Is It Safe To Drive During Pregnancy?
November 27th, 2020 by Fix Auto USA
Many women question whether or not it’s safe to drive during pregnancy. The answer is more straightforward than you might think. In most situations, driving while pregnant is safe. Many women have driven throughout multiple pregnancies with no complications or concerns.
But as safe as it may be to drive during pregnancy, there are inherent risks. For example, a woman with a high-risk pregnancy should take precautions. There is also the risk of getting into a car accident, which becomes more amplified when you are pregnant. But for many mothers who have jobs and/or children to transport, driving when pregnant is a must.
How late into the pregnancy is okay?
There are two answers to this question. The first is that, generally speaking, driving while pregnant is fine as long as you can do it safely and without causing you or the baby any additional stress or discomfort. The second answer is that you should check with your doctor or midwife for their recommendation.
If you do decide to drive during pregnancy, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Safe driving tips for pregnant women
1. Buckle up
Wearing a seat belt is far and away the best protection that a pregnant mother can give herself and her unborn baby. While seat belts can potentially cause discomfort due to the tightness across the lower part of the belly, in the bigger picture, wearing it presents considerably less risk than the alternative of not wearing a seat belt.
2. Avoid driving while tired
It’s common to get more tired when you’re pregnant. But driving while you are exhausted brings significant risk, just like driving when you’re sick does. It makes you less alert, affects your judgment, and reduces your response time. Taken together, these factors make it more likely that you could get into a car accident.
3. Leverage technology
Many women feel more comfortable driving close to the steering wheel, but you should avoid doing that when you’re pregnant. You can also use products and technologies that enhance your safety during pregnancy and help protect the little life inside of you. For example, the Tummy Shield, which bills itself as “the only highly engineered, crash-tested pregnancy seat belt,” is designed to enhance a pregnant mother’s safety and security without pressing against her lower abdomen.
Auto companies have been conducting research in hopes of designing a seat belt that is safer and more comfortable for a pregnant driver during the last trimester of her pregnancy. As technology and design evolve, driving when pregnant will only become safer.
What about longer drives and road trips to see family and friends?
Can pregnant women drive long distances? It’s fine within reason, as long as you take some precautions. Consult with your doctor first and listen to his or her advice. If your trip is in the final trimester, they may recommend against it. Otherwise, enjoy yourself and remember to take your prenatal records with you in case you have to give birth in an out-of-town hospital.
Also, make sure to keep hydrated and stop often so you can stretch your legs, visit the bathroom, and get some fresh air.
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So, can you drive while pregnant? You certainly can, but take proactive measures to enhance your safety. When you are a pregnant mother, one of the most important things you can do is always practice safe driving behaviors, avoid distractions, and maintain your car in safe working condition. Doing this will minimize the chances of getting into an accident and give you peace of mind.
This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto Santa Clara East, a leading industry expert and collision repair shop serving Santa Clara East, Alviso, Sunnyvale, San Jose, Milpitas, Mountain View, Fremont, Campbell, Newark, and surrounding communities.
