Pregnant women are more likely to be involved in crashes than their non-pregnant counterparts. This could result from fatigue and distraction, physical limitations, medical conditions, and changes in driving habits.
As a pregnant woman, you can protect yourself and your unborn child from crashes by following safe driving rules. They are designed to reduce the chances of accidents and ensure your safety and that of your unborn child.
Here are 6 easy-to-follow safe driving rules every pregnant woman should implement.
1. Be prepared for breakdowns and emergencies.
Preparation is vital when driving while pregnant. We recommend buying an emergency first aid kit which should remain in your car.
The kit should contain essentials like a rechargeable battery charger (to ensure you can call help), a flashlight, a blanket for staying warm during a breakdown, and
some healthy snacks and water to sustain your energy and stay hydrated while waiting for a car repair. ( should your car break down).
2. Gauge your feelings
Accidents involving a pregnant woman are likely due to fatigue, nausea, lack of concentration, etc. So before you grab your car keys and step out of the house, gauge your feelings.
Do you feel nauseous, lightheaded, or tired? If yes, you might want to reschedule your trip or ask someone to drive you.
You could also relax a bit. Eat a healthy snack, drink water, and see how you feel afterward. If you feel ok, more focused, and energized, you can go on with your trip.
3. Take regular breaks
Pregnancy comes with side effects that require you to take breaks when driving. This is important for women who are embarking on a long road trip. At intervals, stop the car, stretch, and walk a bit. If needed, you can use the restroom.
Regular breaks will help boost blood flow, making you feel more alert and reducing the potential for swelling.
You must factor in these breaks in your road trip. We recommend breaks of 10 to 15 minutes for shorter journeys and 30 minutes for longer road trips. And try to eat something before driving. You should also have a protein bar or other healthy snack available.
4. Call for help in the event of a crash.
Not all accidents are a result of your carelessness. Some are caused by the negligence of others. Should you get involved in a crash, it’s essential you know the appropriate steps to take. First, check yourself for injuries. You should also try to get yourself to safety and call 911 while away from any possible danger.
Furthermore, exchange information with the at-fault driver, document the scene, and contact your insurer. You should also speak to a car accident legal expert. They can help you understand your rights and legal options. And when things get challenging or confusing, they can step in.
5. Reduce distractions
Your pregnancy doesn’t make you immune to distractions. Like your non-pregnant counterpart, your attention could easily be swayed from the road to that message you’ve been anticipating. Or you could give in to the urge to pick up that “important” call while driving.
Our two cents? Act like your phone and other sources of distractions are invisible when driving. Let them be. If you must answer an important call or reply to a text, park first so you don’t get distracted.
6. Remove extra layers
How you dress is important when driving.
Are you on a coat or jacket? Remove it before getting into the driver’s seat. You don’t want your coat, jacket, or any extra layer of clothing to interfere with the placement of your seat belt.
Plus, having too many layers of clothing on you can make you uncomfortable and even distracted if you get too warm. It can also hinder your ability to move freely when driving.
7. Airbags and seat belts work in sync.
You may feel the need to ditch your seat belts because your car has airbags. But you should note that your airbags and seat belts work in sync.
You need both to survive a crash.
For safety reasons, ensure you should avoid resting on the side airbag compartment, so you don’t get hurt by the force of the airbag deployment.
8. Protect your tummy with a tummy shield
We cannot dispute the importance of seat belts. However, as your tummy keeps protruding, using this safety feature may be difficult.
So what do you do?
While there are many products that claim to offer protection and comfort to pregnant drivers, only one passed the test. It was so effective at redirecting the seat belt away from the abdomen, thus reducing the risk of injury to the fetus in the event of a crash.
Crash testing results show that the tummy shield helps retrain the woman like the seat belt while protecting the abdomen from possible injury.
Conclusion
Accidents involving pregnant women are prevalent. On average, 2.9% of women report being hurt in a car accident during pregnancy. It takes a lot of planning, discipline, and understanding safe driving rules to ensure that you return safely with your unborn kids after a drive in your car.