Driving Safe While Pregnant: All You Need to Know
Wonderful news, you are pregnant! Now what? Of course, it’s amazing news, but it also means that you’ll have a few things to change in your routine. From having to avoid eating certain foods to being more careful when you are driving, there are a few things to be aware of. As such, this article will tell you all about how you can be more careful when driving while pregnant.
Always Wear a Seatbelt!
We understand that it may be very uncomfortable to wear a seatbelt in the car, especially while you are pregnant. With a pregnant belly and all the discomfort that this brings (we’re looking at you, incessantly needy bladder!), you may be tempted to stop wearing your seatbelt for even just a few minutes. This could kill you and your baby, so please wear your seatbelt.
Purchase a Pregnancy Seatbelt
If you are too uncomfortable wearing a traditional seatbelt, consider purchasing a pregnancy seatbelt. This kind of seatbelt is made for pregnant women as it is designed in a way that leaves you much more comfortable. With straps going on your thighs and around your hips instead of under your belly, you feel an increased level of comfort than a traditional seatbelt does not offer.
Wear the Belt Properly
Although wearing a belt is already a great start, you should ensure to be wearing the belt properly. More specifically, you should never put the belt behind your chest, such as on your back, or away from your shoulder. Ideally, the seatbelt should be away from your neck but not off your shoulder. It should be across your chest and between your breasts. Finally, unless you have a pregnancy seatbelt, the lap belt should be below your belly; this should fit across your hips and pelvis.
Adjust the Seat
Your seat should be in a comfortable and upright position. This means that you should also keep as much distance as possible between your belly and the wheel. If you are a passenger, move your seat as far back as you can, to avoid any impact from hurting your belly. It’s best to have someone else drive is possible, but if not possible, do not worry, just take the right precautions. Avoid reclining the seat more than necessary to make sure that the gap between your shoulder and the seatbelt is not too wide. Try not to let your belly touch the steering wheel; if this is impossible, we strongly encourage you to find a way not to drive.
Airbags DO NOT Make Up for a Belt
Finally, keep in mind that airbags do not make up for the seatbelt. Airbags are designed to work with seatbelts, not on their own. So, if your seatbelt is making you so uncomfortable that you’d prefer just taking it off and using the airbags as safety, consider purchasing a pregnancy seatbelt.
Even while taking all the necessary precautions, it is possible that you could end up in a crash. In such cases, make sure to seek immediate medical attention even if you do not feel any pain or feel like you were not injured in the crash. Adrenaline is a strong drug that could make you feel alright even if something is wrong.
On that note, we hope this article was helpful!