You still have to get around when you are pregnant... Life carries on as normal most of the time, except for the aches and pains, morning sickness and trips to the clinic.
Given that you will probably still be shopping, doing the school run and all of the other things that you already do, you will need to get around - this means ether driving, or taking some other form of transport.
If travelling by car there is little difference between being the driver or a passenger.
However, there might come a point where it's difficult to get in and out of the driving seat - at that point life might be easier if you have the option of being a passenger.
In most cases, unless a doctor tells you otherwise, you should be able to drive as normal. Of course general issues surrounding pregnancy might cause some inconvenience, for example you might need to take more 'comfort breaks' or stop to stretch and relieve back pain. Make allowances for this when planning journeys - driving while uncomfortable can lead to distraction, and that can be dangerous for any driver.
A message from Ireland - news report about seatbelts and pregnancy.
You might also find that this link is useful.
If you are on a long distance 'out of area' journey it's a good idea to take any maternity records with you, where all the important medical information is included, as well as emergency contact numbers.
According to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, women in their second trimester of pregnancy have about the same chance of getting into an accident as men who suffer from sleep apnea.
hat means they are about 42 percent more likely to experience a collision than the average driver. The findings also show that women do not suffer the same increased risk during their first and last trimesters.
The research looked at more than 500,000 mothers in Ontario, Canada, and was led by Donald Redelmeier, an emergency-room physician who also was one of the first people to study the link between mobile phones and car accidents.
However another study has shown that in the event of accident, pregnant women are likely to suffer less severe injury.
You are always much, much safer with a seatbelt than without. There are no general medical exemptions in the UK regarding seatbelts and pregnancy - so the law states that you must wear your belt.
But when you are pregnant it's more important than ever to wear your seatbelt correctly. In particular, the lap strap should be as low across the thighs as possible - below the bump! NEVER wear the seatbelt across or above your bump - this could cause serious danger in the event of an accident.
Avoid heavy clothes (for example, a thick coat) that could cause the seatbelt to slide up over your tummy.
Having an accident can be scary at ant time - more so when you are pregnant.
If you have an accident - even a minor shunt - call or visit your doctor or a casualty department. The chances are that if you are OK, baby will be OK, but the doctor might want to check baby's hear beat to double-check that things are as they should be.
Even if you don't feel you've been hurt, you may be at risk. According to the CDC, pregnant women in crashes without documented injuries are at greater risk of preterm labour. The sudden stopping motion, either from the crash or from braking to avoid a crash, can jostle a woman enough to harm her baby
It's possible, for example, to have placental abruption - when the placenta partially or completely separates from your uterus before the baby is born - without being aware of it. A placental abruption could cause you to have your baby prematurely.
Clearly, if you know that you are injured - visit a hospital.
Useful medical advice from a US law firm site.