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their tiny infant in a child safety seat designed for much bigger and heavier babies. And, indeed, traditional child safety seats do pose a couple of problems for these babies. For one thing, their small bodies often seem lost and uncomfortable in the seats. For another, they may have trouble breathing in e semi-reclined position that the seats require. In fact, one study has shown that some preterm infants show decrease oxygen levels while riding in a traditional car seat, and that this deficit may last for as long as 30 minutes or more afterward. Some may also experience short periods of apnea (breathing cessation) in these seats.
That's why parents of some preemies should choose a crash-tested infant car bed, in which the baby is able to lie flat instead of semi-reclined, and which protects in case of a crash, without compromising breathing. This is especially important if your premature baby has had spells of apnea previously, or if testing by your doctor determines that he or she should lie flat during auto travel. It's a good idea for parents of a premature baby, before being discharged from the hospital, to ask the doctor about monitoring breathing when baby is in an ordinary safety seat to see if he or she is experiencing any breathing problems.
To properly secure a low-birthweight baby who is not experiencing breathing difficulties, choose an infant-only seat. Tightly roll a cloth diaper or receiving blanket and arrange it so that it cradles the head, or buy a ready-to-use headrest designed for safety seats. You can also place another diaper or receiving blanket along each side of the infant and between the crotch and crotch strap to reduce slumping.
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RIDING SAFELY WHEN YOU RE EXPECTING
What's the major cause of death among women of childbearing age? Eclampsia? Childbirth? Postpartum infection? Actually, none of the above. The most common way for a young woman to lose her life is in an auto crash. To help protect yourself and your unborn baby when you're riding in a car:
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Always buckle up. Statistics prove conclusively that it is a lot safer for a pregnant woman to fasten her seat belt than not to fasten it. Fasten your belt below the belly (across the pelvis and upper thighs) with the shoulder strap falling over your shoulder and diagonally between your breasts and to the side of your belly. Wear your belt without exception-whether you're riding down the block or across the country.
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Take a back seat. The back seat is generally the safest place to sit in an auto. Whenever possible, choose it.
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Make air bags safer. Though air bags are lifesavers, being too close to an air bag as it inflates increases the risk of injury in a crash. And since a pregnant woman's expanded belly brings her and her unborn baby closer to the air bag, there is theoretical cause for concern.
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If you are sitting in the front passenger seat in a car with an air bag, be sure your seat is upright and as far back as possible. If you are driving a car with an air bag in the steering wheel, tilt the wheel toward your chest, away from your tummy, and sit at least 10 inches from the steering wheel, if possible.
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Copyright (D 1998 by Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkoff, and Sandee E. Hathaway
Book illustrations copyright (D 1994 by Marika Hahn; Cover illustration: Judith Chang
Produced by Workman Custom Publishing, Workman Publishing Company, Inc.
708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003-9555
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced-mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying-without written permission of the publisher.
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