Risks of taking driving lessons while pregnant
教習所へ通っている途中で妊娠に気づいた方など、妊娠中に教習所へ通えるかどうか不安に感じて悩んでいる方はいませんか？
If you keep in mind the points introduced here, you will be able to get an idea of what driving lessons will be like even while pregnant.
In addition to teaching you driving lessons, we will also teach you useful tips for everyday life, such as how to spend your time during the important period of pregnancy.
If you understand the risks explained here, not only will you be able to dispel your anxiety about your physical condition as your first pregnancy, but you will also be able to understand how the driving school that will be accepting you feels. Also, during the entire process from enrolling in a driving school to graduating, you may have to cancel due to severe morning sickness, which will greatly disrupt your original plans and cause major changes to your plans.
So here we will introduce whether it is possible to attend a driving school even during pregnancy, point by point. By the end of reading this, you will know how to spend the important period of your pregnancy and what you should be careful of.

[First part of school entrance]

Tell them you're pregnant!

Are you confused after finding out you're pregnant just as you were thinking about getting your license?
To put it bluntly, it is possible to obtain a driver's license even during pregnancy. Also, there are many driving schools that have had similar cases of pregnant women who have attended driving schools in the past. Therefore, if you notify the driving school in advance, they will probably accept you, but there are also driving schools that will not accept you unless you submit a doctor's certificate or write a consent form. There are also driving schools that will not accept you at all during pregnancy, regardless of whether you are in the early stages or stable period.

Chart 1 Status of accepting pregnant women and childcare centers

(Source) Based on our telephone interview survey as of March 2018
There may be information on whether pregnant women can attend school in the Q&A section of the school's website. If you are unsure, contact the school directly!

Do you write a pledge?

You may be asked to submit a pledge stating that the school will not be held responsible for any incidents that may occur.
In addition, some schools do not accept pregnant women, and some require a letter of consent from the attending physician. Some driving schools are considerate of pregnant women, and in fact, one of my friends attended a driving school while pregnant and got her license. Each driving school has different policies regarding enrollment during pregnancy.
Contact the schools you are considering directly.

Check out the school facilities!

Find a driving school or take a tour! There are some checkpoints unique to pregnant women. You will also want to check what kind of facilities are available in and around the school.

[Checkpoint] Is there a Western-style toilet?

Have you ever heard that you have to go to the bathroom more often when you're pregnant?
It is said that the symptom of frequent urinary tract infections often continues from the early stages of pregnancy until about the fourth month. Many women also experience morning sickness, such as stomach pain and heartburn.
Also, in the later stages of pregnancy, stomach pains and heartburn subside, but as your belly grows, it puts pressure on your bladder and intestines, so many women find they need to go to the bathroom more frequently.
If there is only a Japanese-style toilet, you will have to position yourself in an uncomfortable position, so make sure there is a Western-style toilet available!

[Check point] Is there an elevator?

During pregnancy, your physical condition changes significantly, especially in the early stages. In the later stages, your belly gets bigger and it becomes harder to see your feet. Depending on the driving school, you may have to move to the third or fourth floor.
Also, even if there is no elevator, it is important to check whether the school is barrier-free and whether there are handrails on the stairs. Be sure to check this as well!

[Check point] Is it a bench chair?

It's important to take care of your body during pregnancy. Some chairs are made of wood, and sitting for long periods of time can cause pain in the buttocks.
Also, some of the chairs in the break rooms are high chairs, so make sure you check that you can rest your feet firmly on the chair and that it is not as hard as a metal chair!
If the chairs are hard, you may want to bring something like a cushion, although it will be a bit of a burden to carry.

[Checkpoint] Is there a separate smoking area space?

During pregnancy, you are very sensitive to smells. In my case, I noticed I was pregnant because I became more sensitive to smells. I started to find the smells of perfumes and foods that I used to like unpleasant.
This is said to be due to the influence of hormones during pregnancy.
Even the slightest smell can make you feel sick, so it's a good idea to check whether smoking is prohibited anywhere other than designated smoking areas, and whether you can have a comfortable environment during your commute to school!

[Check point] Is there a snack space?

Some driving schools do not have rest rooms or snack areas, and may not even have a place to sit, so be sure to check whether or not there is a snack area!
Some driving schools provide snacks (bread) and drinks.
Also, since you may get hungry at times during pregnancy, it is recommended that you bring along some easy-to-eat items such as gummies or candy in addition to snacks, although this is not recommended during lessons.

