Many women do stop driving when they are pregnant, although there is no evidence to suggest that it is harmful to do so. Others continue to drive but when driving - and as a passenger - don’t put on their seatbelt, believing it could be harmful to the baby; going through the windscreen at 30mph is likely to be far more harmful to the unborn child and the mother to be.

The general view is that a seatbelt should be worn, but placed below the bump rather than across it. Also the driving position should not be too close to the steering wheel but obviously in a position where it is still safe and comfortable to drive. If it is possible to tilt the airbag away from the stomach this would seem sensible. Whilst pregnant - and in general - there shouldn’t be anything loose in a car, as loose items can prove to be extremely dangerous in the event of an accident; try and secure everything inside the car.

Some pregnant women stop driving because they believe that it could affect their insurance cover. Whilst there is no evidence that insurance companies consider pregnancy to be an additional risk, it never does any harm to advise your insurer of any change in your circumstances. Certainly if the baby is delivered by caesarian section, it makes sense to talk to the insurance company before driving.

Once the baby is born, whilst driving safely is obvious, try also to drive a car that is safe; preferably one with a Euro NCAP five star safety rating. If the baby is to travel in the front of the car, it is important to read the section of the handbook that covers the passenger airbag.