Driving while Pregnant - Were you required to have a medical certificate?

[MissM]

Hey all,

This is stemming from a convo in another area - but just wanted to know how many of you were required to carry a medical certificate past a certain point (around 34-36 weeks) based on a 'healthy' pregnancy

I've asked a few people I know who have had children in the past few years (one with an 8week old) if they had to carry a medical certificate and all said no.

Obviously once my belly touches the wheel I wont be driving and as long as I feel good enough to drive I plan to.

I've read my PDS for my insurance and cannot find anything 'pregnancy' related.

I want to make sure I do the right thing and if i need one am happy to get one, but everyone I've asked said they never had a med cert and it sounds odd.

[Little Chicken]

Never heard of needing one and never had one for either of mine.

[~Kim~]

nope, I've never heard of needing one either. I drove myself to hospital after my waters broke last time...

You can ask for a medical certificate if you have had a ceasar and the seatbelt is too uncomfortable and that exempts you from seatbelt laws for a week or two, but I've never heard of before hand....nor would I go without a seatbelt no matter how uncomfortable...would rather not travel by car then.

[HotI]

Why do you think pregnancy might impair your driving?

[feeb]

Never heard of that before. I drove up until day I had cs at 39+5 weeks.

[starangelk]

I drove until 40+2, the day I had my CS. I never gave it a second thought........

[zap]

No drove right up until a few hours before I went into labour with ds3. When pg with the twins I stopped driving from around 34 weeks as I no longer fit behind the wheel!

[Taurean]

Never heard of that one either. I drove comfortably up until the day before I gave birth (38+5) - DH had to drive me to the hospital

[delphmoon]

I drove right up until the day I gave birth at 40+7 weeks. Why do you think you need a medical certificate?...I have never heard of that before.

[MissM]

Why do you think pregnancy might impair your driving?

The only reason I believe I wont be able to drive is when my belly touches the wheel - which is fair enough. I dont believe just 'being' pregnant impairs my driving ability.

there is/was a conversation being held about being covered for insurance (which I think how the convo came about) and it was suggested you require a medical certificate from 34 or 36 weeks incase you do get pulled over by the police.

I just want to make sure I am doing the right thing I think I will still ask at my appt as well.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your feedback.

[delphmoon]

Wow I never thought about insurance...never heard it really mattered but maybe it is in the fine print?

[HotI]

The only reason I believe I wont be able to drive is when my belly touches the wheel - which is fair enough. I dont believe just 'being' pregnant impairs my driving ability.

Do you need a doctor to tell you that your belly is touching the wheel? Most car seats and steering wheels can adjust these days.

[Cranky Kitten]

Never had one with DD - I drove myself to hospital for a check up at 38 weeks and was induced the next day. I'd been pulled over by a police officer for RBT 3 days before, he laughed when I asked if I could stand up to do it because I couldn't get enough puff to blow for as long as I needed to for the test but he never said anything about needing a medical cert to be driving (and it was pretty obvious I was about to pop).

Don't know about the insurance angle though.

[MissM]

Do you need a doctor to tell you that your belly is touching the wheel? Most car seats and steering wheels can adjust these days.

I know my steering wheel and chair are adjustable however it was said to ME that for insurance purposes I wouldnt be covered in an accident.

and BTW - I am quite capable of determining whether or not I can drive. I was simply asking a question as to whether there was a law or if anyone else had needed a medical certificate to be approved to drive as *I* was told.

[~Trish~]

I've never heard of needing a certificate either. I drove right up to the very end of each of my own pregnancies, I only decided not to drive when I was in labour . My tummy got pretty big with my first two and it never touched the steering wheel .

It would be interesting to know what insurance companies say about it though!

[~Kim~]

MissM, from a policeman's perspective, I can assure you, I've never ever heard of anything requiring one. Pretty sure Leesa will back me up.

Will ring DH...he's a Hwy Patrolman.

ETA nope.

[MissM]

Don't know about the insurance angle though.

This is what bothers me - the insurance thing. *JUST IN CASE* cos you never know. I've checked my PDS and it mentions nothing about being pregnant. I even got DH to read it incase I wasnt reading it properly.

[Cranky Kitten]

I'd ring the insurance company to double check - if nothing else it'll give some reassurance.