When did you stop driving?

I'm finding it hard to quit, but I feel compelled for the safety of my babies. Right now I can't put the seat back further in the jeep, and i'm only 1/2" from the wheel. So I traded cars with DH and now I fit, but last night when we were testing out whether or not I fit, I had a contraction. The way I went to sit down triggered it. I have a 5 year old who needs to be taken to and picked up from school. It's only 4 blocks from home, but I can't walk that any more. DH has to drive 15 minutes 1 way to pick her up and drop her off and go back to work and with gas prices - it's just not acceptable. I have family that also lives 10 minutes away and have offered to pick her up and drop her off as well, it's just so hard to let go though. I still have shopping to do and errands to run and I'm so tempted to just get in the car and do it.

But really, how wise is this? Anyone gotten any advice from their OB?

Right now I'm bigger and heavier with babies than I was when I gave birth to my DD. And with my 1st pregnancy with her, DH insisted I didn't drive after I hit my 3rd trimester, but with this pregnancy and DD to take care of - things have changed.

Has anyone else gone through this and what have you done???

 

My doctor told me to stop driving earlier in my pg than you are now. I think at about 29 weeks. It was very hard, but I found ways to get rides or arrange rides for DD.

 

I never quit! I drove us to the hospital for my scheduled c-section at 38 weeks! I had a picture perfect pregnancy though. I was lucky it went so well.

 

QUOTE(JicJac @ Nov 29 2007, 10:32 PM) [snapback]514331[/snapback]
I never quit! I drove us to the hospital for my scheduled c-section at 38 weeks! I had a picture perfect pregnancy though. I was lucky it went so well.


I was just like this. I drove to the hospital at 38 wks. I was further from the wheel than it sounds like you are.

 

the only reason I stopped driving at 32 weeks was because I had the seat all the way back in my car and the wheel pushed all the way in, and I could no longer get the clutch to the floor (I drove a stick) - if I'd have had an automatic (DH's car is a stick also) I probably would have driven until I delivered

 

QUOTE(firemedic @ Nov 29 2007, 05:09 PM) [snapback]514363[/snapback]
I was just like this. I drove to the hospital at 38 wks. I was further from the wheel than it sounds like you are.

I could fit the palm of my hand between my stomach & the steering wheel. The seat could have one back one more notch, but then I would have been unable to reach the pedals!

 

I'm still driving and have about 2 inches between my belly and the wheel. My doc has not told me to stop driving and she knows I drive myself to all of the appts...

 

I drove the whole time. I even drove to the appt. where they decided to induce me at 38 weeks. I could easily fit behind the wheel though. I just had to adjust it back more at the end. HTH.

 

I drove the day I had the girls. I would have drove myself to the hospital but DH happened to walk through the door (he had just gotten off work early and had no cell phone so sheer coincidence) as I was getting ready to leave. So he drove me--didn't know the girls were coming.

 

I drove up until the day before the twins were born! to the hospital for my pre-op blood work. I was 38weeks 3 days

 

wow! a lot of independent mammas!

 

I'm still driving too! I drive a manual car (what you Americans call a stick!) but can adjust the steering wheel height up, so I still fit behind the wheel ok.

 

Okay, I want to still drive but DH and MIL won't let me. :angry: We kinda got into an arguement about and I realized I just was not going to win. I figured if they want to inconvience themselves by driving me, then so be it. I still hate it though. I think we are just a bunch of very independent women!

Shannon

 

I drove up until the day I delivered. The Dr. never said I couldn't.

 

Never stopped - drove myself to the hospital after my water broke.

 

I am 36 weeks and 5 days and still driving every where..

 

I never stopped - drove myself to and from work (1/2hr each way) the whole pregnancy and then to the hospital at 34w after the doctor said "It's time . . ."

 

I drove till they put me on bed resy at 28 weeks, but it made dh the taxi which was good I hated driving in Boston :lol:

 

I just wanted to come back and add that it's not that I didn't want to be independent, but I am only 5 feet tall and if I moved the seat to fit behind the wheel, I couldn't reach the pedals. That, and I had pre-term labor.

 

I drove until I right upto before I delivered, but If I had gone 1 more week I wouldnt have been able to drive because I would have had to move the seat and then I would no longer beable to reach the pedals. It all depends on how confrotable you are driving. If you have family that is willing to pick her up and take her then let them do it if you are having that much deifficulty getting behind the wheel.

 

QUOTE(JicJac @ Nov 29 2007, 04:32 PM) [snapback]514331[/snapback]
I never quit! I drove us to the hospital for my scheduled c-section at 38 weeks! I had a picture perfect pregnancy though. I was lucky it went so well.


Same here. My doc never said anything about driving.

 

I also never stopped and I had a 38 week planned c-section.

 

I drove up to the day of my c-section at 39 weeks 4 days...

 

I'm plus sized and maybe that's why I'm dealing with the problem sooner than some of you. But we switched cars and so far so good.

I have maybe an inch between me and the wheel, but if I went any further back I'd be toeing the pedals. I feel that if I don't have good control over the vehicle, than I shouldn't be driving. I'm feeling like I'm almost there, as when I go to turn, I can't just turn the wheel like I used to, I have to turn it by bits and that makes turning fast a bit hard.

I worry too because I'm just so plain tired and a tired driver isn't any safer than a drunk one. I find myself fighting dozing off. Car noises make me sleepy... I have to have some good rocking music if I'm even thinking of driving for more than 30 minutes.

Maybe a bit of the problem is, is that I haven't always had my own car since getting married - and DH usually has the car and takes it to work while i'm stuck at home or riding the bus. We share when we can, but I hate waking up earlier to take him to work and then remembering to pick him up when it's 2 extra drives back and forth. So DH is usually the main driver. I have to remind him that I can drive and since we moved to another town 5 years ago, I still don't know all the roads and it's irritating. But we don't live in a city - like where I grew up, so driving here is actually more boring and the people are even ruder than those in the city. These are small town folks trying to act all big and cool and city-like and honestly, it's dumb. Every time I drive I almost get hit. I mean, old guys taking a left turn right into my lane when I'm RIGHT THERE. Or people pulling out of driveways, when I'm RIGHT THERE. For a whole week, every day I drove, I was almost hit once. And being pregnant with twins and having worries enough as it is - I'd rather not deal with them and instead be the passenger. The "almost hit"s have lowered a TON when others drive. I'm going the speed limit. I'm using my turn signals. The vehicle is BRIGHT RED for goodness sakes, and still. WHY????

So if I can get an excuse out of this one, I think I may very readily take it. ... . I have family that wants to take me every where as it is. So why not... It's not like I don't enjoy their company.

 

My doc never said I had to stop driving and I never felt my driving was impaired iin the slightest bit. I drove myself to to hospital, the day I had my babies at 36W 1d. DH met me there since he came right from work.

 

Drove to the hospital for the c-section..

 

I stopped long before 32 weeks. For me it wasn't size of the belly, it was that I couldn't really turn to look over my shoulder to switch lanes. I just thought it was too risky to continue driving considering that my OB warned me that even a minor accident can send you into labor.

 

Cathy, That is so true. The risks just don't seem to be worth it....

 

I certainly would have stopped had I felt impaired at all! Risking my life & the lives of the twins was not an option. I felt safer driving than letting my dh drive. I am not a fan of his driving. Everyone should know their limits. That is great that you realize what your limit may be! Not everyone does!