How soon after c-section did you start carrying/driving?

The hospital said no driving or carrying anything heavier than one baby for 6 weeks. Did you all hold strictly to this? So far I haven't done either, but I'm feeling really good and have recovered quickly from the surgery. I'm not taking any pain meds and don't have any incision pain at this point. I guess my only concern is muscle strength.

I know if I ask my dr. she'll just confirm what they've already told me, but 6 weeks just seems excessive (and nearly impossible, as I'm taking care of them by myself during the day). What do you think?

 

The hospital said no driving or carrying anything heavier than one baby for 6 weeks. Did you all hold strictly to this? So far I haven't done either, but I'm feeling really good and have recovered quickly from the surgery. I'm not taking any pain meds and don't have any incision pain at this point. I guess my only concern is muscle strength.

I know if I ask my dr. she'll just confirm what they've already told me, but 6 weeks just seems excessive (and nearly impossible, as I'm taking care of them by myself during the day). What do you think?

 

I drove to pick up curbside takeout on day 3 (? Thurs to Sun) and then drove 45 min to the NICU to see Joseph on day 4 (we were expecting a hurricane and DH is in charge of disaster prep at work so he had to go in and I needed to deliver pumped milk for Joseph.) The trip to the hospital was a bit much but I continued to drive, just much shorter time spans and shorter distances. Definitely pay attention to what your body is telling you. I don't understand 6 weeks, but hey-I'm no MD.

Gorgeous babies, by the way!

 

I didn't really listen to my doc that much. I did listen to the fact that she didn't want me to drive my SUV for about five weeks.... but, I did drive my 700 lb. Harley Davidson at three weeks....I needed to relieve some stress. The doctor said if I could jump off the bottom step of my stairs with no problem, I was good to go. So...get jumping.

Good luck!

 

I had a difficult recovery, but even I didn't wait 6 weeks. I think I drove at about 3 weeks. I don't remember when I carried anything -- but for me it was much more about muscle strength (esp in my back) than about the actual c/s recovery.

 

I was told not to drive for 2 weeks. The reasoning behind that was that my response time was slow due to possible pain from the c-section. You can bet on that 15th day, I drove to the store!

 

I think the not driving for 6 weeks is a little excessive. I was told 2 weeks and only b/c of what the pp said about response time. I honestly feel I could have driven home from the hospital as I wasn't in that bad of shape but I figured better be safe than sorry. As far as lifting goes I did my best but when the girls were born my DS had just turned 20 months and still liked to be picked up and needed to be to get him in his crib so I tried to limit it and spent a lot of time either on the floor or the couch with him in my lap. Even if my dr. had not ok'd driving for 6 weeks I still would have done it sooner b/c my DS had to get to speech therapy 3x a week and there was no way I would have let him miss 6 weeks of therapy.

 

I was told 2 weeks, but drove after a week to a doctors appointment.

 

My doctor told me I could drive whenever I felt up to it and I drove Logan to the doctor's 6 days after my c-section with the girls.

 

I, too, was told 2 weeks. I would ask your doctor why the 6 week recommendation, that does sound excessive.

 

I was told that I could drive after 2 weeks and I held the babies from the start. I think you just need to listen to your own body and have your mom or your hubby keep you in check re: overdoing it. Other than that, everything in moderation and just be careful lifting things that could cause strain on the incision.

teri

 

I don't remember exactly when I started carrying my boys, but know I was carrying both of them by the end of day 2 because there is a photo of me taken by my MIL to prove it.

I started driving the week after I had them. When I asked my doctor why the suggestion to wait, I was told it was because of the pain meds. He said that if my pain was under control and I wasn't taking any meds I was good to drive, but to pay attention to what my body was telling me and not push it.

 

I left the hosptial on a Friday (day four). Sunday I drove myself, and baby A (Ellie) to the hospital to see Allison in NICU. On that day I lifted the car seat (with baby) and also lifted the stroller in and out of the trunk - along with carring diaper bags and nursing pillows. I really did not follow their guidelines anytime I had my babies.

Angel

 

After my first c-section I followed the doctors orders and did nothing. It took me at least 6 weeks to recover. This time I did not have the luxury to follow the doctors orders. The day after I delivered I was making endless trips back and forth to the NICU and when I came home I moved business as usual. I drove, carried, walked at least a mile a day going back and forth from the parking lot. I did stairs - everything. You know what? I felt so much better this time around and I recovered much faster. The only thing I did not do was drive my stick shift car - I would only drive the automatic. Congrats on your boys. 38 weeks is fantastic. Do want you feel comfortable with - your body will tell you when you go too far. Good luck!

 

Since I had a 2.5 yr old at home I had to do some carrying and holding but the babies were in the NICU so things were a little fast fwd for me in the recovery. I didn't drive for 2 wks or so. Even then I was feeling sore at my incision when pulling my leg up to change from gas to brake etc. So I was careful where I drove and how often when I did start driving. I had to do a lot of walking since the parking garage was at the opposite end of the nicu, a lot of walking. Sometimes I was so sore I was tempted to ask for a wheelchair to get there.
The carrying I was doing soon after getting home, the driving took me a little longer.
I would do what you are comfortable with. Start out slow to make sure you are ok with it all and maybe don't drive too far if you really need to drive somewhere just to make sure you are ok.
Some people drove w/in that first wk. Some people it takes longer.
Just go with how you feel.
congratulations on your new little ones!

 

I drove after 1 week - as soon as I could tolerate not taking the narcotic pain meds.

Carrying, I stuck to that pretty well. My girls were in the NICU for 5 and 6 weeks though.