One commonly overlooked aspect of pregnancy is how to correctly wear your seat belt. As your abdomen grows in size during pregnancy, mindless tasks such as buckling your seat belt require more thought. If you are pregnant, it is vital that you wear your seat belt to protect both you and your little one. However, there are certain adjustments that can be made in order to maximize effectiveness and comfortability, which we will discuss in detail.
Lap Belt Positioning
To ensure that you are wearing your seat belt the correct way, you will want to ensure that your lap belt is positioned in such a way that optimizes its effectiveness. To do this, you will want to place your lap comfortably below your belly. Never place the lap belt over or on top of your belly, as this is unsafe and ineffective. If placed correctly, the lap belt should fit comfortably across your hips and pelvic bone.
Shoulder Belt Positioning
The next part of your seat belt that you should pay attention to is your shoulder belt. To get the most effective and safe use out of your shoulder belt, you will want to have it lie across your chest (right between your breasts). Never wear your shoulder belt under your arm, behind your back, or off your shoulder. Make sure that the shoulder belt is not too close to your neck and get rid of any slack that the shoulder belt may have.
Seat Adjustments
Not only are there proper ways to wear your seat belt while pregnant, but there are also specific ways that you should be positioning your seat. If you are driving, you will want to try and keep as much distance as possible between your belly and the steering wheel, ensuring that you are still able to comfortably reach the pedals and steering wheel. Ideally, you will want to keep at least 10 inches between the center of your chest and the steering wheel. The goal is to not let your belly touch the steering wheel, so as to protect you and your little one in the event of an accident. If you are in the passenger seat, you should move your seat back as far as it allows.
Seat Belt Adjusters
You may have seen maternity seat belt adjusters on the market that are advertised to make seat belts more comfortable for pregnant women. While this may be an avenue worth pursuing, the reality is that there has not been enough testing and crash data to definitively prove whether seat belt adjusters are beneficial or not.
What About Airbags?
Although you may be inclined to turn off the airbags, thinking that doing so will protect you from the impact, you should refrain from doing so. Doctors recommend that you leave the airbags on while you are pregnant to provide optimal protection for both you and your baby. Seat belts and airbags are designed to work in conjunction with one another, thus to be most effective, both need to be used. If you turn off your airbags, you run the risk of being ejected from your vehicle or smashing into the dashboard, both of which will cause much more damage and harm than if you had left them on.
What To Do If You Are in a Car Accident
If you wind up in a car accident, you must seek medical attention immediately. Although you may not initially think that you were injured, it is better to be safe than sorry and this medical documentation may be necessary if you take legal action. It can also be more difficult to externally detect if your baby is injured, making medical assistance even more vital. After seeking medical attention, you should contact a San Antonio car accident lawyer to discuss what your legal options are and whether you should consider filing a car accident claim.