[Checkpoint] Check the surrounding environment!

The thing that bothers me the most is when I feel unwell in the middle of class. If you research the emergency hospitals and gynecology clinics near the driving school you are attending, you may be able to move smoothly if you become unwell.

Be careful of the cancellation fee terms! !

You will be able to take classes at a time that is convenient for you, but you must reserve skills in advance. However, your physical condition is particularly susceptible to changes during pregnancy, so if you suddenly become unwell on the morning of your skill reservation, you may have to cancel. Cancellation fees may apply at that time.

Case 1: If you are unable to attend the lesson the night before or the next day
Of course, the driving school is closed so I can't contact them.
A cancellation fee of approximately 4,000 yen may be charged.

Case 2: Cancellation on the day
A full skill cancellation fee may apply.

Case 3: If you cancel on the day, no charge will be applied
If you inform the school that you are pregnant when you enroll and the school is aware of this, they may take your pregnant physical condition into consideration and not charge a cancellation fee if you cancel on the day.

As you can see, responses vary depending on the school, so it is a good idea to check with the school you are considering before enrolling.
In addition, some driving schools offer plans with no additional charge for peace of mind insurance in case of sudden illness. If you are not yet enrolled, consider a peace of mind insurance plan with no additional charge!

Has anyone attended a driving school while pregnant?

There are many women who have attended driving school and obtained their driver's license even while pregnant.
Here are some of the experiences we have had.

• I didn't go when I was having morning sickness, but I went when I was in a stable period.
• I found out I was pregnant right after I went to the driving school, but my morning sickness wasn't that bad, so I just kept going!

Source: http://mamastar.jp/bbs/comment.do?topicId=1409366

• It's been almost 8 months and I'm still in the middle of going there.
  When I started going, I found out I was pregnant and couldn't go for a while due to morning sickness, so I started going again recently.
  The driving school didn't say anything and just worried about me, asking if I was okay.
• I also got pregnant right after I started going to driving school. I took a break until I was in the stable period, and continued going until I was close to due date.
  I was very nervous when I took the driver's license test, and my stomach was really bloated. Also, it was hard for me to sit on the desk and chair as a pregnant woman... I was so fat and chubby in the last month of pregnancy that I was embarrassed to show my driver's license photo... But I'm glad I had my driver's license before giving birth!

Source: http://mamastar.jp/bbs/comment.do?topicId=548568

If you go there, is it a stable period? !

If you are in an unstable health period, you may end up canceling on the day due to poor health, which may cause inconvenience to others.
There is a huge amount of individual variation in physical condition, but generally, once you enter the stable period, the baby in your womb has grown considerably and for many people your physical condition has stabilized.
However, as your belly gets bigger, you may feel uncomfortable being squeezed by the seat belt. Even if you are in the stable period, it will be difficult to move around when your belly gets really big and you are approaching the later stages of pregnancy.
Also, it is not impossible to attend driving lessons after giving birth, but it takes a lot for each child to stabilize their rhythm. Driving despite not getting enough sleep due to crying at night can be dangerous. It is important not to push yourself too hard after giving birth.
As shown in Figure 1, some daycare centers at driving schools require reservations only after your child is able to sit up or is 6 months old. However, be careful not to push yourself too hard, and make a decision based on your own physical condition.

[Training section]

Is the interval only 10 minutes?

At driving schools, the entire process from enrollment to graduation is determined by a timetable, and the school operates on a strict schedule from the entrance ceremony to Driving Lessons and written lessons, certification exams, and the graduation ceremony. Each lesson is 50 minutes long, both for Driving Lessons and written lessons. If you are even slightly late to either class, the lesson will not be considered to be 50 minutes and will not be completed. Therefore, try to leave yourself plenty of time.
Also, if the lesson following Driving Lessons is a theoretical lesson, it is a good idea to find out in advance which classroom the lesson will be held in.
Please take into consideration that the toilets may be crowded, especially since there is a 10-minute interval.

Is sitting for a long time during classroom lectures one of the causes of swelling? !

Swelling is caused by water retention in the body, and blood volume increases during pregnancy, especially to nourish the baby. Furthermore, as the baby grows, it is said to put pressure on the blood vessels in the lower body, slowing blood circulation and causing swelling. Therefore, you need to be careful if you stay in the same position for a long time. I also recommend wearing compression socks. There are also other exercises that you can do while sitting on a chair.

