Properly Wearing a Seatbelt While Pregnant

Parents line up to take classes on buckling up their babies in their car seats, but what about buckling up before the baby arrives? It may surprise you that many women are buckling up incorrectly while pregnant, or worse, not buckling up at all.

Concern over the pressure the belt places on their stomachs is the chief reason women cite for not wearing a seatbelt, but there is no evidence to show that the pressure poses a danger to the baby , especially when the belt is fastened correctly. The greatest danger of all is not wearing a belt during an accident – the March of Dimes released the statistic of 170,000 car accidents annually in the US involving pregnant women, which in itself should be a reminder to put on the belt.

Just a few tips for wearing a seatbelt and driving while pregnant are as follows:

• The lap belt should be placed snugly under the belly.
• The shoulder strap should go across the chest, never behind the back or under the arm.
• Seat position should be as far away from the steering wheel as possible while still being able to comfortably and safely reach the pedals.

The March of Dimes is beginning an awareness campaign on safe seatbelt procedure while pregnant, and hopes to team up with car dealerships to promote the practice. Ford dealerships in particular have already jumped on board by putting a section in their car owner’s manuals about how to properly place the belt while pregnant.

You can find more information on the campaign, and more detailed tips for wearing your seatbelt, on the March of Dimes website.