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Moms-to-be should know what to do in case they experience a car accident
Car accidents are scary and traumatising as they are – only imagine you are involved in one while being pregnant and having to worry for your baby’s health.
As a mom-to-be, you already stress a lot about your baby’s health, but a car crash could become a highly unsettling incident due to the extensive damage it could bring both to you and them. Sadly, it’s challenging to tell how the unborn baby is doing in the womb because even if you seem barely hurt, they might be in great distress. For this reason, it’s essential as a future mother to know what to do in these instances so you can protect your child and, implicitly, yourself.
This article provides extensive guidance on what a pregnant woman should do if she gets involved in a car accident. Keep reading to gain knowledge on the subject.
What you should know about trauma caused by car accidents during pregnancy
According to studies, auto accidents are one of the main causes that lead to hospitalisation during pregnancy due to trauma. Trauma is sadly a leading cause of foetal mortality and morbidity, and mothers-to-be need to protect themselves as much as possible from traumatic injuries.
Your uterus is a safe space for the baby because the placenta protects them from daily jostling. However, the impact of a car crash is quite powerful and the uterus might fail to keep the foetus safe, which could trigger severe health complications. How far along the pregnancy is can also influence the level of risk the baby is at. According to specialists, the baby is safer during the first 12 weeks. However, it doesn’t mean that there’s no chance for them to suffer any harm in an auto accident. Sometimes, the mother isn’t even aware that she is pregnant when suffering the accident, which could lead to complications because she doesn’t take the necessary precautions.
If you are in the second or third trimester, the risk for the baby to experience health issues increases if you suffer a car accident.
Health issues unborn babies can experience due to car accidents
Car accidents can affect an unborn baby’s health in countless ways. As a future mother, it’s your role to take the needed steps to protect their health, so be proactive and learn more about this unique situation.
Premature birth
The impact of a car wreck on your body can cause you to go into labour early. And as you already know, if you give birth before 37 weeks, your baby is considered premature because their body isn’t fully developed. They will most likely have a low birth weight and possibly even health issues.
Shaken baby syndrome
Not many people have heard of the shaken baby syndrome, so chances are you don’t know how a shaken baby behaves. The health issue can result from a car accident because when you’re shaken back and forth, so is the baby, and they have weak neck muscles, so their head and brain are shaken violently. Your baby can suffer from the shaken syndrome while they are still in your womb, and you can claim compensation for their suffering. You can get help from Public Interest Lawyers, as they specialise in car accident claims and will ensure you don’t expose yourself to further stress during this delicate period.
Placental abruption
The placenta is vital for the baby because it carries the essential nutrients and blood to the foetus. When you suffer placental abruption, the placenta detaches and tears from the uterus, which leaves the baby without an oxygen supply and can put their life in danger if you don’t get immediate help. You will immediately know that something’s wrong because you will probably go into early labour.
Uterine abruption
The uterus keeps the baby safe inside you, and it’s pretty strong, but during an accident it might suffer damage and its three layers could separate, which will turn dangerous for the baby. Uterine rupture is a rare health issue, but it could threaten both your lives, and you should try to avoid it at all costs. The trauma caused by an accident could definitely lead to it, so you should seek immediate medical attention.
Internal injuries
In case you are seriously hurt in the car crash, your baby could also suffer life-threatening injuries. Depending on the extent of the accident, they could sustain internal bleeding or even perforated organs. Unfortunately, there have also been cases when the babies suffered brain damage due to accidents. You should drive carefully because even a sudden stop of the car could trigger the shaken baby syndrome.
Infection
During the accident, foreign bodies like metal or glass could get into your body. In case they enter the womb, your baby could be predisposed to infections. You shouldn’t leave a wound undertreated because the infection could also reach the baby through the bloodstream.
What should you do if you get into a car crash?
If you’re pregnant and suffer an accident, there are a couple of things you should do to ensure that you protect your health and your baby. Here are the essential steps:
Seek medical attention immediately
No matter if you’re pregnant or not, the first thing you should do after experiencing a car accident is to seek immediate medical attention. You might feel fine, but it might take some time to figure out that your baby isn’t ok, so you should better check on their state. Any impact against your abdomen could lead to trauma for the unborn child and cause pregnancy complications.
Document the accident
If your medical state allows you, document the car crash because the evidence will help you claim compensation. The police report will include essential information, but you know better what happened before the accident, and you should take pictures of the things you find important.
Keep receipts
Make sure to keep all the invoices and receipts from the healthcare facility, car service, and other service providers that help you deal with the accident’s aftermath. The receipts will help your lawyer claim the necessary compensation to cover your damage.
Small bowel microbiome differences between women and men may help explain why some conditions are more common in women, a study suggests.
The small bowel microbiome is the community of microorganisms living in this part of the digestive tract, where they play vital roles in immune function, metabolism and hormonal regulation.
Researchers found differences between women and men in the composition and organisation of these microbial communities. One bacterial community containing Granulicatella was found only in women.
