Safety tips for pregnant drivers

POLOKWANE – Nowadays, pregnant women do not sit around for nine months waiting for the birth of their babies before they can get behind the wheel.

As long as it is comfortable they can get in a car right up until the end of pregnancy.

It would however be wise for pregnant women to avoid driving in conditions that might increase stress, such as driving in bad weather conditions, rain, wind or icy weather. Driving at night can also be stressful as your sight can be diminished and in many cases your body is growing tired.

Arrivealive.com offers the following tips for pregnant drivers:

Pregnancy and medical advice

• It is most important to listen to the advice of the doctor following your health during pregnancy – Most will tell you it’s okay to travel during pregnancy, but each situation is different.
• Once you are pregnant, tiredness, morning sickness and the increased chance of miscarriage during the early weeks can make long journeys very uncomfortable.
• If you have a condition affecting your heart, blood or a risk of pre-term labour, consult with your doctor before planning to travel at any time during the pregnancy.
• If you planned a trip before you knew you were expecting, discuss with your doctor the date you are booked to go, how long you will be away, what modes of transport you plan to use, and whether or not you need any vaccinations.
• Also discuss travel with your partner – if you are within a month of your due date – this is not a good time for either of you to travel.

Different stages of pregnancy and driving

Best advice is to discuss this with your doctor:

• Travel during pregnancy can be fatiguing and frustrating, but if your pregnancy is normal, you should be able to travel during the first and second trimesters without too many adjustments.
• Remember you are pregnant when you plan a trip -be sensible in your planning, and take it easy.
• Between 14 and 28 weeks, you might feel better and be more confident about your pregnancy and plans to travel.
• If you’re you’re experiencing difficulties such as bleeding or cramping, don’t travel.

Read more on arrivealive.com