For most pregnant women, a fair amount of time is spent thinking about the health and safety of the baby. When you get into the car, spend a few minutes focusing on your vehicle’s safety equipment. Proper use of the seat belt and air bags is important for keeping your baby safe in the event of an accident.
Most states have laws requiring the use of seat belts. Often pregnant women worry about the safety of using a seat belt during pregnancy. I worried about this. After all, the seat belt is in the same area as the baby. Can’t this be dangerous to the baby?
The answer to this is yes, but only if the seat belt is not worn properly. If the seat belt is worn correctly, it is more likely to save you and your baby than it is to hurt either of you. The key is to be sure the lap belt is positioned under the baby. You will need to push it down as far as possible under the baby.
Air bags were a revolutionary product in vehicle safety. They continue to save lives every day. However, the air bag can be dangerous to your baby. There are currently no official guidelines for pregnant women regarding air bags. There are some safety recommendations for pregnant women.
Sit as far away from the air bag as possible. The steering wheel should be tilted up a bit to keep the chest and stomach from taking a direct hit. The other way to minimize the impact is to reduce the forward momentum in the event of a crash. The seat belt should be tightened, leaving as little slack as possible across the chest. You should also sit back in the seat and don’t lean forward into the steering wheel.
Toward the end of your pregnancy, it may be best to let others take the wheel. As your stomach grows, it is more difficult to stay away from the air bag. You are much safer in the passenger seat or in the back seat, if the vehicle has an air bag on the passenger’s side.
If you must drive, it’s important to keep the seat as far away from the air bag as possible. See if you can push the seat back a bit more. Tilt the steering wheel a little higher to accommodate your baby and keep the air bag away. Soon the baby will be safe and snug in his own car seat.