Pregnant Women Driving
The daily lives of pregnant women are full of restrictions. That’s why they have so many doubts about what to do. But a woman behind the wheel gets a lot of recommendations, regardless of whether she’s pregnant or not.
The laws for moms-to-be who drive are the same as for grandparents. Safety measures must be redoubled when a pregnant woman is behind the wheel, below we will tell you why.
It’s not that it’s forbidden for pregnant women to drive, they just have to be more careful. Experts recommend that pregnant women stop driving after the second trimester of pregnancy. However, if we do everything right, we can continue driving until the end of our pregnancy.
Anyway, it is understood that it is during the first trimester that there is more risk. In early pregnancy , the main fear is the possible detachment of the placenta. It is dangerous because at the end of pregnancy the fetus can be directly injured, and there is a risk of rupture of the uterus. Risks are potential when driving due to collision and violent deceleration.
Is it dangerous for a pregnant woman to drive?
The main risk that a pregnant woman runs when in a car is an eventual sudden movement. As we know, whether as a passenger or a driver the risk may be the same, the only difference is that if the pregnant woman is driving, she should have more responsibility.
In addition, it is sometimes prohibited to wear a seat belt for pregnant women, and a minimum distance of 20 centimeters from the airbag is required. These measures prevent women from driving during their pregnancy, as they will not be able to comply with the law.
Likewise, pregnancy can produce changes in a woman’s ability to drive. For example, she may experience changes in her blood sugar levels , suffer from tension problems and her eyesight may fail. Therefore, it is important that the pregnant woman consults her doctor to ensure good health.
In general, it is not dangerous for a pregnant woman to drive, and this is not prohibited by law. However, a pregnant woman must carefully analyze the risks that may be faced before deciding to drive.
The most significant drawbacks are related to safety inside the vehicle and a possible collision. Although we are all in the same danger when driving, pregnancy causes a delicate condition in many ways.
Precautionary measures for pregnant women behind the wheel
Before driving, pregnant women must first think about their health. It is recommended that the expectant mother check her blood pressure and make sure she is not feeling dizzy or sleepy before driving.
If you have already driven regularly during pregnancy, it is important to check that you feel safe so far. Other measures can be:
- Use the seat belt correctly, under the abdomen and over the groin. Under no circumstances should the belly be pressed. The top of the belt should be placed between the breasts and the three-point belt is recommended for pregnant women.
- Move the seat back to prevent the steering wheel from rubbing against your belly.
- It is important that the headrest is at the right height to ensure protection for the neck.
- It is recommended to drive with comfortable clothes and shoes, which are not tight, and allow more flexibility.
- The direction and height of the steering wheel must always be positioned towards the chest.
- When the journeys are long, the mother-to-be should take regular breaks to stretch her legs, go to the bathroom, and get comfortable.
- In case of accidents, it is advisable to wait for the help of specialists and go to your doctor even if you do not have any apparent injuries.
- Always keep the airbag activated.
- Avoid driving if you are experiencing contractions
- keep your back straight
- It is always necessary to adapt our way of driving to the situation in which we live. You should not accelerate too much or too sharply, let alone make a violent maneuver, such as braking or cornering.
- After giving birth, the doctor will decide when we can return to driving.
