How Can Pregnant Women Protect Unborn Children From Car Accidents?

Did you know that the car accident death rate is four times higher for unborn babies than for infants and toddlers? Or that researchers still don’t quite know how to significantly reduce the number of unborn fetus deaths in car accidents in the United States?

According to the most recent numbers, between 300 and 1,000 unborn babies die in car accidents each year. Why is the number so high? Care safety experts say that fetuses aren’t protected by car seats – and that the placenta uterine attachment is delicate, especially when it is exposed to the force that comes with a high-speed car accident. In addition, highway safety advocates say that pregnant women driving cars could be positioned so that their pregnant belly slams into the steering wheel during a car accident.

What can expecting parents do to reduce the risk of losing their baby during a car accident? Researches say that the single best thing you can do is to wear your seat belt correctly – even if it seems uncomfortable during your pregnancy. The lap belt should be firmly across your pelvis – not higher on your belly – while your shoulder strap should be across your chest – not behind your back. In addition, pregnant woman should position themselves as far away from the steering wheel as is safe. In fact, some women are choosing to use pedal extensions during the latter months of their pregnancy in order to keep the steering wheel at a safe distance from their belly.

There is one thing that researchers do know: changes won’t be coming to new models of cars any time soon. Until that time, they simply urge all drivers to be as safe as possible, buckle up, and use common sense.