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So many things can change during pregnancy, that includes a woman’s comfort level when she drives, and if she can even do so at all.
Real Housewives of Atlanta star Porsha Williams can attest to that. While sharing a birthday message this week for her younger sister, Lauren, the 37-year-old mother-to-be revealed that she was struggling to type in a grammatically correct way because she was lying in the backseat of an Uber due to her baby bump.
“Don’t judge my grammar,” she wrote, “in back of Uber laying out on way to work cuz PJ won’t let me sit up and drive lol”
Williams, who is is nearing the end of her pregnancy after initially announcing she was expecting last September, may still be able to handle her work duties (RHOA and Dish Nation tapings), but she’s had to get creative with how she gets there due to the discomfort.
And while expectant mothers are free to be behind the wheel, and can drive as long as they feel comfortable (and can reach everything needed to operate a car), studies have shown that women are more at risk for accidents during their second trimester, and if an accident does occur, the standard procedures one would usually need would not be able to be applied. Plus, the possible injuries one could sustain, as well as their child, are serious.
With that being said, during a time where driving issues could occur due to some of the symptoms of pregnancy, like fatigue and nausea for example, it’s best to play it safe, and ensure you’re as comfortable as possible if you want to drive when newly or heavily pregnant.
“Sometimes pregnant women are incredibly tired and may need to take precautions to not fall asleep at the wheel,” said Stephanie Marshall Thompson, M.D., reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist at IRMS at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in New Jersey. “Safe driving is even more important in pregnancy, as pregnant women are often hard to treat in a serious accident due to the position of the fetus.”
For those who start to feel discomfort behind the wheel, Marshall said there are adjustments that can be made to help get relief. However, she doesn’t recommend that anyone imitate Williams and lie down in the back of a car. It’s not safe. You should sit up as best as you can and buckle up, with the belt under your stomach, not across.
“If they are having discomfort, adjusting the seat or adding back or hip support helps,” she said.
“Proper seat belt positioning is essential, so lying down in the car is not recommended as you are at greater risk of injury in an accident,” she added. “On long trips, pregnant women should stop and stretch regularly and may need more bathroom breaks, but otherwise, are fine to maintain normal driving activity.”
While Williams is no longer comfortable behind the wheel, if you’re a fellow mom-to-be and can hit the road without feeling cramped, you can, because pregnant women don’t have driving restrictions. However, whenever you take the wheel, drive as safely as possible for your sake, and the sake of your unborn child.
