get her home to meet her great-great grandma and get a 5 generation photo. The doctor still said I had to wait 6 weeks, though that was an 8 hour ride.

Part of me says if you feel up to it, why not? But a bigger part of me says why risk it...

Congrats on that beautiful baby!!!

 

[rcraw45425]

I must have had the same OB as Peggy (FerelPeg), I was able to drive after two weeks with no problems.

 

[aprilgail2]

Wow!! You had a really nice OB!!! Mine said no driving for SIX WEEKS!!!! After about 4 weeks, I had horrible cabin fever and decided I really needed to go to Taco Bell (btw...I HATE Taco Bell) to get a taco. Of course, my dh had the phone in his hand threatening to call my doctor if I left. I was so mad, I told him HE could have the next baby!!

I thought my six-week ban from driving was standard practice, but I guess not!!!!
.

6 WEEKS???? Mine said to go easy on the driving for the few days after the c-section until the stitches/ staples came out but man- SIX weeks?? The day after I got home I did have a friend come pick me up and take me to the mall to get some clothes for my daughter (preemie, nothing fit that I had!) and also take my daughter to the Dr the day after that for a check up but after a week I was driving all over....
I don't see any problem with sitting in a car for a 2 hour drive that long after your c-section.

 

[Angelhalo]

I didn't have a baby but had a c-cestion operation for something else. Doctor said it was pretty much the exact same operation. I didn't go anywhere further than a 15 minute drive for 5 weeks. Anything before that I would have been miserable.

 

[teskak]

I drove the day after I got out of hospital for 2 trips of about 30mins each way in a manual car.

The OB's view was "my stitches don't xxxxxx break!!"

I was lucky to be in no pain at all, and that was 7days post op

 

[Angelhalo]

6 WEEKS???? Mine said to go easy on the driving for the few days after the c-section until the stitches/ staples came out but man- SIX weeks?? The day after I got home I did have a friend come pick me up and take me to the mall to get some clothes for my daughter (preemie, nothing fit that I had!) and also take my daughter to the Dr the day after that for a check up but after a week I was driving all over....
I don't see any problem with sitting in a car for a 2 hour drive that long after your c-section.

Mine told me SEVEN weeks. I was out of work for 7 weeks and I didn't even have a baby to show for it!

 

[Buckalew11]

No answers or experience.

Just did not know the baby had arrived! Congratulations!!

Lucas is a beautiful baby boy (are baby boys allowed to be beautiful? If not, you know what I mean.) How are you doing? Aww...I'm just so excited for you, Patsy!! And you are going to WDW? That is so cool!! Does the dog love and protect the baby? Geez... how did I miss his birth?? Enjoy, they grow up so fast!!!

 

[crz4mm2]

We say no driving for 2 weeks.

I think if you are feeling good you will probably be ok. Heck, some of our pts ride over an hour to come to their office visits!

 

[java]

Personally I wouldn't go. Are you talking 4 hours? 2 hours each way? Where's the baby going to be? Bringing the baby along too?

The blood clot thing is what they worry about. But I always thought if you are just laying around at home don't you have the same risk?

But the seat belt was uncomfortable for me. I have had 3 c-sections and each time I recovered more quickly but still I think first timer- I would skip the drive.

And CONGRATULATIONS on the baby!

 

[emma'smom]

It's all about how you feel. I think some people recover really quickly, but others deal with their incision pain for a lot longer.

I rode to 7 hours two weeks after my 2nd C-Section from where we live to Chicago to give a conference presentation.

We stopped a few times so that I could nurse (and DVT wasn't really one of my worries post-birth, but if it is for you...you should know that it only takes a very short walk--like around your car to alleviate the DVT threat). We dealt with that on the 16 hour flight to Australia when I was 7 months pregnant.

With both of my c-sections, I was out riding short distances within a few days and driving short distances within 2 weeks.

P.S. TMI- I also found that wearing extra support (like Spanx or a girdle-type garment) also made regular activities so much more comfortable on the incision during the first month or so.

 

[happygirl]

I had two C-sections, all my Dr. said was no driving for two weeks. Congrats on the new baby

 

[NAB]

I had a hour ride to get home from the hospital. So that was 4 days after. Then when the baby was 10 days we went to see the grandparents that were 3 hours away.

Never had a problem with the seat belt it was getting in and out of the car the killed me. As the weeks go by you usually feel better and better. Six weeks is a guide line I would say. You know your body.