Every car accident is potentially serious, but being pregnant at the same time can definitely compound an already frightening situation. It does not matter if you are the driver or the passenger. If you are pregnant, it is important that you understand what you should do immediately following an automobile accident. You should start with the normal 911 procedure. Let the paramedics know you are pregnant so they can take special attention to bleeding and know what the next steps are. The treatment and the follow-up care that you receive will go a long way towards determining the well being of both the mother and the unborn baby.
See Your Specialist or OBGYN
While it is true that everybody involved in a car accident should see a doctor, there are certain risk factors that pregnant individuals have that make this even more of a necessity. You will want to see a doctor who has trained in pregnancy-related trauma so that they can monitor your health and that of the unborn child’s at the same time. There is specialized treatment that needs to be administered if there has been any type of trauma suffered as a part of the accident. Only a trained doctor can administer this effectively and work proactively to protect your pregnancy.
Depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy, a car accident could potentially bring on pre-term labor. This is why medical assistance needs to be sought after as quickly as possible. Pregnant women are also at risk of suffering a miscarriage or having internal bleeding as a result of an accident. Both of these issues are physically and emotionally traumatizing, so medical assistance must be rendered in order to minimize the long term impact of the event.
Keep an Eye on Yourself
You may have just been involved in an accident as a pregnant woman, received medical assistance, and been given a clean bill of health. That is certainly welcome news for you and the baby. However, you still need to keep a close eye on yourself and your body for the coming months. There are many symptoms of a serious medical issue that might not manifest themselves until months after an accident. An auto accident lawyer can help you receive justice so you can pay for all the extra medical exams and tests. If you develop any type of vaginal bleeding, for example, you need to head right over to your doctor. Swelling in the face, pain in the abdomen or shoulders, or a shift in the way your baby is moving inside the womb are also signs that you need to see the doctor.
You will also want to consider consulting with an attorney if you are pregnant and have been involved in an accident. There will be many financial and legal issues to take care of. You need to protect yourself, so make sure you have a professional and experienced lawyer working on your side.
