Driving when Pregnant

Are you scared of Driving when Pregnant ?

You need to protect your little muffin even while its “still in the oven”. Pregnancy comes with a long list of do’s and don’ts. What about driving? Do you wear a seat belt? Do you go without? Do you just start walking everywhere? Do you start to work from home and have everything you need delivered to you? What do you feel about driving when pegnant?
 
Now it looks like we might need to add another item to that list: Drive more carefully.
For most pregnant women there’s no reason why you can’t carry on driving as normal. You may have to stop a bit more often for washroom breaks or to rub your tummy, have a walk or stretch to relieve any backache. Other than, these common problems associated with pregnancy, driving while pregnant is safe. However, as your pregnancy progresses and you grow larger it becomes more difficult for you to enter and exit a car especially with the steering wheel getting in the way. Although there is no said rule, most women tend to stop driving around 30 weeks preferring their partner do the driving simply because it’s easier and more comfortable.

Its known for a long time that pregnancy causes fatigue, insomnia, nausea and stress which might contribute to driver error.
Here are some tips to staying safer in the car when you are driving while pregnant and protect that little one growing in your belly:
Getting in the car: Bend a little and sit on the seat of the car first. Next lean back a little and raise your legs into the car.

Getting out: Turn in your seat and place one leg out. Ensure that you are stable. Then lean backwards and place the other leg out. Now with the support of the car door or someone standing get up, and out of the car. These methods will help reduce the amount of pressure placed on her tummy as well as on her back.

 

Windows down, at first: When you get into the car for the first time in the day, do not immediately start the air conditioning. Closed cars tend to trap various gasses that are very damaging to an unborn child. Open all the windows for the first few minutes of the drive, allowing all the harmful gasses to escape. You can roll up the windows after a few minutes. This helps air out the car and reduces the amount of harmful gasses inhaled.

Keep a track of how you feel: As mentioned the increase in accidents for pregnant women is likely due to fatigue, nausea, lack of focus etc. So before you leave check in with how you feel and if you feel any of those things, ask someone else to drive or postpone your trip until you are feeling better. Eat a snack, drink some water, take a rest and see how you feel after that. Are you feeling more awake? Do you have better focus? If so, go and travel safe.

A car kit is essential: Because of the changes happening in your body during pregnancy, you are likely to feel more thirsty, and crave for certain foods. Therefore it is always best to be prepared. A car kit with all the essentials is a must. You should carry a bottle of drinking water, a healthy snack (preferably something with a low salt content), a bag for vomiting (in case you suffers from motion sickness), wet wipes or baby wipes, prenatal vitamins and anything else you may need.

Shoes are important: While pregnant women should ideally wear comfortable footwear. Flat shoes are the best since they are comfy and are easy on swollen feet and help support your back.
Simpler the better: Loose fitting clothes are the best while travelling. Tight clothes only enhance this risk of developing clots. Another factor is that during pregnancy you will usually need to use the ladies room more than normal. The clothes you choose should allow for this eventuality.
Cut down the distractions: You have enough going on in your body and on your mind without additional distractions. Keep away from your cell phones and the music system . Be extra cautious — or don’t drive — in inclement weather conditions or during high traffic times.

Take frequent breaks :If you’ll be in the car for several hours, stop, stretch and walk a bit (You will end up stopping more often ,probably to use the washroom). You’ll get the blood moving and feel more alert.
Be a passenger: When possible, don’t drive, especially as your pregnancy progresses and your uterus gets closer and closer to the steering wheel.

Position yourself far back from the steering wheel: When you have to be the driver, move your seat as far back as is comfortable. Try to position yourself so that your breastbone is at least 10 inches from the steering wheel. Also, tilt the steering wheel toward your breastbone rather than toward your abdomen.
Remove extra layers: Coats and jackets could interfere with the placement of the seat belt.
Wear the seat belt correctly: Pregnant women should wear their safety belt with the lap portion placed under the abdomen and across the upper thighs, as low as possible on the hips — never above or over the belly. Keep the safety belt snug, and make sure the shoulder strap runs across your chest. Never place it under your arm or behind your back.

Use a Tummy Shield: There are several products available which “keeps the seat belt low” but only one that safely redirects the seat belt away from the pregnant abdomen. Crash testing shows the Tummy Shield restrains the woman just as well as just the seat belt while protecting the abdomen from possible injury from the seat belt going across the belly. (No matter how low the woman keeps the seat belt it does go across the baby in the womb and/or pelvis area.)

Try this one: <br />
Wear Owie pillow- The Owie Pillow is extremely versatile and can be used to alleviate pressure on your abdomen while driving , add additional lumbar support or you may attach the Owie Pillow to your carry-on bag via the velcro- strap and you can use the pillow for resting your head while you take a little snooze!

Try this one: Owie Pillow (White) available at www.owiepillow.com or may even get it made on your own.
Airbags and seat belts work together. Continue to wear your seat belt even if your car has airbags for optimal protection. The benefits of an air bag outweigh the risks to a pregnant woman and her baby. Side air bags have not been shown to pose a risk to passengers, just remember to resist resting against the side air bag storage compartment, in case the bag deploys suddenly.

Keep car perfumes at bay: Car perfumes are very bad for unborn babies.
Bumpy roads ahead, drive slow: While driving on bumpy or pothole ridden roads, be extremely careful to maneuver the car such that you avoid as many potholes as possible.
Be prepared for emergencies: As they say better safe than sorry. It is always best that you have your medical papers, emergency numbers of the region you are travelling to, your gynaecologist’s number and any emergency medication that you might need. Remember that in case of an emergency contact the your doctor as soon as possible, so that he/she will be able to guide the treating physician on the site of the emergency. You may not always be able to reach your doctor in such a situation so being prepared is a good idea.
Oops I was in a crash, now what?

One should take all pregnant women involved in a crash to the hospital no matter how minor the incident. If you are involved in an accident, seek medical attention quickly regardless of whether or not you have any visible physical injuries. Your doctor will probably recommend having the baby’s heartbeat checked.
Trauma from a car accident can cause preterm labor and, if there are injuries to the fetus, chances are you won’t be able to see or feel them. Pregnant women in crashes without documented injuries are at greater risk of preterm labor. It’s possible, for example, to have placental abruption — when the placenta partially or completely separates from your uterus before the baby is born — without being aware of it, which could cause you to have your baby prematurely.


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