Disclosure: In any review for a product or service, products or compensation may have been provided to me to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” and "Terms of Use" tabs for more information.
You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who claims that pregnancy is easy. While some women certainly have it easier than others, many will suffer from morning sickness, swelling, aches, pains, and all manner of bodily changes during the gestation of a child. Add to that weight gain, raging hormones, food cravings, and of course, labor and childbirth waiting at the end of the long haul. And that doesn’t even take into account complications that could arise, such as gestational diabetes, a mismatched Rh factor, preterm labor, and so on. And yet, women today still manage to do nearly all of the things they were doing before they got pregnant, including working, exercising, running a household, and more. Of course, they will necessarily have to alter some of their activities in order to protect themselves and an unborn child. So when it comes to driving, there are a few additional safety precautions expectant mothers may want to observe.
- Seatbelt positioning. You might be worried about the damage your seatbelt could cause your fetus in the event of an accident. In truth, a seatbelt rarely does more harm than good, but just to be on the safe side, you should make sure that it is positioned appropriately to account for your condition. To do this you simply need to ensure that the lap belt remains as low on your abdomen as possible and that the shoulder belt crosses your sternum and goes over the belly. This will firmly contain your body in the event of a collision without causing undue risk to your baby.
- Steering wheel positioning. A bigger concern than the seatbelt for many pregnant women is the steering wheel. And if you drive a compact car it can definitely be an issue, not only in an accident, but for driving in general. The best policy is to adjust the steering column and the driver’s seat so that you have the most space between your stomach and the wheel while still being able to safely operate the brake and accelerator. You may also want to drive whatever vehicle has the largest interior space (if you have access to multiple vehicles).
- The airbag question. Is it possible that an airbag could harm your baby in the event of a collision? In truth, anything could happen in an automobile accident. But one thing is certain: you’re much more likely to suffer harm without an airbag, which could in turn be extremely dangerous for your baby. So safety officials recommend that you refrain from disengaging the airbag.
- Avoid hazardous road conditions. Serious trauma to the mother could lead to miscarriage or early labor, so expectant mothers should avoid unnecessary risks whenever possible. While accidents can happen any time you’re behind the wheel, they’re definitely more likely in situations of low visibility (storms, fog, etc.) or poor road conditions (ice, for example). So unless you have a pressing reason to be out in such weather, perhaps you can wait until it clears up a bit to head out on your errands.
- Opt for the passenger seat. Safety is a relative term. After all, it’s not like you’ll find yourself needing the services of a motorcycle accident attorney Atlanta to Albany during your pregnancy. And yet, if you can avoid getting behind the wheel of a car it’s not a terrible idea. This isn’t to say that the vast majority of women don’t get through their pregnancy just fine, many of them driving every day. But if you have the option to let someone else drive, it might not be a bad idea to take a seat on the passenger side of the car until your baby is born.
Speak Your Mind
You must be logged in to post a comment.