Ford Driving Tips for Pregnant Moms

The four times I was pregnant were some of the most enjoyable experiences in my life. I’ve heard horror stories from women who suffered through their entire pregnancies, but I wasn’t one of them. I loved being pregnant. I loved feeling the baby move. I loved my growing little big belly. I loved all of it. Except for maybe the heartburn. I wasn’t a big fan of that.

But overall, if I could be pregnant 20 times, I probably would. That’s how much I enjoyed being pregnant.

But sometimes when we’re pregnant, our brain and our body just don’t get along. While running errands during my four pregnancies, I didn’t always want to put my seat belt on correctly. Especially towards the end when I was as big as whale (and felt like one too) — I just wanted to be comfortable!

What really is the “right” position anyway? There are so many rules and guidelines that have to be followed when pregnant, and now there was this worry if I was putting the seat belt on correctly. Simply getting the seat belt buckled was hard enough at times.

Oh come on pregnant mommas — I know I’m not the only one!

It turns out, quite a few of us dealt with the same things, according to a new study by Ford Motor Company.

• 88% of women say they drove during pregnancy
• 78% believe it is “somewhat” or “much more difficult” to fasten a seat belt when pregnant
• 33% say driving was difficult during pregnancy
• 33% believe safety technology is the most helpful technology during the third trimester

July is the most popular month for childbirth, which means those moms are in their third trimester right now. Ford is teaming up with Well Rounded NY, an online destination for pregnancy advice, to get the word out about the safest way to wear a seat belt during pregnancy through these Ford driving tips for pregnant moms.

Ford Driving Tips for Pregnant Moms

1. Bump, not bulk. Remove bulky clothes so the safety belt can be placed as close to the body as possible.
2. Proper posture. Always ride and drive with your seatback upright and the safety belt properly fastened.
3. Back it up. Move your seat as far rearward as possible while still being able to reach the pedals comfortably.
4. Seat belt placement. The lap belt portion of the safety belt should fit snug and be positioned low across the hips, below the belly. The shoulder belt portion should be positioned across your chest, between the breasts and to the side of the belly. Make sure lap belt does not run across the belly, but lies as flat as possible under the curve. Never tuck the shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back – this can hurt both you and the baby.

More Pro Tips:

• Adjust your mirrors: You may be adjusting your seat on a daily basis as your belly grows, but make sure you follow suit with your mirrors to limit blind spots and give you the best possible view of the road from every angle.

BLIS with cross-traffic alert uses radar to detect a vehicle in your blind spot and can alert you with a light in your sideview mirror

• Prep is everything: Prep is everything when it comes to food cravings. We know cravings can hit at any moment – hard. Have snacks and water on hand and easily accessible.
• Nausea happens: For many moms-to-be, nausea is practically a given. And being in a moving car can make it worse. Nip it in the bud with a motion-sickness bracelet or an easily accessible baggie filled with anti-nausea candies.

DYK? Up to 85% of pregnant women experience morning sickness (should really be called all-day sickness)

• Distractions are dangerous: If you’re pregnant with baby No. 2, you’re probably driving around with the cutest little distraction ever. But don’t let your little one’s cries, giggles and screams cause you to take your eyes off the road. If you’re concerned about something, pull over.
• Plan your route: Pregnancy brain is for real. So no matter how many times you’ve driven these same streets, you just may find yourself incomprehensibly lost. Map your trip beforehand, and use your car’s voice-command navigation to help you find your way.

Because Ford cares, they have something they call an empathy suit. It’s a multicomponent, weighted garment designed to enable men and women to feel some of the effects of pregnancy. What I think is pretty neat about the empathy suit is that Ford Engineers wear it when they design Ford cars and trucks. They do this so that they can ensure that Ford vehicles are baby-bump-friendly.

I totally need to get my husband one of those empathy suits…

Hopefully these Ford driving tips for pregnant moms gives y’all a little more comfort – or peace of mind – the next time you buckle up around that gorgeous baby bump.

Have any tips for driving while pregnant? Feel free to share below.