Anyone who’s ever watched their partner go through the hugely transformational process of pregnancy will tell you it seems like a miracle that they can leave a chair, let alone get out of the house, or drive a car.
Operating a motor vehicle is a particular challenge, of course, because as the bountiful belly of joy grows, particularly beyond 30 weeks, just reaching the controls can be challenge, particularly for shorter women, while the seatbelt provides a daily dilemma of comfort vs safety.
Remarkably, there are half a dozen seemingly civilised and intelligent countries – including Italy, Greece and even Japan – that provide seatbelt exemptions for heavily pregnant women, seemingly because they think it’s safer, or just easier not to put up with the complaining.
Expert advice, research and plain common sense all agree, however, that it’s far safer for you and your unborn child to be restrained in the vehicle in the case of a crash, rather than flying through the windscreen or colliding with the steering wheel at full force.
As long as the seatbelt is being worn properly, it is definitely going to be more of a help than a hindrance, although an improperly adjusted belt could be dangerous.
If you are in a low-speed accident, wearing a seatbelt, and your skin receives contusions, your baby will still be safe because it is cushioned by nature’s own safety system; a protective bubble of amniotic fluid and uterine muscle.
Positioning the seatbelt is the biggest issue, of course, and it’s absolutely vital to keep the lap belt below your bump.
The driver’s airbag – compulsory on all new cars solid in Australia – will also help reduce impact with the wheel, although it is best to keep your distance from the passenger airbag if you’re being driven around, because these are far larger.
If you’re in the passenger’s seat, which is generally a better idea – and people will tend to offer to drive for you once you’re heavily pregnant, just as you’ll (hopefully) get offered seats on public transport – push it back as far as possible from the dash.
When driving you’ll obviously need to reach the pedals, but try to keep at least 20cm between your body and the rim of the steering wheel. Also tilt it up, toward your face and away from your body.
Positioning the seatbelt is the biggest issue, of course, and it’s absolutely vital to keep the lap belt below your bump, so fasten it across your pelvis and upper thighs. If it’s around your belly button, it’s far too high.
Some women, who start to find the sash belt uncomfortable and annoying, unwisely start tucking it under one arm, or even behind their backs, but the consequences of that really don’t bear thinking about.
Instead, you should wear the harness over your shoulder and diagonally across between your breasts and pulled to the side of the baby bump.
Generally speaking, long journeys are probably best avoided while pregnant.
Clearly, as your body changes shape and becomes an unrecognisable and even unimaginable size, comfort is going to be an issue, but so is safety, and it’s not a matter of set and forget. Be sure to regularly adjust the position of your seat, making sure that the head rest is right behind your head and neck and also using the lumbar settings to help support your spine.
You might find that you need a back cushion for increased support on longer journeys.
Generally speaking, long journeys are probably best avoided while pregnant (try not to drive more than six hours a day and take regular breaks to stretch your legs) as they will be uncomfortable and swelling in your ankles and feet can quickly become an issue, as it soon does on a daily basis anyway when you’re expecting.
Once your little bundle of noise and delight arrives, of course, you’ll have all-new issues to deal with in the car, like choosing a child seat and making sure that it’s properly fitted.
This article originally appeared on CarsGuide.
