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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Scorchio84 · 17/09/2024 20:53

Brieonlybrie · 17/09/2024 19:06

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

Me neither & I wish I drove myself to the hospital, christ the bumps!

HighPerformingFlamingo · 17/09/2024 20:56

I drove the whole time, just moved the seat back.

Phen0menon · 17/09/2024 20:56

I drove myself the morning i had a sweep. I went in to labour that evening. I was 3 days overdue at that point

Dragonsandcats · 17/09/2024 20:58

I didn’t stop. Drove myself home from a visit to as friend’s when I was in early labour with dc2

Cobblersorchard · 17/09/2024 21:01

Didn’t stop, I’m short and still managed. Depends on your car and how you carry the bump.

MrRobinsonsQuango · 17/09/2024 21:05

At 36 weeks, it was twins and my legs / feet were too swollen to operate the pedals. But l have longer than average arms and legs

greenose · 17/09/2024 21:07

Never stoped driving I'm 5feet and had two 9lb babies so was massive

shakeitoffsis · 17/09/2024 21:09

Can't be arsed to read the full thread but never in my life have I heard of anyone stopping driving because they are pregnant. It's a circumstance not an illness, it's best to remain as normal as possible throughout pregnancy if you are able to.

Iloveburgerswaymorethanishould · 17/09/2024 21:11

My friend drove herself to hospital after her waters had gone and regular contractions had started!! Personally I’d be milking it as I love having a prolonged period of being driven about!!! (Lasted about 4 weeks after a section though!!)

ItsTheGAGGGGGGGG · 17/09/2024 21:12

My friend is driving to her induction tomorrow lol

augustusglupe · 17/09/2024 21:13

I never stopped. I was a week overdue and drove 20 mins to my parents house the day before I had DD. We went for a walk up a hill (was in Wales, our local Garn) then I drove home.
Went into labour 12 hours later.

DinosaurMunch · 17/09/2024 21:14

I think you're getting some pretty dim responses here and it's a perfectly reasonable question.
Obviously it's not a problem as long as you don't crash....but if you do crash, the closer you are to the steering wheel the more likely you are to be injured.
Statistically you are unlikely to crash in the next few weeks.
However I would take a pragmatic approach and drive as little as possible without causing major inconvenience.

Marmite27 · 17/09/2024 21:14

The only time I stopped was for 4 weeks after my section, and I spent 3 of those as in-patient!

Londonrach1 · 17/09/2024 21:15

I didn't.

DinosaurMunch · 17/09/2024 21:16

To add, I drove (and cycled) right through pregnancy but the combination of leg length bump size and car configuration left a reasonable gap

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 17/09/2024 21:16

I was driving all the way through my pregnancies but I took a decision not to drive late in the evening when I was pregnant because I felt very tired and thought it was unsafe.

LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 17/09/2024 21:19

4 days before my due date with DD1

34 weeks with DD2 (I had a pre partum haemorrhage and had to rest and just didn’t feel up to it)

About 35 weeks with DS1. I was nearly 45 and felt too tired.

I did not feel I had to stop and could always fit behind the wheel. Just do what feels right for you.

AgainandagainandagainSS · 17/09/2024 21:21

Bambi1609 · 17/09/2024 18:49

Sat my driving test at 36 weeks lol

Gosh good for you! Did you pass?
My gran took hers when pregnant with child no2. But she was only about 3 months I think.

AgainandagainandagainSS · 17/09/2024 21:23

I didn’t stop! And I was driving again 2 days after birth with second baby needed to take my older child somewhere.

Gogogo12345 · 17/09/2024 21:26

hobbledyhoy · 17/09/2024 19:08

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.

I had 2 of my kids in the 90s and never heard of it

angelikacpickles · 17/09/2024 21:54

This isn't a thing.

Danielle9891 · 17/09/2024 22:00

I stopped at 34 weeks as the baby was sitting on a nerve and making my leg go numb. I was getting bad Braxton hicks as well. I suppose you'll know yourself if you need to stop.

RoseGoldEagle · 17/09/2024 22:03

Never heard of anyone stopping for this reason. I had to drive myself to appointments at 10 days plus overdue. I think any crash would be potentially an issue.

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 17/09/2024 22:14

I had to stop around 26 weeks when I was pregnant with DTs, we have a car with a really bloody annoying blind spot that you have to lean over the steering wheel to see around it and I just didn't fit.

TwinklyAmberOrca · 17/09/2024 22:18

I drove myself to the hospital to be checked with twins at 34 weeks (equivalent of measuring over 44 weeks if it were a single baby!!) and they were born 4 hours later.

Just adjust the seat.

To be fair I avoided driving for more than an hour after 30 weeks but less than an hour I just got on with it.