Pregnancy

Seat Belt Use during Pregnancy

Although, it is obvious the discomfort that a seat belt may cause during the last months of your pregnancy, you should always wear it, since the early moments when you confirm that you are pregnant, until the last days near of your due date.

It is confirmed that a fetus dies after a car crash because the mother dies in the accident. Wearing a seat belt is a great protective measure for you and your baby, although no one wants a car crash, there is no guarantee that you will not have an accident. You do not need to be the driver not wearing a seat belt, no matter where you sit in the car, it is the first thing that you should do.

Your seat belt will not cause problems during the first two trimesters, but during the third, you must double check to ensure you are using it correctly. Although, both, lap and shoulder belts keep you from being thrown away from the car, the shoulder strap helps to keep the pressure of your body off of your baby after a crash has occurred.

Avoid injuring your baby should be your priority, and if you always following medical advice to avoid any harm when exercising, eating or doing anything else, why should you avoid wearing a seat belt?

Make sure your belt is properly fastened. The lap belt should be firmly secured below your abdomen and across your hips, in a way that it lies snugly over your pelvis, which is one of the strongest bones in the body. A seat belt should never be worn across the abdomen, because during a crash the sudden jolt may cause the placenta to tear away from your uterus

When the weather is cold turn on the heater to warm up the inside of the car before heading out, in order to avoid wearing heavy clothing and jackets, causing the seat belt to slide up on your abdomen. When you are riding in other vehicles, such as a taxi, always use the seat belt anyway.

The shoulder belt is also important and it should fit snugly between your breasts. Sometimes a shoulder belt can cut across your neck, but repositioning the belt until it fits better.

Remember that the best way to protect your growing baby is to protect yourself by following your doctor's advice and wearing seat belts properly positioned. However, after a car crash you should get treatment right away even if no apparent injury was caused during the accident.