To ask when you stopped driving in pregnancy?

[drivingquestion]

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

Never stopped or even thought about it. The advice I was given was to make sure the belt goes below bump so that if it is activated in a collision it will exert pressure over the hips rather than onto the baby bump.

When I literally didn't fit.

I drive myself to the hospital the day before my c section as my husband wasn't allowed to come with me (pandemic times). I was 41+3, 5 ft 3 and had a 10lb+ baby!

I just adjusted my steering wheel.

I stopped at around 35 weeks not because of size but I was in pain. Pushing the clutch down really hurt as I had constant pain on the left hand side of my uterus from early on and the bigger I got the more it hurt. I remember driving home from an appointment crying and when I got home I told my husband I wasn’t driving anymore and I didn’t. I barely moved the last 6 weeks though, only comfy position was lying on my side.

I didn't stop driving. Did over an hour round trip alone 4 days before I gave birth for a scan (April 2020). Wouldn't have crossed my mind to stop driving tbh.

pretty much until the end. But I didn't drive myself to hospital in labour.

I drove myself to the hospital to give birth 😆

I didn’t stop, I drove to my appointment the day before I had ds. I don’t know anyone that did stop, didn’t realise it was a thing.

Week 38 which was a couple of days before I gave birth each time. Purely because I was too exhausted to go anywhere

I never stopped. Drove myself to the hospital (5 minutes away) whilst in labour 😅

I remember this used to be a thing when I was younger (90's) I remember a few of my friends mum's when pregnant would stop driving as they got bigger. I think it's quite archaic now and I've never stopped driving with either of mine.

Drove to the hospital.

Sitting in the driver's seat on the way home was the most comfortable I'd felt since I drove in.

I didn’t stop.

I didn't, I'm 5'2 and had big bumps but I also have longish legs for my height so I always fitted. I did worry a bit though about the steering wheel but I'd rather be the driver and know I was driving carefully I think.

Is it a thing to stop?! If so I didn't know about it.

I even drove to hospital on the day of my c section as I knew it'd be a while till I could drive again afterwards!

I'm 5ft 2 and was a beached whale in my second pregnancy! People would stop me in the street and exclaim in shock (how kind of them...!)

I drove right up until the end on both pregnancies. I personally don't know of anyone stopping driving while pregnant x

I drove myself to the hospital after my waters started leaking 😂

Drove myself to my c section appointment 😂i figured it was the last chance I'd get to drive for a while.

Haha cross posted with a drive to c section for the same reason!

I stopped at 12 weeks because I kept fainting. Wasn’t safe to drive when I could lose consciousness at any moment.

This was me at 36 weeks and the last time I drove (Fiat 500 and I’m 5ft 1in). I physically couldn’t turn the wheel anymore as my bump was against it. Like you, couldn’t reach pedals if I pushed seat any further back 😂😂

Stop when you are uncomfortable or it doesn’t feel safe for you anymore.

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

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.

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.

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