Maybe you've just been in a car accident while pregnant. You're Googling frantically, wondering, "What do I do now?!" Or maybe you're thinking ahead and want to know what to do in case this ever happens to you. Either way, keep reading. (If you're anything like us, you're the kind of parent who likes to be prepared for any situation. We respect that!)
Here's the most important thing to remember if you've been in a car accident while pregnant. Go to the hospital and get yourself and the baby checked out right away, even if the accident seems minor, and let your OB-GYN know what happened. Some of the most serious pregnancy complications from car accidents, like placental abruption, don't have immediate symptoms.
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), nine out of 10 injuries during pregnancy are minor. Yet 60% to 70% of fetal losses after trauma follow a minor injury.
Here at Safe in the Seat, we're a team of Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) and moms. Our passion is helping parents feel confident and prepared for the potentially scary situations they might face while parenting. We hope this guide will help you feel that way too. We're going to cover:
- Important steps to take after being in a car accident while pregnant
- What to expect when you get checked out
- Injuries your care team will look for
- Warning signs to watch out for after being in a car accident while pregnant
- What to do with your other kids' car seats
- Dealing with insurance after being in a car accident while pregnant
- How to stay safe in the car for the rest of your pregnancy
Please note that this post is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be taken as medical or legal advice or as a substitute for an examination by a doctor. Always defer to your doctor's advice, and seek immediate medical attention if you think something is wrong.
What To Do After a Car Crash While Pregnant: The Short Version
In case you're in a car accident right now and can only spare a moment, let's start with the TL;DR version:
- Make sure you're safe (move out of traffic if you can)
- Call 911 if anyone is injured
- Go to the hospital to be checked out, even if you're feeling fine, and call your OB-GYN
- Document the accident once you're safe
Why can't you just wait and see how you feel? You can't determine the severity of a car accident by the damage to your vehicle or by how you feel right afterward. A placental abruption can show up hours after a crash, even when you feel fine. That delay is exactly why getting checked matters promptly.
Phew. Okay, you made it through the TL;DR! Now let's talk through each of these steps in a little more detail.
What Should You Do Immediately After a Car Accident During Pregnancy
Unfortunately, car accidents are something a lot of us will experience at some point in our lives. They can be even more frightening when you're pregnant. Here's what we'd want our sister or best friend to do if she were involved in a car accident while pregnant:
Step One: Get to Safety and Call 911 if Anyone Is Hurt
If you can do so safely, move yourself and your vehicle out of traffic. Turn on your hazards and call 911 if:
- Any passengers were injured
- The accident has blocked traffic
- You need a ride to the hospital to get checked out
- You're unsure about anything
Remember, when you're pregnant, there's no such thing as overreacting. Plus, having an accident report made can come in handy later (more on that below).
Step Two: Tell First Responders You're Pregnant (and How Far Along)
This may seem like an obvious one. However, it's easy to forget to mention you're pregnant when you're talking to first responders. Tell the 911 dispatcher, the paramedics, and anyone treating you that you're pregnant and how far along you are. This information is important because the medical team will want to take extra steps to monitor you and your baby.
Step Three: Go to the Hospital and Call Your OB, Even if You Feel Fine
If you were in a car accident while pregnant, you need to be seen at the hospital, no matter how far along you are and even if you're feeling fine. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) agrees. Get medical care right away after a crash, even if you don't think you're hurt.
This is because a placental abruption can show up hours after an accident. Abruptions can cause internal bleeding that stays trapped inside the uterus, so you may not see it right away. Left untreated, it can put you and your baby at risk.
Call your OB-GYN too and tell them what happened. They may tell you whether to go to labor and delivery or the emergency room, and they can keep a closer eye on you and your baby after you leave the hospital. Either way, the answer is to get checked, not to wait it out at home.
Step Four: Exchange Information and Document the Scene
If you're physically up to it, exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver. Take pictures of everyone's vehicles, the accident scene, and any injuries you can see. If you're still pretty shaken up, ask a bystander or police officer for help.
Step Five: Don't Drive Yourself to the Hospital if You're Shaken Up
Your body releases a bunch of adrenaline after a car accident. So you may not realize right away just how shaken up (or injured) you really are. If you're feeling at all lightheaded, in pain, or otherwise not up to it, don't drive. Have someone else drive you to the hospital or let the paramedics take you in.
What To Expect When You Get Checked After a Crash
If you're more than 20 weeks pregnant, expect to be hooked up to fetal monitoring. This lets your care team watch your baby's heart rate and check whether you're having any contractions.
