If you are pregnant, you know there is nothing more terrifying than the idea of being in a serious accident when you are expecting. An expecting mother in an auto accident can have a lot to be concerned about for herself and for her baby.
Many accident victims worry that being in a crash could negatively impact their pregnancy or cause the baby to have injuries or even die. Unfortunately they may have reason to worry, with five thousand fetal deaths are estimated to occur due to accidents annually.
Pregnant and Driving Concerns
Being in an accident alone may not cause fetal death. However, if you are pregnant, you should be aware of how different injuries or complications could come up from an accident. These could include:
Abdominal Pain- Could signal internal bleeding or fetal distress or different complications.
Urination Difficulties- If urinating is painful, tough to do, or irregular, it could be a bladder injury/internal injury sign.
Vaginal Bleeding- Excessive heavy/continued bleeding may be a sign of uterine trauma or a miscarriage.
Being Dizzy/Fainting- Blood pressure changes could be contributing to dizziness. Get this one checked out particularly if you are dizzy or fainting.
Swelling- Excessive swelling could be indicative of serious problems with health.
Headache- Can be caused by muscle strain, whiplash, hormone imbalances, and should be checked out.
Baby Movement Change- When your baby is kicking and moving and stops, get it checked out immediately and treat it as an emergency.
Bruising- Stomach and chest trauma when pregnant can cause bruising or trauma to a chest or stomach when involved in a serious collision.
Ensure you have the right safety equipment and features when it comes to your vehicle or partner’s vehicle of transportation. Airbags, seat belts, and a safe vehicle design are important when it comes to making sure that your vehicle is safe.
Follow These Steps When Pregnant and In An Accident
When you are pregnant and go through a car crash, treat it as though you were injured and follow these steps.
1. Visit the hospital.
They’ll check you and your baby out, monitoring for fetal distress and other signs of a problem. They’ll do other tests, including blood tests, urine tests, and more.
2. Get in touch with your obstetrician as soon as possible.
Get in touch and let them know that you were in a crash and keep your doctor involved and let them know of any injuries or developments.
3. Keep the records.
You’ll want to track your injury treatment and where you were attended to. You’ll need to get the records later down the line if you want to place a damages claim.
4. Get care after.
Follow any plan of care or treatment that is within reason recommended by the doctor (get a second opinion if you don’t agree or feel suspicious).
5. Keep relaxed and stay calm.
Staying calm and relaxed during your pregnancy and avoid stress as much as you can after a crash. If this means asking for help then do so!
6. Get in touch with a lawyer.
Have an attorney that is experienced and professional take on the case while you focus on recovering and caring for yourself and baby to be. They’ll take care of the investigations and insurance companies.
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