Seat belts protect unborn babies: study
A pregnant woman who wears a seat belt greatly reduces the risk that her baby will die or be seriously hurt in a vehicle crash, according to a study that debunks the notion that seat belts are harmful to the fetus. "Seat belts absolutely protect the fetus — and not wearing a belt is a big problem," Dr. Mark Pearlman, who led the study, said. "Every single time they get in a motor vehicle, pregnant women should wear their seat belts without question — every single time." In the study, 72 percent of the women were wearing seat belts. Only 38 percent of the women whose babies died or suffered serious complications were wearing seat belts. The serious non-fatal complications included the woman's placenta prematurely separating from the uterine wall, preterm birth prior to 32 weeks of pregnancy and direct fetal injury, the researchers reported in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Pearlman offered some tips on the proper way for pregnant women to wear seat belts. He said the lap strap should be placed under the belly as much as possible, across the hips. The shoulder strap should be placed between the breasts and to the side of the belly. Seat belt straps should not go directly across the stomach and should be below the belly button as low they can comfortably go. And the seat belt should be snug, not loose.
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