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Original poster

To ask when you stopped driving in pregnancy?

221 replies

drivingquestion · 17/09/2024 18:38

Name change as asked in my due date groups under real name!

When did you stop driving in pregnancy? I’m 5ft nothing with short legs and finding at nearly 32 weeks that it’s harder to fit behind the steering wheel. I have adjusted my seat and the steering wheel as much as possible. I can’t lower the seat anymore or move further back as I wouldn’t be able to see or reach the pedals.

Attached pic - am I still ok for now? I have about an inch between my bump and the steering wheel. I’m concerned about whether it is safe or if I need to hang up my car keys for a while!

Thanks x

To ask when you stopped driving in pregnancy?
OP posts:
ARichtGoodDram · 17/09/2024 19:32

I stopped at 31 weeks with twins. Just didn't fit. I'm only 5'1 so I couldn't move the seat back any further and reach the pedals and I couldn't freely turn the steering wheel so stopped.

Second pregnancy I didn't have to stop. Third and fourth I stopped at 37 and 35 weeks.

If you're not comfortable and don't feel safe then stop. Not everyone has to stop, but that doesn't mean you should if you don't feel safe driving.

Chipsahoy · 17/09/2024 19:29

TMI with third child I had such terrible piles shortly before birth that I drove everywhere, even the shortest walk to school, I was in agony.
Drove up until a week or so before for last two and all the way up to birth for first one.

User79853257976 · 17/09/2024 19:28

I didn’t - first time I stopped work at 38 weeks and that was 20 miles each way. Second time I still needed to take my first child out.

Armadillosparkle · 17/09/2024 19:28

I never stopped. I was driving at 41 weeks. Honestly didn’t realise stopping was a thing.

Button28384738 · 17/09/2024 19:27

I didn't stop, but wasn't driving far once I stopped working at 36 weeks.

There are no rules but if you are too uncomfortable and don't feel safe to drive then stop

FlyingHighFlyingLow · 17/09/2024 19:26

You do you! If you're uncomfortable stop. I cycled to the shops, work, everywhere! Right up until 38 weeks pregnant. Felt fine doing it.

Driving? Always hated it. Learnt and I do it but never been a fan. Around 35 weeks I noticed I was really quite anxious driving, was 'autopiloting' a lot in journeys over 15 min or so. Which made the anxiety worse. Only times I got braxton hicks was while driving as it stressed me out. So I stopped doing high speed/ distance driving at 35 weeks. Did short/ essential journeys only. I did drive myself to my induction appointment at 41 weeks, but hospital is only 5 min away.

Squeezetheday · 17/09/2024 19:25

Currently pregnant with my second and will keep going as long as I can, having a section this time so could be a while before I can again once baby is here!

If you don’t feel safe then you could stop. But as others have said, same logic applies to being a passenger especially if you have airbags on the passenger side

OpalSquid · 17/09/2024 19:25

Littlemisscapable · 17/09/2024 19:24

How can you stop ? How would you get to the places you need to be that you normally drive to ?????

I didn’t need to go anywhere I was on maternity leave and I could still walk and get the bus if DH wasn’t about.

Littlemisscapable · 17/09/2024 19:24

How can you stop ? How would you get to the places you need to be that you normally drive to ?????

Fundays12 · 17/09/2024 19:24

I never stopped driving but had a very small bump. I have friends that had to though as the bump touched the steering wheel and it wasn't that safe

FS90 · 17/09/2024 19:24

I didn’t stop driving

Posithor · 17/09/2024 19:23

I'm pregnant with my third and didn't realise you had to stop. I actually was at a car auction on my due date of my first and bought a car, drove it home (well kind of it broke down which we'll gloss over 😂)

OpalSquid · 17/09/2024 19:22

I stopped driving when I had to move the seat so far back to get my bump in than I couldn’t reach the pedals.

Peonies12 · 17/09/2024 19:21

Never stopped! Didn’t know anyone did

OldTinHat · 17/09/2024 19:21

I never stopped either.

scotstars · 17/09/2024 19:21

I didn't stop drove myself to an appointment on my due date and was still driving 400 mile round trips for work until 36 weeks.

FuzzyPuffling · 17/09/2024 19:19

I drove to Sainsbury's and then the GP whilst in labour.

Avocadono · 17/09/2024 19:19

The day I gave birth, both times. It looks like you have plenty of room in the photo to me. As pps have said, many people work until the very end of pregnancy bad have a commute to get there. Based on my many, many pregnant acquaintances over time, I'd say stopping driving in late pregnancy is unusual.

Iheartmysmart · 17/09/2024 19:18

I had to stop at about 36 weeks. 5ft tall and was driving a classic mini at the time so absolutely nothing was adjustable apart from the seat which went backwards and forwards. Drove until I physically couldn’t reach the pedals any longer.

CheeseWisely · 17/09/2024 19:17

Never stopped. Drove the day I went into labour.

UrsulaBelle · 17/09/2024 19:17

I kept driving right up until the day of birth, but I had to swap cars with my H, He had a cavalier and I had an escort. My bump wouldn’t fit into the escort.

MrNarwhal · 17/09/2024 19:16

Another one here who drove myself to hospital to have both my babies at 42 weeks

HowYouSpellingThat10 · 17/09/2024 19:16

Do you need to drive anywhere?

I was still commuting to work up to 37 weeks. Once I started mat leave I didn't drive a lot as tended to walk. Our nearest city is 40 miles from where I was having baby so I didn't want to take myself too far away.

As a PP said you do you. If it's uncomfortable and doesn't feel right, why continue just because other people said they did.

No one else has your exact car set up, leg length, size of bump etc. If you have no need to drive then just decide to take a break for a few weeks.

Jammii · 17/09/2024 19:15

I stopped as my bump got big. Bump was right against the wheel, didn't feel safe if the car crashed.

Second time I need to keep driving for the nursery run, different car it has a bit more room though.

Giraffe888 · 17/09/2024 19:15

I also never stopped and I’m only 5ft 1 with short legs

no matter the distance of your bump from the steering wheel, if you were in a big crash you’d still jolt forward into the steering wheel so I don’t think it would make a difference how far away you are