by H&H Admin
A common worry during pregnancy is how to buckle up. In this article, we talk about how to wear a seatbelt without fear of there being too much pressure on your stomach and your baby.
Studies have found that it’s safer for both mum and baby if you do wear a seatbelt and is much more dangerous not to wear one at all. Whilst wearing a seat belt during pregnancy may not feel comfortable, it does improve safety for both mother and baby.
Let’s look at the placement of a seatbelt because contrary to popular belief, there is a correct way to wear a seat belt when pregnant.
- Place the lap belt part of the restraint under your abdomen and across your upper thighs so it’s snug and comfortable – The lap belt should never ever be placed on or above your belly.
- Wearing a lap belt alone will do more harm than good. Research done by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents found that rapid deceleration in a crash caused injuries to the unborn baby when a pregnant woman was only wearing a lap belt.
- Adjust your sitting position so the belt crosses your shoulder without cutting into your neck.
- The shoulder belt should cross over your collar bone and lie between your breasts.
- Never put the shoulder belt behind your back or under your arm.
- When traveling in cars fitted with airbags, the front seat (whether it be the driving seat or the passenger seat) should be pushed back as far as practical.
- The belt should be worn as tight as possible. In this way, the forces applied in a sudden impact can be absorbed by the body’s frame.
Your journey to parenthood is an exciting time that requires thoughtful preparation, particularly on the road. As the baby grows, moms-to-be need to continuously make adjustments to their driving style in order to ensure optimal safety at all times.
