The New Mommy Car Service and Pregnancy Travel Tips
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The further along you get in your pregnancy, the more difficult of a time you’ll have getting around the city. At 38 weeks, getting in and out of cars, putting on the seatbelt (because I can no longer see where I’m desperately trying to stick the buckle), the thought of swerving in and out of traffic, and those dreaded speed bumps and potholes make me think twice before planning a trip anywhere around town.
But social outings aside, the closer you get to your delivery date, the more often you need to visit the hospital for checkups – and those trips are unavoidable…
Recently Oasis international Hospital partnered with ShouYue Chauffeur Service, a car service app that’s got specific types of cars for various needs, to introduce their fleet of Mommy Cars (宝妈 bǎomā).
I called ShouYue’s customer service for a bit more insight into what this new service offers. First, they wanted to ensure that their fleet of Mommy Cars is sanitized multiple times a day. For extra comfort, the cars come with back support pillows, pregnancy seat belts that don’t cut across your belly, and water for the road. For those who can read Chinese, the cars also come with baby-related literature if you want to squeeze in a bit of light reading, assuming you’re one of the lucky ones who don’t feel nauseous in cars.
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The Mommy Car drivers know to drive slower and keep the urge for road rage in check, giving moms-to-be a more relaxing car ride experience. The representative from ShouYue wanted to stress that while their fleet of Mommy Cars is created for moms-to-be, they should not be used in case of emergencies like in the case you’re suddenly in labor or if your water breaks. It’s recommended that you reserve your Mommy Car at least an hour in advance as there are not as many Mommy Cars as regular ones.
As Dr. Liyun Qian, Gynecologist and Obstetrician at Oasis International Hospital, explains, there are things to be more aware of when riding in cars, especially if you’re in the later stage of your pregnancy.
Try to avoid cars with odors. While this might be a no-brainer because come on, no one likes a stinky car anyway… that fresh new car smell that many of us love also counts as odor too.
Cars should be free of perfumes and air fresheners as pregnant women (especially those in their first trimester) are more sensitive to smells and may cause nausea and/or vomiting.
It’s recommended that pregnant women sit in the back seat of the right side of the car since that’s where you’ll get maximum legroom.
To prevent back pain, leave a small back pillow in the car to give your back some much needed extra support.
Always buckle up, no matter how short of a distance you’re traveling. If you’re in a car that doesn’t have a pregnancy seatbelt, be sure that you’re buckling the seatbelt above and below your baby bump and not across it.
Don’t rush to get anywhere. Stay around 60km/hr and avoid speed bumps and potholes as much as possible.
Keep the road rage in check! So many of Beijing’s drivers swerve between lanes to get to their destination just a few seconds sooner. Take it easy when you’re pregnant. Not only will you feel less stressed, but you’ll also decrease the chances of minor accidents on the road.
Check behind you before you open the door. Even after you’ve stopped, you never know when a bike will be zipping past you. It’s best to get into a habit of checking first before opening your door.
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Images: Mina Yan, Oasis International Hospital, Unsplash
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