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

5ft 3” Short legs

I drove myself and now exh to the hospital after my waters broke

I’m 5” and stopped at full term for each of mine. For two of them, I was still driving the same day I had them. Cars are built for obese people and being pregnant at term is no different logistics wise in a car than being obese I’d think?

I think I stopped driving when I was in labour. There was no reason for me to stop.

I don't think I drove much after 37 weeks in my pregnancies. I tended to not go far from home after that unless my partner was with me and then he drove.

If you're uncomfortable driving for any reason then stop. It doesn't matter what anyone else did, just do what you feel able and are comfortable with. I have a friend who is 5"2, with short legs who had a huge bump in her second pregnancy and she struggled to drive after 34 weeks as her bump was touching the steering wheel.

Obese people have fat inside them, they don't don't have a baby growing inside them. OP is worrying about the safety of her baby in the event of an accident and hitting the steering wheel.

Didn't stop. Drove to my c section

I didn’t stop- I was having driving lessons at the time. My final lesson before baby was born was 5 days before I gave birth. The next
lesson was a week after I gave birth.

I can't stop -Ive other children that need to be places.
I'm a mother and wife. 💩 needs done ✔️

You have to decide for yourself- if it doesn’t feel safe to you, don’t drive. I didn’t stop but didn’t feel unsafe either.

I never stopped.

I remember driving to pick the Christmas turkey up on Christmas Eve and I was due on Boxing Day. With an enormous bump.

Never. Didn’t even know it was a “thing.”

I didn't stop with any. But with my third I massively reduced driving in last few weeks as it felt very uncomfortable. Bump was very close to wheel

I didn't stop, this didn't really cross my mind tbh 😬

I was pregnant in the US where I was advised by my OB/GYN that, if possible, your bump should be 10 inches (25 cm) from the steering wheel. If that wasn’t possible then it increases risk, but it isn’t unreasonable to drive even if you can’t be that far away as the big risk is a crash which is dangerous anyway whether you’re right up against the steering wheel or 10+ inches away and while being further away was better, it’s not a big issue.

My Dr. also said that one of the worst things for pregnant women was stress - which all the rules can really pile on without significantly lowering the chances of something untoward happening. So you might be better off just being generally sensible and not putting too much thought into it.

Hardcore

I didn’t, I drove in labour with DD as I wanted to pick DS2 up save his 14yr old brother have to collect him.

I was so lucky so this never occured to me, your body isn't your own when you're pregnant keine shame

Didn’t stop and never thought to! Although admittedly at the very end I was like a whale existing mainly on the settee or weeing on the loo so not much driving required!!

I stopped 30 minutes before I went into labour

i didnt stop

Well done you. With how bad my contractions were I couldn't have driven without putting everyone at risk. So I'd never have driven with another child (or adult come to that) in the car with me whilst in labour. But glad yours weren't that bad.

It didn’t really cross my mind not too. I had to take the others to school and go to work so I drove until the end.

DC2 was almost 2 weeks overdue. I drove to hospital for multiple sweeps etc so would have been 42 weeks at that point!

I didn't realise I was supposed to stop.

Never stopped though in the last few weeks it would have been shortish journeys only

I did however raise a few eyebrows when I turned up to a hospital appointment at 40 weeks on my bike 🤣