According to the Mayo Clinic, trauma is the leading cause of non-obstetric death in expectant mothers. Usually, trauma occurs in the third trimester. Major trauma has been associated with 7 percent of maternal and 80 percent of fetal mortality.
Motor vehicle crashes are the most common cause of blunt trauma in pregnancy, representing 50 percent of cases. Falls due to instability, especially late in pregnancy, represent another 22 percent of injuries.
Erica Loomis M.D. is a trauma surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. She says “Pregnant women tend to walk differently and have different balance, so they may have some risk of ankle or knee injury in a fall. When pregnant women do fall, they try to protect their abdomens, so they may twist in a way that could lead to other injury.”
When injury occurs, the mother’s pregnant anatomy provides excellent fetal protection, with the thick uterine walls and amniotic fluid helping prevent shock. However, the fetus becomes more exposed to potential injury as it grows and the uterus leaves the bony protection of the pelvis.
Dr. Loomis says “Even a minor injury can lead to fetal loss. Any pregnant woman who’s been traumatically injured should be checked out by an OB-GYN just to ensure there’s no vaginal bleeding, premature rupture of membranes, uterine contractions — anything that can lead to complications.”
Missing early signs of shock in a pregnant patient also can lead to a high risk of maternal and fetal mortality.
When I was pregnant I had to drive long distances for my work and never really thought about excessive driving. It really is dangerous to drive a lot because there are lots of accidents and there are obviously risks for the baby and mother. I also wore shoes for work that made me fall. Fortunately nothing happened to me or my baby but it’s a good idea to let mothers know about the risk. I’ve seen pregnant mothers in high heels. Fashion should not be a priority over health.