Pregnant drivers warned over dangerous seatbelt mistake

The Australian

7 days ago

I was heavily pregnant and running late. Then I hit a pothole – hard.
For a moment I felt like I was auditioning for Fast & Furious: Prenatal Drift.
Cue panic. I pulled over and Googled: 'Driving over pothole pregnancy'.
The results? Terrifying.
Phrases like 'placental abruption', 'seek immediate care', and 'avoid at all costs', jumped out at me.
There is no evidence that going over potholes harms the foetus.
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Could one bump in the road, at low speed, really put my baby at risk?
Thankfully, no.
'There is no evidence that going over speed bumps or potholes at low, reasonable speeds harms the foetus,' says Associate Professor Stefan Kane, director of maternity services at the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne.
'There is no data linking this to miscarriage or preterm labour at normal speeds.'
But the real danger lies elsewhere.
'Sadly, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of trauma-related maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality,' says Associate Professor Kane.
'Risk of injury increases during the second and third trimesters … However, proper seatbelt use significantly reduces the risk of the baby dying in crashes.'
Yet many pregnant drivers don't wear their seatbelts properly.
Many pregnant drivers don't wear their seatbelts properly. Picture: Getty Images.
Obstetrician Dr Guy Skinner often sees women pushing the sash belt up high behind them, thinking it's safer or more comfortable for the bump.
'There's no point wearing a seatbelt if it hasn't done its primary thing and that's to slow the human body from hitting the dashboard or seat in front of you,' he says.
And those maternity seatbelt adjusters sold online cheaply through businesses like Temu, Ebay and Facebook Marketplace? Remove from cart! The advice is to use a normal seatbelt properly.
Experts warn maternity seatbelt adjusters don't help in any way. Picture: AliExpress
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Associate Professor Sjaan Koppel from the Monash University Accident Research Centre explains the right way to buckle up:
'The lap belt should be placed below the baby bump, snugly across the pelvis and upper thighs. Never across or above the abdomen,' she says.
The belt should be placed below the baby bump. Picture: Getty Images.
'The shoulder (sash) belt should run between the breasts and over the collarbone. Not under the arm or behind the back. Ensure the belt is flat and not twisted.'
Beyond seatbelts, Dr Skinner says one of the most common questions he gets is: When should I stop driving?
Back in the day, it was common advice to stop driving after around 32–34 weeks because steering wheels didn't retract, and bumps didn't fit behind them.
Now, if you're carrying a single baby, it's usually safe to drive right up to the end of pregnancy. Multiples? You're more likely to be benched by 32 to 34 weeks, due to spatial logistics.
And what about airbags? Contrary to some fears, they're safe and protective, as long as your bump isn't pressed right up against the wheel.
Experts say pregnancy can change the way we drive. Picture: Getty Images.
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Low-speed crashes, such as carpark fender-benders or knocking into poles, are surprisingly common during pregnancy.
'We see them every three to four weeks,' Dr Skinner says. 'It's probably due to some change in concentration in pregnant women.'
He claims minor bingles at low speed (under 20 km/h) are unlikely to cause concern.
So, while a pothole won't send you into labour, experts say pregnancy can change the way we drive, and not always for the better.
If it means easing into the Driving Miss Daisy era a little early? It might be the safest move, for mum and bub.