Driving when pregnant

[renee101]

Hi!
i've been looking around for information about driving while your pregnant and cany find any!! can someone please tell me if you can drive all the way through your pregnancy?? or does your tummy get too big to drive??

any help would be great!!

Thanks

[pinkandblue]

Hi
I drove all through my pregnancy and didnt have a problem.
Natalie

[shell]

hi you have to stop driving when your tummy touchs the steering wheel , that when it is no longer very safe . you could always ask your doctor next time you go .



kylie mum of chloe 7 months :)

[cwsmum]

I drove all the way thru my first pregnancy without a problem :) This time I have been unable to drive some days due to morning sickness that has not been to bad, but the nausea kinda makes me dizzy. I don't want to risk driving with my 2yr old in the car feeling like that.

Driving shouldn't be a problem, but remember that you do still have to wear a seatbelt, even when your tummy is really big :D just make sure you wear it across your hips, not your tummy, your doctor can probably explain that better than I just did.

[alicesmum]

i drove when I was in labour (early stage) to get my husband from the airport so he could take me to the hospital!! :p I was 2 days over and HUGE!! I also drove 1/2 hour to dinner the night before that to be with friends as he was away and I didn't want to be alone. Not what I would have expected to be doing on my due date, but it was absolutely fine!! :)

[jamb]

hi,

feel a bit silly writing this BUT i had really bad baby brain when i was pregnant. i had to conciously think of road rules (like what to do at a round-a-bout) and if i drove anywhere i would have to walk around the shopping centre saying to myself where the car was parked- otherwise i would have forgotten. In the end I just preferred being driven around, for my safety and others.

Thankfully this passed the moment my DS popped out.

cheers amy

[Lallas' Mum]

Hi Renee,

There's nothing to say you can't drive when you are pregnant. Just make sure you're feeling on top of yourself. I am like Amy when I am pregnant - I get really bad baby brain and don't feel like I can concerntrate enough to drive. On days like that I just stay home if I can.

I drove all through my first pregnancy (although it got very hard to get in and out of the car). I am still driving at present and I am due next week.

One thing you must be very wary of is airbags. Try to sit as far back from the steering wheel as possible if you are driving. If you are a passenger it is recommended you have your seat as far back from passenger airbags as possible. Even sitting in the back is not such a bad idea. Though airbags can prevent serious head and chest injuries they are very dangerous for pregnant women. Please don't let this scare you though. The airbags still will prevent serious injury to yourself but of course with your belly poking out so far it can be more dangerous for bub. The chances of having an accident are low but just be aware of whether airbags are fitted and take those extra precautions. I'm sure all will be fine.

Tracey
:) Mum to Alec (Lalla) 18 months and Bub due May 3rd

[wattle]

Hi Renee

I drove until the last few weeks. I found it hard to concentrate on the road, and found my mind wandering all the time. I made sure I turned the radio down and that helped.

I had trouble reverse parking too, turning around to look over my shoulder was difficult for me, but I was huge.

Goodluck with your driving.

[renee101]

Thanks heaps everyone for your help!!!
i was worried i wouldnt be able too, my partner doesnt have a license and things would have been very difficult.
Thanks again!

[Rainbowbrite]

Hi,

I'm 36 weeks tomorrow :D And also find that my mind is wandering. Glad to know its not just me. The slightest thing like thinking too much or an object on the side of the road distracts me :eek: My main problem is although i have plenty of room between myself and the wheel, i'm just finding it really difficult to get in and out of the car. Doesn't help when stupid people park almost touching my mirror :mad:

Oh well, just have to persevere a little longer as i'll still be working up until the end of next week then i can sit at home, be bored and wait for the fun to begin :rolleyes:

Rainbowbrite

[cleighsa]

hey i drove right up to and past my due date and was fine. but once when i was bout 81/2 mths i went to the library, when i came out a car was parked extreemely close to mine. i had a 4wd then and could only open the door bout 10cm. waited a while but eventually had to get in passenger side and climb over :eek: , it was a bit tricky at my size!!
good luck
leighsa

[tread]

I'm 35.5 weeks and still driving, BUT I have had shocking lack of spatial judgement during the entire pregnancy. It's not a problem on the road, but I've swiped the sides of my car a few times now in underground car parking bays with big posts. My reverse parks are pretty crappy now too :( Must be preggy brain!

[Luvmyfam]

I am 26weeks pregnant and although I am not really big yet I am finding the "baby brain" thing a little worrying. I do shift work and drive no less than 50 mins each way to work. I am considering finishing work a little earlier simply due to my expected increase of lapses in concentration (each day I do something outrageous!) Although complete exhaustion hasn't set in, its the tiredness that worries me more than my expected size. I guess it depends on how long you spend in the car. On the whole tummy thing while driving, I have been told also to keep the belt low around your hips.

[mel]

hi,
driving is fine, but i also have a bad case of baby brain, i'm glad to hear i'm not the only one! i mean i've always been a bit vague, but now i'm really bad, so i just have to really concentrate when i'm in the car. further down the track i think i'll ask to be driven!

[H&B'sMum]

I drove myself to my Dr's appointment the day Harry was born. I had enough space but I found I lost my parking ability. I could never park straight or in the space probably. It's now a joke between Dh and I, everytime I do a bad park he asks me if I'm pregnant.