1. While sitting on a chair, place the soles of your feet on the ground and raise and lower your heels.
2. rotate the ankle
3. Dangling one's legs
   I think this alone will make a big difference, so if you're worried about swelling, be sure to give it a try!

Is the emergency relief system difficult?

If you go to the second level, you will find a course called "First Aid." First aid refers to the measures you should take if you suddenly find yourself at the scene of an accident, etc., before an ambulance arrives. In an emergency where every minute counts, knowing these resuscitation procedures will make a difference in how you handle the situation.
Specifically, what will be done is to learn how to perform cardiac massage and artificial respiration, and then the trainee will actually perform cardiac massage and artificial respiration.
This first aid exercise requires three consecutive sessions (50 minutes x 3 sessions).
This means that taking two classes on the same day and then taking only the third class later is not permitted. You must take consecutive classes on the same day to complete the course. Also, if you wait until your belly gets bigger, it may become difficult to maintain your posture, so try to take the course as soon as possible after you have progressed to the second stage.

Can I choose my supervisor? !

Chart 2: Presence or absence of instructor nomination system [Tokyo area]

[Source] Telephone survey conducted by our company, as of March 2018
However, Driving Lessons generally has a different instructor each time. Since the training is one-on-one, many driving schools have recently introduced a system where drivers can request a female instructor or an instructor with whom they get along well if they are not comfortable with the instructor or feel uncomfortable with a male instructor, especially if they are pregnant.
Consider taking advantage of the instructor nomination system!
However, please note that your preferred instructor may be absent, so things may not always go as planned.
Even at driving schools that don't have a designated instructor system, there are many that allow you to ask for advice if you feel like "I don't really like this instructor..." If you're in trouble while enrolled at a driving school, try asking the receptionist first!

Let's know that there is a 100 minute lesson!

In the first stage, one-on-one lessons are the main focus, but when you move on to the second stage, you will begin group lessons with other people.
One of them is the highway lesson, also known as the 100-minute lesson. As the name suggests, highway lessons are lessons that are conducted on the highway from the driving school.
The biggest difference between regular roads and toll roads is the speed limit. Many people also say that the most stressful part is merging from the toll booth onto the main road.
This will probably be the first time you'll be in a car driven by the same student. During pregnancy, your attention span may be lower than usual, and you may feel tired more easily, so try to take the test when you're in good health.

Can I leave my seat during the lecture? !

Both Driving Lessons and theory lessons are 50 minutes long. There is a 10-minute break afterwards, but the time is still tight. The start time of the lesson is strict, and if you are even a few minutes late you cannot enter. Furthermore, if you leave the classroom during the lesson to go to the toilet or for some other reason, you may not be able to get the stamp you receive after the lesson.
However, be careful, if you are pregnant and need to go to the toilet, your lessons may not be considered complete!

Let's wear the maternity mark!

Wear the maternity mark when you find out you are pregnant. The maternity mark serves to protect the pregnant woman and her baby from all dangers. There are times when you can't tell if you're pregnant based on your appearance, or when you're on your way to school or class, so you don't know where or what you're pregnant. Wearing a maternity mark can be dangerous as you may be harassed! I've heard that opinion as well. However, if something were to happen, it would be safer to know that you are pregnant. The maternity marks promoted by the government are good, but there are also ones that say "with Baby" or ones with cute Disney designs. It is also recommended to use such goods, as they can convey the feeling of ``The Maternity'' at a glance without being too overpowering. Also, it is a good idea to carry your maternal and child health handbook with you when you go out.

lastly

During pregnancy, you become more sensitive to many things.

• headache or feverishness
• decreased concentration
• Change in food preferences
• upset stomach
• Lightheadedness/dizziness
• Feeling tired
• tinnitus
• I feel very hungry, etc.

In my case, I often felt fatigued and sleepy, and I became especially sensitive to smells.
It was like I could smell something 10 meters away (lol).
At that time, I had a family member who was a baby smoker, so it was really difficult.
During driving lessons, especially the practical part of driving, drowsiness is the enemy, so it's best to take lessons when you are in good health.
Also, your physical condition can change from day to day and varies greatly from person to person, so if you have any concerns at all, be sure to consult your doctor and try not to push yourself!