Driving while pregnant

[azurely]

My H sent this to me. It's especially apropos since I just started second tri.

www.nbcnews.com/health/womens-health/driving-while-pregnant-car-crashes-more-likely-study-finds-n103176

[anna7602]

So timely. DH and I just had a minor discussion last night regarding my refusal to drive when we go visit my ILs this weekend. My issue had more to do with not wanting to drive around a place I am not as familiar with, but the idea of being big and uncomfortable behind the wheel was also part of it.

[flgirl]

Can absolutely agree. Although I think I am more dangerous in the 1st trimester because I was so tired and sick. Sometimes throwing up or gagging in the car...my poor kids sitting behind me.

[ringstrue]

Someone posted this on another board. This issue with this study is that they are looking at records, not following the actual women. Pregnant ladies in general are much more likely to go to the hospital after an accident than a non-pg woman. It doesn't seem to control for that.

[bowies]

I don't think I'm driving any better or worse, but I'm starting to really take notice of the truly awful drivers that share the road with me. My horn has gotten a lot of use.

[luv2rn4fun]

My one and only accident was during the 1st trimester of my first pregnancy. It was 50/50 fault but I definitely attribute any fault I had (we were both backing up in the grocery store parking lot) to being extremely tired and just wanting to get home to take a nap on my lunch hour. I have a very long commute right now (50 miles in So Cal traffic) and I really worry about when I get bigger (although the most I will be doing past 2nd tri is consulting a couple days/week). This article is a good reminder to be extra cautious.

[azurely]

May 13, 2014 13:44:32 GMT -5 ringstrue said:

Someone posted this on another board. This issue with this study is that they are looking at records, not following the actual women. Pregnant ladies in general are much more likely to go to the hospital after an accident than a non-pg woman. It doesn't seem to control for that.

Interesting. I guess I assumed they were looking at actual driving records, not hospital records. It's interesting that they found it decreased by third tri/end of pregnancy then, because that's when I would think a pregnant person would be most likely to go to the hospital.

[rbp]

"The study doesn’t mean women should stop driving during pregnancy. Even at their worst, they’re still better drivers than men of the same age, he noted."

LOL

[mrspost08]

I'm glad I drive a total of 4 miles a day.

[sillygoosegirl]

May 13, 2014 13:44:32 GMT -5 ringstrue said:

Someone posted this on another board. This issue with this study is that they are looking at records, not following the actual women. Pregnant ladies in general are much more likely to go to the hospital after an accident than a non-pg woman. It doesn't seem to control for that.

This struck me too.  It seems like pregnant women are more likely to go to the emergency room for almost anything.  I'd believe the bigger numbers in the 2nd trimester are due to women wanting assurance the baby is still there and the heart is still beating.  Anyway, it seems like I pretty often hear people talking about wanting that before they can feel the baby move.

However, I think it's an important point that driving or riding in a car is one of the most dangerous activities most of regularly engage in, pregnant or not.  And yet we think nothing of doing it all the time.