Seatbelts can be uncomfortable for pregnant women, so some mothers are turning to a new option.
Moms-to-be Leah and Kiera Romuld are excited for their babies to arrive but they’re taking extra precautions.
"It's a high-risk pregnancy when you’ve got twins," said Leah.
Besides, diapers, cribs and clothes, they went as far as purchasing a maternity seatbelt for Kiera, which fits around her baby bump.
"We saw some disturbing images of what it could look like if there were to be an accident or abrupt stop with a regular seatbelt covering the belly," said Leah.
Dr. Beth Carewe, an OBGYN, says worrying is the most common feeling among mothers.
"Whether it’s a standard pregnancy or one that’s more high risk, we see moms start to worry about things we do in everyday life and wonder if those are safe for them," said Dr. Carewe.
For Leah and Kierra, the maternity seatbelt was never something they thought of until they saw it on Amazon. It was only $25, so they decided to give it a try.
"It's a regular seatbelt but the bottom part hooks in between the legs versus covering the belly," said Leah.
The couple knows a maternity seatbelt might be considered extreme and Dr. Carewe says to be careful when purchasing certain safety products.
"There are so many things out there, so it's hard to know what’s good from the product websites," said Dr. Carewe.
Besides reading reviews on the product, Dr. Carewe suggests always consulting your doctor before making a purchase like this. And to remember, a baby is safest in the belly.
"Babies are inside the amniotic sac, which is inside the uterus, which is a very thick muscular wall that provides a lot of protection to babies," said Dr. Carewe.
Wearing a standard seatbelt while pregnant is Dr. Carewe's recommendation, solely because not enough studies have been done on the safety of maternity belts.
However, she knows that moms need to do what's right for their baby.
And for Leah and Kierra, it gives them peace of mind.
"Life is so short, we don't want anything to happen to these little babies or baby mamma," said Leah.
