Safe driving tips for pregnant women

During pregnancy, ensuring safety when participating in traffic is also one of the important things for pregnant women. Mothers need to constantly adjust their sitting position in the car to have an optimal and safe driving position.

To help engineers better understand the needs of expectant mothers, a car company has designed a pregnancy simulator called the Empathy belly. The suit adds 30 pounds (about the average weight gain during pregnancy) to the wearer and simulates the bulkiness and discomfort of the last months of pregnancy. This allows engineers to design vehicles with the necessary customization to help pregnant women and other drivers drive safely.

Based on research from using pregnancy simulators, here are the top tips from the group to help pregnant women drive safely.

Fasten your seat belts

First, remove any jackets or other bulky clothing to ensure a proper fit. Then, pull the seat belt over your shoulders, down the middle of your chest and across your belly. The anchor part of the belt should be placed at your hips and below your belly, rather than across your belly, making sure the belt is as taut and flat as possible following the curve of your belly. Never place the shoulder belt behind you or under your arm, as this could cause serious injury in the event of an accident.

Adjust the driving position to suit

Move your seat to a comfortable distance from the accelerator pedal, ideally sitting about 10 inches from the steering wheel to protect your abdomen in case the airbag deploys in an accident. If your steering wheel is adjustable, center the steering wheel away from your abdomen and toward your chest.

After adjusting your seat position, remember to adjust your rearview and side mirrors. And if you have back pain, place a small round pillow or rolled up towel behind your back to make driving more comfortable.

Dealing with cravings and nausea on the go

Food cravings and morning sickness can strike at any time of the day. Be sure to bring plenty of water and your favorite snacks to satisfy your cravings. Keep an extra sick bag in your purse and glove compartment. And always avoid distractions while driving. Pull over to a safe area when cravings strike.

Rest and limit driving

The “pregnancy brain” is under more stress than usual, so plan your trips in advance. Avoid long car rides if possible and take frequent breaks to help circulation in your feet, as your feet and ankles are more prone to swelling when you sit for long periods of time. So take breaks, stretch and move your legs, feet and toes.

However, pregnant mothers should still try to avoid driving. For them, the middle back seat is the safest place in the car (if wearing a seat belt). But, if pregnant women are in the front passenger seat, move the seat back as far as possible to protect the abdomen in case the airbag deploys.