According to guidelines from the AAFP, patients past 20 weeks should get at least four hours of monitoring after a traumatic event. This is called tocodynamometry (the medical term for a contraction monitor). Those four hours matter because monitoring is very effective at catching problems that show up soon after a car accident.
Extended monitoring (24 hours) is usually recommended if your injury is considered high risk for your baby. It's also recommended if you have six or more contractions per hour during the first four hours of monitoring.
Other Tests You Might Have
Your OB may order additional testing, depending on how far along you are and how severe your accident was, such as:
- Ultrasound. Ultrasounds are often done after a car accident. However, the AAFP notes that ultrasounds aren't the most effective way to diagnose a placental abruption. It's still important to get one if your OB recommends it. Just remember that the results of your ultrasound aren't the whole story. In order to have a complete picture of the situation, your OB will also watch the contraction monitor and your symptoms.
- Blood work. As recommended by the AAFP, if you are Rh-negative, your OB will probably want to give you an Rh immune globulin shot. Your OB might refer to it as RhoGAM or another brand name. In the unlikely event that part of your baby's blood mixes with yours, this shot helps keep your immune system from responding negatively. According to its FDA label, it is usually advised within 72 hours of the accident.
Ask What To Watch for Before You Go Home
Don't leave the hospital without making sure you understand what symptoms to watch out for once you're home. Ask when you should call your OB or head back to the hospital or ER. Every situation is unique, so be sure to follow the advice your medical team provides.
Mention the Crash at Delivery and Afterward
When it's time to have your baby, let the delivery staff know you were in a crash earlier in your pregnancy, in case anything related to it comes up during delivery. After your baby arrives, tell the people helping you with feeding and lactation too, in case the seat belt affected your breasts.
What Injuries Can a Car Accident Cause During Pregnancy
The good news is that most injuries from a car accident during pregnancy are minor. Still, it's important to get checked out to rule out complications that might require prompt medical care. Here's what your OB may be looking out for.
Placental Abruption
Placental abruption is when the placenta (your baby's source of nutrition and oxygen) prematurely separates from the wall of the uterus. It can be caused by the forces of a car accident, even in a minor crash and even if nothing hits your belly. This usually occurs after 20 weeks' gestation.
Per Mayo Clinic, symptoms of placental abruption may include vaginal bleeding, contractions, belly or back pain, and uterine tenderness. Keep in mind that not all abruptions will cause bleeding, even in severe cases. So it's important to seek medical care following a car accident, even if you "feel OK." The AAFP notes a placental abruption can show up shortly after an accident or up to 24 hours later.
Preterm Labor
Per Mayo Clinic, contractions or cramping that occur on a somewhat consistent basis may indicate that you're going into preterm labor. The same goes for back pain that comes and goes in a pattern, or leaking of any fluid. Your OB will want to treat these signs as preterm labor.
Uterine Injury and Uterine Rupture
In some cases, car accidents can result in a uterine injury, meaning trauma or bruising to the uterus. More rarely, usually in more severe accidents, the wall of the uterus can tear. This is called a uterine rupture.
Your OB will be keeping an eye out for both. They'll pay attention to any tenderness or pain in your belly and your baby's heart rate during monitoring.
Injuries From the Seat Belt or Steering Wheel
Your seat belt is still your single best protection in a crash, and we'll come back to that. Direct injury from the belt or steering wheel can happen, but it isn't the main cause of pregnancy loss after a crash. More often, the problem is placental abruption caused by the forces inside your body as you come to a sudden stop. That's why it can happen even when nothing touches your belly. If you notice bruising or a mark from the belt on your hips, chest, or breasts, mention it to your team.
Injuries to Mom
Don't forget about you in all of this. Whiplash, bruising, and broken bones are all possible, just like in any crash. Your injuries matter on their own. They also matter for the baby, because keeping you stable is how your team keeps your baby stable. If you're hurting, say so.
Please remember: this is general information, not a diagnosis. Only a medical exam can actually rule out these injuries, which is why getting checked matters.
Warning Signs To Watch for in the Days After a Crash
Even after you've been cleared and sent home, stay alert for a few days. If you notice any of these signs, call your doctor or go to labor and delivery right away. Don't wait, and don't talk yourself out of it.
