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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Seat Belts

13 replies

kbaby · 01/04/2004 19:28

Hi,

My friend asked me the other day if I was wearing a seat belt, I said yes and why was she asking and she said that her doctor gave her a exempt note because where you place the lap belt if you were to be in a accident the lap belt would hurt thew baby possibly breaking its neck. I wouldve thought that wearing a seat belt was far safer then not. But now shes got me worrying.
Anyone heard anything similar

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Tinker · 01/04/2004 19:31

Hi Kbaby

Not heard anything similar. Only the 'recommendation' that you don't drive for the last 6 weeks or so? Something like that. Anyway, I was still driving, with a seat belt, on the day my daughter was born and she was 8 days overdue

gingernut · 01/04/2004 20:01

I have heard the placenta can be damaged in an accident but I imagine it's very rare (probably depends on the position of the placenta, for instance). If you are concerned, you could get one of those mats that divert the belt away from the bump, so it rests across the top of your thighs (I used one because I just found the belt uncomfortable pressing on my bump, bought it in Halfords). I would definitely not stop using the belt altogether!

MrsGrump · 01/04/2004 20:03

Break the neck? I don't understand how.

suedonim · 01/04/2004 21:44

I would imagine that in the event of an accident being thrown through the windscreen or being catapulted into the seat in front of you would be a lot more dangerous to the baby than wearing a seat belt. The ROSPA site shows how to wear the belt safely during pg. Hth.

mummytojames · 01/04/2004 21:47

i think you would be putting the baby at higher risk not wearing a seat belt to wearing one and i didnt know about the not driving upto six weeks before due i was driving the same day as i got the contractions

prettycandles · 01/04/2004 22:12

I think that's nonsense, the doctor was probably 'old fashioned'. I find that seat belts fit me the best when I'm pregnant, because the bump keeps the strap well down on my lap, nowhere near my belly. And in the first few months before the bump develops, the foetus is still deep within the pelvic girdle, and thus well-protected.

I've been in an accident (before I ever was pg) and had whiplash and shoulder injury but no harm whatsoever from the lap part of the seatbelt.

grumpyzebra · 01/04/2004 22:48

The only thing I heard was to avoid long unbroken car journeys in the last few months, because preggos are at higher risk of deep vein thrombosis if they sit still too long.
I actually think it's a load of rubbish about breaking the neck, but wasn't sure if I was qualified to say so.

gingernut · 01/04/2004 23:29

this is the mat I had, BTW. I found that I couldn't get the belt to stay on my thighs without it, it would always ride up my bump.

Jennyb851 · 02/04/2004 00:02

Hi,
There is a special attachment you can get for use in pregnancy. I saw it mentioned in one of the baby magazines. As far as i know its all above board. Try looking through the advertisments at the back maybe? Sorry but i cant remember where to buy it. (If you want any more info i can have a look through them for you but it might take a while, i have a great big pile of them. Let me know)

mears · 02/04/2004 00:11

Definately safer to wear seatbelt with lower strap over top of thighs or use the device in gingernut's link. Seatbelt would absolutely not break baby's neck in an accident - would prevent you breaking yours

Original poster

kbaby · 04/04/2004 21:58

Thanks, Ive looked at gingernuts thread which was good and ive also found a similar thing from blooming marvellous which holds the seatbelt under the bump. Its just scary to know that if you were to be in a accident you could actually harm the baby, ill be driving everywhere are 25 miles per hour from now on.
Thanks for everyones advise

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Hulababy · 04/04/2004 22:04

Read my car manual yesterday about this. I don't normally but it's new car and wanted to look up something else, and remembered this thread. It uses a handy phrase which sums it all up really. Something like "the best way to keep an unborn baby safe is always to keep the mother safe". It also reiterates that it is against the law for any one, pregnant or not, to not wear a seat belt.

Original poster

kbaby · 05/04/2004 20:18

The one from Blooming Marvellous was a clippasafe bump belt. Ive looked on the clippasafe website and they show a picture of it and how it works etc. Its like a mat which you sit on and then there are two velcro tabs on either side which the seat belt goes through to ensure it stays on your lap. I read back through some of the baby magazines I have and there was a letter from some women who was in a severe accident at 33 weeks and she lost the baby as a result of the impact. That frightened the life out of me so ive now ordered the belt.
The link is \link{http://www.clippasafe.co.uk

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