You should always wear your seatbelt. Doing so is just good sense. That will not change when you become pregnant. In fact, it will become even more important to provide yourself and your child with the correct protection while driving. But because your body changes during pregnancy, you might think that the correct way to wear the seatbelt to protect yourself and your child changes, too.

The Correct Way to Wear Your Seatbelt

In reality, you should be wearing your seatbelt the same way whether you are pregnant or not. Your seatbelt is designed to be worn low over your hips and pelvis, rather than over your belly. This allows it to properly absorb any impact and protect you during an accident. If you are wearing it over your belly while pregnant and involved in an accident, the impact’s force is not properly distributed and your baby’s placenta can detach from your body. This will sever your child’s connection to the resources your body provides and probably kill them. The shoulder belt also needs to be correctly positioned on your body. First, you must adjust it properly to account for your height. When you strap it across your body, it should fall between your breasts and again, avoid your belly. Above all, make sure your seatbelt is securely and tightly fastened.

Other Car Safety Measures

There are some other ways to keep yourself and your child safe in the car. Studies show that airbags are much more likely to provide necessary protection than harm in the event of an accident. Don’t turn yours off if you are pregnant. Instead, adjust your seat to keep it as far from the dash as possible. You can also tilt it slightly to help angle an airbag impact away from your belly. Finally, look for the safest possible place to sit while you are in the car as well. This will tend to be in the back, as the front usually takes the most damage in an accident.

If you think you may be pregnant please see these signs of pregnancy.