IOWA CITY, Iowa — Motor-vehicle crashes remain a frequent cause of pregnancy complications and maternal death in the U.S.
That’s according to a new study done by two University of Iowa researchers, and it’s why they wanted to look into seat belt habits among pregnant and postpartum women. Roughly 500 people participated in the online survey who were either pregnant or had young children under the age of five.
The study found that while new moms wear their seat belts most or all of the time, many reported that they routinely unbuckle while the car is moving. This behavior was commonly attributed to providing care for infants and young children, such as when they were crying or needed food…