You’d be surprised to learn that there are more than 5 million motor vehicle accidents that take place on American roads. The fate of your life rests on the millions of drivers that you share these roads with. When you’re pregnant, there’s a lot more caution that you should take to ensure that you and your precious baby bump are safe at all times while you’re driving.
While you can’t control every little thing that happens on the road, there are some important things that you should be aware of. Maintaining a healthy pregnancy means taking care of how you do certain things. This includes changing how you eat all the way to taking extra precautions when driving. Read on to learn everything you need to know about driving during your pregnancy.
Safety Precautions
First thing first, you should understand that there are more concerns that you have now since you have another life to consider while you’re driving. Since statistical data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shows that there are nearly 6 million commercial drivers that operate on American soil, you ought to be extra careful. Knowing how to prevent risks that are associated with driving while pregnant should prepare you for a healthy journey.
The following are some of the key precautions that you should take to improve keeping your unborn child safer.
- Avoid driving when you have nausea.
- Ensure that you can maintain a consistently safe driving position.
- Drive along a familiar route.
- Don’t drive when you’re experiencing any minor or severe pregnancy complications.
- Avoid driving when there are obvious distractions such as moderate signs of being in labor.
Risks of Driving When Pregnant
The fact of the matter is that driving while you’re pregnant isn’t necessarily a bad idea. The majority of the time, it’s fine to do so. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about pregnancy being a driving disqualifier in this lifetime.
But, when you’re pregnant you should be more cautious than when you aren’t. Not only to ensure that your baby is risk-free. Moreover, this is due to studies suggesting that a pregnant woman’s chances of being involved in a fatal accident increase by more than 40% when she’s in her second trimester. Your second trimester is more prone to hormonal effects that can cause various ills, such as the following.
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Sleep deprivation
4 Tips to Improve Driving While Pregnant
1. Plan for your trip
If you’re going to be traveling for a long period, planning beforehand is crucial. You should have a clear idea of when your next stop will be. This gives you adequate time to stretch and to have bathroom breaks when you need to.
2. Avoid distractions
The thing about pregnancy brain is that it can be dangerous for you. Making sure that you avoid distractions as much as possible can help you drive with more ease.
3. Assess your car
Inspecting your car before you leave is a recommended safety precaution. This means checking your wheels, airbags, spark plugs, and any other parts that can affect your driving is essential.
4. Update your healthcare provider
Depending on how far along your pregnancy is, you might not be able to travel at all. If your doctor gives you the okay, you should take additional measures towards a smooth drive. If anything happens, even if it’s a minor fender bender, contact your OB/GYN immediately. In this scenario, it’s always better for you to be safe than sorry.
In summary, driving while pregnant is a lot different than doing it completely alone. In this case, knowing that you have to be responsible for the health of your unborn child can be stressful. It should send everyone into panic mode.
However, it’s always a great idea to know what the risks are before you decide to go on a long drive with your baby bump. This should help you prevent a potentially fatal accident for you and your new family.
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