The study was conducted by investigators at Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University.
Ruchi Mathur, director of clinical research and clinical operations for the Medically Associated Science and Technology (MAST) Program at Cedars-Sinai and corresponding author of the study, said: “One intriguing finding was a bacterial community containing Granulicatella, which we found only in women.
“Bacteria in this community appear at increased levels in women with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome.”
The researchers also identified differences between women and men in how microbes in the small bowel produce fructans, complex carbohydrates known to trigger digestive symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
IBS is far more common in women than men.
Mathur, who is also a professor of medicine, said: “Our findings show that biological sex is a critical variable in the small bowel microbiome.
“We must consider it as we move toward more personalised approaches to understanding and treating disease.”
An experimental cancer drug reduced bone loss and body fat in mice modelling post-menopausal changes, early research suggests.
The compound, CADD522, appeared to strengthen bones and help the animals stay leaner after surgery designed to mimic hormonal changes seen after menopause.
The treatment remains at an early experimental stage and has so far only been tested in animals.
The study, led by the University of East Anglia, investigated CADD522, which was originally developed to block a protein involved in the growth and spread of several cancers.
Mice treated with the compound for eight weeks showed significant improvements in bone health. Scans found increased bone volume and better preservation of the honeycomb-like structures inside bones that are crucial for strength and resilience.
Blood tests suggested the treatment stimulated new bone growth without interfering with the body’s normal process of breaking down and rebuilding bone.
Dr Darrell Green, lead researcher from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: “Osteoporosis affects around one in three women over the age of 50, leaving sufferers vulnerable to painful fractures that can seriously impact quality of life.
“Current treatments exist, but many are plagued by side effects, safety concerns or inconvenient dosing schedules that make long-term use difficult.”
The researchers also found that mice receiving CADD522 weighed less than untreated mice despite eating the same amount of food.
They had less body fat and fewer fat deposits in their bone marrow, a process commonly seen after menopause and linked to declining bone health.
The team also examined brain tissue and found that the drug appeared to reverse several menopause-related changes in fatty acids.
Levels of omega-3 fats including DHA remained largely intact, while several other lipid abnormalities shifted back towards healthier patterns.
Green said: “We didn’t directly test for memory or thinking ability, but our work raises questions about whether this drug could one day help address wider menopause-related health problems.”
Safety experiments in mice, rats and dogs found that CADD522 could be taken orally and was well tolerated.
The compound also appeared to be metabolised more slowly in human tissue than in rodents, potentially improving its performance in people.
“This is still in the early stages and has so far only been tested in animals but we hope that the benefits will translate to humans to ultimately reduce fracture rates,” added Green.
The research was led by UEA in collaboration with the University of Maryland, the Scintillon Research Institute in San Diego and the University of Stirling.
Safety testing was funded by The Sir William Coxen Trust as part of the development of CADD522 as a childhood cancer treatment.
Weight loss surgery was linked to more regular periods and fewer polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) symptoms in women aged 18 to 45 living with obesity in a recent study.
The researchers recommend that women undergoing the procedure have access to preconception care and reproductive counselling to support their reproductive health.
Researchers at the University of Surrey analysed data over 24 months from 84 women who underwent bariatric surgery and 18 women living with obesity who did not have surgery.
Of those who underwent surgery, 49 had gastric bypass procedures and 35 had gastric sleeve surgery.
Women who underwent metabolic bariatric surgery lost more than 30kg on average at 12 and 24 months after the procedure.
Among women with polycystic ovaries, the condition persisted in only 10 per cent after 24 months.
Women also reported a resolution of clinical hirsutism, or excess body hair, by 12 months.
Women who had previously experienced irregular periods reported more regular menstrual cycles after surgery.
Professor Martin Whyte, co-author of the study and professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Surrey, said: “A large proportion of those undergoing bariatric surgery are women of reproductive age, who may be planning a pregnancy in the coming years.
“So much remains unknown about the impact of this type of surgery on women who are planning to have children.
“This raises the question of when the ideal time after surgery is to conceive.”
Women have a higher prevalence of obesity than men, with 57 per cent of women in the UK classified as overweight and 27 per cent living with obesity, which can affect fertility and the health of an unborn baby.
The researchers said 17 women had healthy pregnancies following surgery.
Although this was not specifically examined in the study, no difference in birth weight was observed between babies conceived within or after the first year.
Dr Kathryn Hart, co-author of the study and associate professor in nutrition and dietetics at the University of Surrey, said: “What we have found is that bariatric surgery positively affects the reproductive health of women living with obesity and can improve the likelihood of them having a healthy pregnancy after surgery.
“Dysregulated hormone levels, irregular periods and conditions such as polycystic ovaries are affected by obesity.
“By reducing this, what we have seen is that it can lead to improvements without the need for medication.
“We would suggest that clinicians consider medical intervention for obesity to treat irregularities in the menstrual cycle and issues with fertility.”
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