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

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.

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

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.

Why do you think pregnancy might impair your driving?

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

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

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!

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 ;)

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. :)

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Why do you think pregnancy might impair your driving?

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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 :lol:. 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!

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.

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Don't know about the insurance angle though.

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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.

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

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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.

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Thanks Kim.

Trish - If I have time at work tomorrow I will definately be calling my insurance company as I would like them to point it out in the PDS where it states the relevant info.

If i know for 100% certain that I wont be covered when I pay my insurance ontime each month and have never had an accident if all I need is a med cert *just in case* I am more than happy to get one, as I am sure anyone would be :)

Hmmm, if the insurance company does require a certificate I would be surprised.

For what reason does the insurance company assume a heavily pregnant woman is a 'risk' over someone who just has a big gut?

And what the hell would a certificate be certifying anyway? That a pregnant woman is Ok to drive??? Why wouldn't she be?

Pfftttt.....If this is the case then the insurance agency are a bunch of tossers ( which we know anyway)...

Blah- rant over....LOL

I would be curious to know when you find out, as I often drive my class of school kids on day trips. If I am not covered by law then I will stop now. I can't see why we would not be covered, but who knows....

Nope. My insurance agency said you can drive whilst preg and you can drive straight after - even after my C-sect - as long as you feel capable. I was driving the day before each labour and a week after my c-sect and my insurance agency has no problem with either. HTH.

Just ring your insurance and ask.
I did. So I can tell you that neither RACV or AAMI have any different requirements for pregnant women than any other drivers.

I drove myself home from the pool while in labour and having 4cx every ten minutes.

Not advisable believe me, even if you are insured.

I wonder... now there are some women who for some reason I can't quite remember (!) don't wear a seatbelt in late pg... something in the back of my mind which I can't quite put my finger on! Helpful much? Anyway, if you were to not wear a seatbelt for a pg. related reason you would need to carry a medical certificate to support such. Maybe that is where the suggestion stems from???

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I wonder... now there are some women who for some reason I can't quite remember (!) don't wear a seatbelt in late pg... something in the back of my mind which I can't quite put my finger on! Helpful much? Anyway, if you were to not wear a seatbelt for a pg. related reason you would need to carry a medical certificate to support such. Maybe that is where the suggestion stems from???

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It is believed that a seatbelt can cut off the babys life supply if the pregnant mother were in an accident and wearing the seatbelt incorrectly. It is still illegal for a pregnant woman to not wear a seatbelt, medical certificate or not.
If you put the belt that goes across your body under your bump not across it then it is safe, or you can get something that you put on your seat that will hold the belt off your bump, putting it over your legs instead. I forget what its called.

Must be a myth that's circulating lately. I've had a few people ask me this time around if I'm allowed to drive when this pregnant LOL. Have never heard of any laws or insurance problems.

As for not wearing a seatbelt while pg... umm... just put it under the bump. I don't think a mangled mummy in a carwreck due to no seatbelt is going to be much better for the baby! :o

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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.

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I had an accident when I was 7.5 months pregnant with DD, and it was not an issue WRT to insurance at all, was not even mentioned.

No, you do not need a medical certificate to drive whilst pregnant, at all, for anything. :)

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

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Same here.

Miss M - I have been wondering about this also.
I drive a company car, and am finishing up work at 36 weeks. When I was determining the date I was going to finish up at work, the boss said something about insurance not covering and I wouldn't be able to drive the car after 36 weeks. When I checked with the others girls in the office they all said when they had checked with insurance companies they were told that as long as their belly isn't touching the steering wheel that it was ok.
I've just bought a car and will check with the insurance company when organising insurance.
I'll be happy to hand the company car back (although sad to have to pay for petrol :( ) as some days I find driving a manual car a bit difficult.

Just another angle i was looking at also. Now female drivers generally are cheaper to insure right?! If it were the case you needed a certificate because or the risk or what ever else you would actually think that a female driver would be more expensive to insure. Doesn't make sense to me what so ever, really don't think they could even impose such a thing as i think it would come under discrimation laws.

this sounds ridiculous to me :p ... i know men with beer bellies bigger than my preg gut! n they dont need a medical cert lol.. or people who are obese dont need one to drive either... i was very big my last pregnancy and drove up until i was induced at 41 weeks and 3 days and drove myself to the hospital, i just adjusted the seat when i was massive! never had to change the steering wheel

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this sounds ridiculous to me :p ... i know men with beer bellies bigger than my preg gut! n they dont need a medical cert lol.. or people who are obese dont need one to drive either... i was very big my last pregnancy and drove up until i was induced at 41 weeks and 3 days and drove myself to the hospital, i just adjusted the seat when i was massive! never had to change the steering wheel

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After some thought this question popped into my mind. I totally agree with all of the above.

there has been some good responses and I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought about this (even tho it is stemming from another conversation)

I havent had a chance to call the insurance co yet, but it is def on my to do list :)

thanks for the feedback girls :)