Car journeys in pregnancy: seat belts, long drives and rest stops

Wearing your seat belt the right way and breaking up long drives are the two things that matter most for car journeys in pregnancy.

How to wear a seat belt

The NHS says to wear your seat belt with the cross strap between your breasts and the lap strap across your pelvis, under your bump, not over it. The Royal College of Midwives backs this advice. If you’re not sure you’re doing it right, ask your midwife to show you.

GOV.UK says you must wear a seat belt if you’re pregnant, unless your doctor says you don’t have to for medical reasons. In that case a doctor can issue a certificate of exemption, which you must keep in the vehicle, show to the police if you’re stopped, and tell your car insurer about. NCT says it’s safest to wear a seat belt unless a doctor has said not to.

A seat belt can feel uncomfortable on a growing bump. Research reported by the Royal College of Midwives in 2018 found that nearly 1 in 5 women (19.4%) sometimes chose not to wear a seat belt at all, and 45.9% said they did not know the correct way to wear one. If yours is uncomfortable, adjust where it sits rather than taking it off.

Long car journeys

The NHS says it’s best to avoid long car journeys if you’re pregnant. If you can’t, it suggests:

stopping regularly to move your feet and legs
staying hydrated and keeping air circulating
avoiding travelling alone where possible
asking a pharmacist about graduated compression stockings for journeys over 4 hours, because the NHS says travel of more than 4 hours carries a small risk of blood clots

The Royal College of Midwives also says regular rest breaks help prevent the over-tiredness that can affect driving safety. If you’re tired, share the driving or stop.

Driving while pregnant

You can keep driving if you feel well. Pregnancy can make you tired, sick or dizzy, so if tiredness, sickness or dizziness affects your driving, pull over somewhere safe and rest. If a medical problem makes driving unsafe, talk to your GP or midwife.

Car seats for your baby

You’ll need a car seat for the journey home. See the hospital bag checklist and what you actually need for a new baby.

When to get help

If you’re pregnant and you have any bleeding or spotting, contact your maternity unit, an early pregnancy unit (if you’re under 20 weeks) or NHS 111. Call 999 if the bleeding is heavy or the pain is severe, or if you have a sharp, sudden, intense pain in your tummy and feel very dizzy or faint, feel sick, or look very pale. If you’re abroad, use the local emergency number and ask for medical help.

If your baby’s movements slow down, stop or change, call your midwife or maternity unit straight away, day or night. Don’t wait until the next day, and don’t use a home doppler to check the heartbeat, because hearing a heartbeat doesn’t mean your baby is well. If you’re abroad, go to a local maternity unit or hospital.

Questions people ask

Do I have to wear a seat belt when I’m pregnant?

Yes, GOV.UK says you must, unless your doctor says you don’t have to for medical reasons and has given you a certificate of exemption.

Where should the lap belt go?

Across your pelvis, under your bump. The cross strap goes between your breasts. The NHS says the lap strap should not go over your bump.

How often should I stop on a long drive?

The NHS says to stop regularly to get out and stretch. If you’re on a journey longer than 4 hours, ask a pharmacist about compression stockings.

What if my movements change after a car journey?

Contact your maternity unit straight away, day or night. Don’t wait until the next day. Do this even if you think the journey caused it.