Airbags and pregnant women??

[MrsReber]

Okay, last night my husband just about demanded that I start driving our older car because it doesn't have an airbag. He says that pregnant women should not drive cars with airbags because I could hurt the baby. I haven't heard anything on this and I was wondering if anyone else had heard anything. I find myself sitting further and further from the steering wheel. Unfortunately, since I drive a 5-speed, this makes me stall the car out since I can't reach the clutch as well as I used to. But in any event, I fell that I am far enough away and I would think that the airbag would hurt ME before it would ever hurt the baby. Any advice? Anyone?

Thanks-Susan

[lindrusso]

Hi Susan. From what I have read, as long as you are 10 inches away from the steering wheel, you should be fine. Apparently the "experts" feel that the possible life-saving benefits of an airbag outweigh any small risks - and wearing a seatbelt (low and below the abdomen) will reduce the force the airbag might exert. Here's a link if you'd like to read more. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/airbags/brochure/

As a short woman, I push my seat back as far as I can, but I no longer drive a manual, so it's a bit easier!

[SusanD]

Ooh! I'd never heard that! My car has airbags, but it's also an automatic and I'm 5'8" so I have the seat pretty far back.

[MrsReber]

Thanks lindrusso! I will have to show my husband that information. I never thought about it, either until Kyle started to nag me about it last night. I really don't want to drive the other car because it is much lower to the ground and I have a very hard time getting in and out of it. By the way, I'm only 5'4" myself so it is becoming a bit of a challenge. I always wear my seatbelt, too. We have to in NJ, but I always wore it before. My dad would never leave the driveway if we didn't all have our belts on.

[MrsReber]

I went to the doctor. Everyting looks good. I asked him about the airbags. He said it's a good question. He hasn't heard of anyone getting killed from it (though I did see an article about one woman losing a baby due to an airbag inflating, but no circumstances were given). The doctor said that the mother's health must come first because if the mother dies, then chances are the baby will die. That makes sense to me. I don't want to give up my cushy driver's seat to drive the old car! The old one hurts my back.

[kwormann]

That is interesting to think about, since I am 5"1' (when I stand really tall).. I have enough trouble being far away from the stering wheel as it is.......

Kim