- Vaginal bleeding, even a small amount
- Leaking fluid from the vagina
- Belly pain or tenderness, especially if it comes on suddenly
- Regular contractions or cramping that come in a pattern
- Changes in your baby's movements, meaning fewer movements or a noticeable drop from the baby's usual pattern
That last one deserves a little extra attention. Keep tracking your baby's movements after a crash. A change in how often your baby moves can be an early signal that something needs a closer look. You know your baby's normal rhythm better than anyone, so trust it. If your little one feels quieter than usual, call. It's always okay to be checked again.
What To Do With Your Kids' Car Seats After a Crash
This part gets overlooked in the chaos. If your older kids' car seats were in the vehicle during the crash, those seats may need to be replaced. That's true even if they look completely fine. A car seat can have damage you can't see. The energy-absorbing foam, the plastic shell, or the harness webbing can be compromised in ways that aren't visible from the outside.
Whether you need to replace a seat depends on the severity of the crash and your car seat manufacturer's rules. Every brand sets its own guidance. NHTSA recommends replacing car seats after a moderate or severe crash. After a minor crash, it comes down to your manufacturer. We've broken this down in plain terms in our guide on what to do with your car seat after an accident. We cover the details of insurance-covered replacements in our post on car seat accident replacement laws.
Before putting that seat back in the car, check your manufacturer's crash-replacement policy. If the seat needs replacing, add it to your insurance claim.
How To Handle Insurance After a Car Accident During Pregnancy
Okay, deep breath. The medical stuff comes first, always. However, once you and your baby are okay, the insurance side needs a little attention too. Being organized now saves you a huge headache later.
Start by keeping all of your documentation in one location. Keep your medical documents, images, police report, and bills all together. In case the car seats for your other children need to be replaced, save that documentation as well
Inform your insurance company that you were pregnant at the time of the accident when you file a claim. This is important. The costs associated with the accident include your evaluation, your monitoring, and any follow-up care. Your insurance claim should reflect that. Coverage varies by policy and state, so ask your insurance company what's included.
Lastly, some parents decide to speak with a lawyer, particularly if you were hurt and the other driver was at fault. We won't advise you on whether you require legal representation because we are not lawyers. We'll just say that if your injuries or bills are substantial, it's a fair alternative to think about.
How To Stay Safe in a Car During Pregnancy
Let's end somewhere hopeful and practical, because you're going to be back in the car soon. We want you buckled up the safest way possible. The single most protective thing you can do is wear your seat belt correctly, every single ride.
As a CPST team, we see the same few seat belt mistakes with pregnant parents. The lap belt ends up across the belly instead of under it. The shoulder belt gets tucked behind the back or under the arm because it feels uncomfortable. Each of those undoes some of the protection the belt is designed to give you.
Seat Belt Fit, Airbags, and Spacing
Here's the correct fit, based on guidance from the Hudson Center for Prenatal Vehicle Safety:
- Lap belt: Place it under the curve of your belly, resting flat on your hips. Never place it over or on top of the belly.
- Shoulder belt: Wear it to the side of your belly, diagonally across the center of your chest, resting on the center of your collarbone. Never route it behind your back or under your arm.
- Vehicle seat: Sit in a comfortable upright position, adjusted so you can press the brake pedal all the way to the floor.
On airbags, the guidance is clear: leave them on. Doctors recommend that a pregnant woman wear her seat belt and keep airbags turned on. The two work together to protect you and your baby.
For spacing, the 10 inches you may have heard about is measured from the center of the steering wheel, where the airbag sits, to your chest. It doesn't apply to your belly, and there's no set distance for your belly. But what matters more than those 10 inches is control. Adjust your seat and steering wheel so you can press the brake pedal to the floor and grasp the top of the wheel with your arm slightly bent, with the airbag aimed at your chest. Don't tilt the wheel up or give up your ability to brake and steer just to gain an extra inch of space. If you're riding as a passenger, don't push your seat all the way back to get away from the airbag. That leaves a gap between your shoulder and the belt, which lets your body move farther forward in a crash.
Want the full walkthrough? We cover seat and steering wheel position in our guide to driving while pregnant. We also explain why we don't recommend a pregnancy seat belt adjuster, and we answer when should a pregnant woman stop driving.
Want a car seat and pregnancy safety guidance that cuts through the noise? Join our newsletter, and we'll send practical tips right to your inbox. If a crash means replacing your child's seat, our Convertible Buying Kit walks you through choosing a convertible car seat with confidence. If you'd rather talk it through with a real tech, our Talk to a Tech one-on-one email help is there for you.
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