Seat belts ARE safe
Dec 28, 2004
Pregnant women should always wear seat belts. It is dangerous not to, whether you’re travelling by car, plane, or any other vehicle.
By Dr Drake Adupa
Pregnant women should always wear seat belts. It is dangerous not to, whether you’re travelling by car, plane, or any other vehicle. Wearing seat belt protects you and your baby. The most common reason a foetus dies after a car crash is because the mother dies To avoid injuring your baby, however, the belt must be properly fastened. The lap and shoulder belts keep you from being thrown out of the car in case of crash. The shoulder strap also keeps the pressure of your body off the baby after the crash.
The seat belt should be a three-point restraint (that means it should have a lap strap and a shoulder strap). The lap strap should go under your belly, across your hips, and as high as possible on your thighs, so that it lies snugly over your pelvis. Never wear the belt directly across your belly — during a crash, the sudden jolt could cause the placenta to separate from the uterus, causing antepartum haemorrhage. The shoulder strap should go between your breasts snugly, over the collar bone and off to the side of your belly. If the shoulder strap cuts across your neck, try repositioning the belt or your seat so the belt fits better. Beware of the common mistakes of using seat belts such as seat too loose or locally remodeled, harness too loose and facing the wrong side or wrong angle; faulty or no retainer clip, or wrong slots.
Experts agree that air bags are safe and can protect the mother from head injury.
Air bags are not a substitute for a seat belt, so always wear your seat belt even if your car has air bags. Most studies have not shown where a pregnant mother should sit as a passenger to ensure the safety of an unborn baby in a crash.
However, if you are not driving, you should preferably sit in the back seat as injuries from car crashes tend to be less serious to people in the back seat, with their straps fastened. As pregnancy progresses you will find it uncomfortable to sit in the car for long periods, so if a long journey is unavoidable, plan to have frequent breaks.
Remember, your body provides a cushion for your baby and helps keep it safe. That means the best way to protect your growing baby is to protect yourself by always wearing a seat belt.
The writer is a specialist
obstetrician and gynaecologist
Pregnant women should always wear seat belts. It is dangerous not to, whether you’re travelling by car, plane, or any other vehicle. Wearing seat belt protects you and your baby. The most common reason a foetus dies after a car crash is because the mother dies To avoid injuring your baby, however, the belt must be properly fastened. The lap and shoulder belts keep you from being thrown out of the car in case of crash. The shoulder strap also keeps the pressure of your body off the baby after the crash.
The seat belt should be a three-point restraint (that means it should have a lap strap and a shoulder strap). The lap strap should go under your belly, across your hips, and as high as possible on your thighs, so that it lies snugly over your pelvis. Never wear the belt directly across your belly — during a crash, the sudden jolt could cause the placenta to separate from the uterus, causing antepartum haemorrhage. The shoulder strap should go between your breasts snugly, over the collar bone and off to the side of your belly. If the shoulder strap cuts across your neck, try repositioning the belt or your seat so the belt fits better. Beware of the common mistakes of using seat belts such as seat too loose or locally remodeled, harness too loose and facing the wrong side or wrong angle; faulty or no retainer clip, or wrong slots.
Experts agree that air bags are safe and can protect the mother from head injury.
Air bags are not a substitute for a seat belt, so always wear your seat belt even if your car has air bags. Most studies have not shown where a pregnant mother should sit as a passenger to ensure the safety of an unborn baby in a crash.
However, if you are not driving, you should preferably sit in the back seat as injuries from car crashes tend to be less serious to people in the back seat, with their straps fastened. As pregnancy progresses you will find it uncomfortable to sit in the car for long periods, so if a long journey is unavoidable, plan to have frequent breaks.
Remember, your body provides a cushion for your baby and helps keep it safe. That means the best way to protect your growing baby is to protect yourself by always wearing a seat belt.
The writer is a specialist
obstetrician and gynaecologist