Safety Belt Use During PregnancySafety belts work for everyone, including pregnantwomen. Like all occupants, they are more likely to beseriously injured if they do not wear safety belts.A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, andthe lap portion should be worn as low as possible,below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.The best way to protect the fetus is to protect themother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it ismore likely that the fetus will not be hurt in a crash.For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to makingsafety belts effective is wearing them properly.Safety Belt ExtenderIf the safety belt will fasten around you, you shoulduse it.But if a safety belt is not long enough, your dealer/retailerwill order you an extender. When you go in to order it,take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender willbe long enough for you. To help avoid personal injury, donot let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat itis made to fit. The extender has been designed for adults.Never use it for securing child seats. To wear it, attach itto the regular safety belt. For more information, see theinstruction sheet that comes with the extender.1-27
