Tips for Driving While Pregnant
and Maximizing Your Safety

edited by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

The precious time of pregnancy in a woman’s life brings along tremendous excitement but some first time concerns.  Suddenly, navigating daily life and common tasks that were once taken for granted can become a challenge.  Especially while pregnant there are additional safety considerations that are crucial for the wellbeing of you and your unborn baby while on the road. 

There’s no reason not to drive as usual, but sensibility and simply taking it easy are essential.  Here are a few considerations  to assist those driving during their first pregnancy:

Wear your seatbelt lap belt across your hip bones or upper thighs; not across your belly.  Adapt your sitting position so the belt crosses your shoulder without cutting into your neck and position the shoulder harness between your breasts.

Ensure the car you drive has airbags, and it’s recommended that expectant mothers keep at least 12 inches of clearance between the front airbag and their belly.  Pillows or cushions should be not used to shorten this clearing distance.

Adjust the steering wheel, or consider installing an adjustable one to extend the steering wheel out or push it further in as needed.

For higher vehicles that are difficult to get in and out of, keep a wide step stool handy.

When possible, drive at quieter times of day with less traffic on the roads.  Because of the need for more bathroom breaks and the possible sudden onset of nausea, if you have the luxury of choice try to avoid higher congested times such as rush hour. 

Plan your route ahead of time.  Avoid getting caught in construction zones with significant delays, or storm fronts sweeping in.  Keep updated with local weather and traffic construction sites or satellite stations before venturing off on unfamiliar or longer routes.

Avoid dehydration and low blood sugar while on the road. Take water or juice and keep high protein snacks or fruit in the car.

Invest in a GPS navigation system.  You’ll be glad you did!

It’s a smart idea, pregnant or not, to keep a ‘Survival Kit’ and blankets in the car.  Flares, a flashlight and a HELP sign are recommended.

Always take your cell phone and battery charger, especially when driving alone.

Take frequent breaks to stretch your legs and back during longer trips.

Avoid driving through places where medical care is not available, or where altitude could cause a problem.

Play relaxing music to keep your nerves soothed and anxiety levels lower. There are even CD’s made for expectant mothers with music by Mozart and Beethoven. 

Consult your physician if you do plan to travel during your third trimester, especially if you have a high risk pregnancy. 

Driving should never be taken for granted, and while pregnant some simple precautions are recommended to be safe behind the wheel! These tips came from www.women-drivers.com

Pregnant crash dummy developed
to learn more about mother and unborn baby in accidents

These days, everyone on board a car is protected by comprehensive safety systems. Everyone – except the unborn child. Researchers still know surprisingly little about foetuses in car accidents.

To shed more light on this area, Volvo Car Corporation has developed the world’s first official computer model of a pregnant crash dummy.

“Now we’ve covered the whole life-cycle,” says model developer Laura Thackray, CAE and Biomechanical Engineer at the Volvo Cars Safety Centre.
“One big advantage is that both mother and baby can be scaled up or down to the size we want to study.”

This virtual crash dummy is a woman at a late stage of her pregnancy, since that is when the unborn baby is at greatest risk in an accident. The model was completed in 2002.
“Since its completion, I've been running simulated front-end impact tests with it.”
The purpose of these is to study how the virtual mother-to-be and her unborn baby are affected by the seat belt and airbag in simulated accidents. The computer model makes it possible to study – in great detail – how the belt moves, the influence of belt and airbag on the uterus, placenta and foetus, and how the foetus moves in relation to the mother’s body. Amongst other things. The model can also be used to test new designs for seat belts and other safety systems.
“I’m certain that there’s room for further development of the three-point belt, to make it more comfortable and to provide optimized protection,” says Laura Thackray.

Today many pregnant women wonder whether the seat belt could harm their unborn baby if they are involved in a car accident. Researchers all agree, however, in recommending that they should always wear their seat belt.

“Currently, it's the best line of protection for pregnant women and their babies. But it’s crucial to wear it in the right way. It should fit close to the body, be between the breasts and as low as possible over the hips. The lap section of the belt mustn’t be allowed to ride up in front of the tummy,” says Laura Thackray. “That could harm the baby.”

In an accident, the pregnant woman’s thorax and pelvis are both restrained by the belt, but her abdomen is free to move in the direction determined by the particular forces arising from the impact. Because the foetus is floating free inside her, injuries tend to fall into two main types. The more common of the two is that the placenta becomes either partially or completely detached, which means that the baby cannot get enough oxygen. The rarer scenario is for the baby to sustain physical injury du to impacts with the mother's pelvic bones or car interior. “We think that the placenta may become detached because, while the uterus is relatively elastic and can therefore change shape, the placenta is not equally resilient under acceleration,” Laura Thackray explains.

“We think so, but we don’t know yet. That’s why this model is so important. We have to find out more to be able to protect the foetus in the best possible way.”

The virtual dummy, Linda, in cross-section. The model is based on a woman in the final stage of pregnancy, and represents the body size of an average-sized American or European woman.

Madelyn Miller is a travel and automotive writer. Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.yogayaya.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.teaAtlas.com, www.coffeeatlas.com