Tummy Shield: The Safety Innovation For Pregnant Women On The Road

Conventional seatbelts are designed for the average male body, not for pregnancy. This means that they’ve never been tested for the anatomy, movement, or safety needs of pregnant women.

That’s a serious problem when you consider that car crashes are the leading cause of trauma-related fetal injury and death, and 50% of all traumatic injuries during pregnancy come from motor vehicle accidents.

Even though the majority of pregnant women wear seatbelts, only 41% are able to position them correctly. The Tummy Shield solves this problem by guiding the belt under the bump, protecting both the mother and baby in the event of a crash.

In this article, we’ll look at why seatbelt safety during pregnancy matters, the real risks behind regular seatbelts or cheap adjusters, and how the Tummy Shield can help.

The problem with conventional seatbelts during pregnancy

During pregnancy, your seatbelt becomes your baby’s first car seat. Since pregnancy changes posture and body shape, the standard three-point restraint can press across the abdomen instead of the hips, putting both the mother and baby at risk in a crash.

Research from Mazda’s Crash Safety Development Department found that when the lap belt sits across the belly, the risk of placental abruption (a loss of oxygen to the fetus) increases from around 10% to 17% in a crash.

This occurs because the belt transfers force directly to the uterus and placenta, creating a pressure that can cause the placenta to separate from the uterine wall.

Source: MDPI

There’s also a phenomenon known assubmarining, where the pregnant abdomen slides the lap belt upward in a crash. This increases the force on the womb, placenta, and fetus.

Source: MDPI

The other issue is comfort. A 2025 Traffic Injury Prevention studyshowed that, while 87% of pregnant women wear seatbelts, only 21% position them correctly. Many women adjust the belt to sit over the abdomen for comfort, not realising this increases the risk of abdominal injury if a crash occurs.

In short, conventional seatbelts protect most adults, but pregnancy adds extra elements that car manufacturers haven’t tested for.

Cheap pregnancy seatbelt adjusters are dangerous

In recent years, a wave of ‘pregnancy seatbelt adjusters’ has appeared online, claiming to make driving more comfortable and safe.

Marketed under different names, these devices claim to redirect the lap belt below the bump; however, independent testing shows they often do more harm than good.

According to crash tests by ADAC (Germany’s Automobile Club), none of the devices tested improved safety outcomes. In fact, they increased the force on the abdomen and pelvis by up to 30% compared to standard seatbelts.

Many of these products failed basic crash tests outright due to:

• Plastic hooks that snapped on impact.
• Metal hooks that pushed into the stomach and groin, causing injury.
• Loose webbing that adds up to 30cm of slack, making the belt slower to tighten in a crash.

While these devices claim to make driving safer and more comfortable, they aren’t approved under the global safety standard for seatbelts or any local regulations.

The ADAC’s findings are clear: Cheap alternatives don’t make driving safer and can actually increase the risk of injury.

The safest approaches are to wear your seatbelt low across your hips, or to choose an ADR-compliant, crash-tested option like Tummy Shield.

Reviewing the Mimi Belt: A cheaper alternative?

The Mimi Belt is one of the most heavily promoted ‘pregnancy seatbelt adjusters’ online. Sold for only $50, it’s marketed as a comfort aid that pulls the seatbelt down under the bump to make driving safer.

However, its low price point, lack of recognised crash testing, and absence of any global safety certification have led both experts and parents to warn expectant mothers to steer clear.

Source: Trustpilot

The product’s website features photos that appear to be stock images of doctors and engineers. While they could be real, there’s no trace of the named professionals or “safety engineer” anywhere else online.

The company also includes an image labelled “professional laboratory” to illustrate its testing process. However, the testing shown doesn’t appear to be independently verified or linked to any recognised automotive safety authorities.

In contrast, the Tummy Shield meets Australia’s official safety standards. It’s crash-tested up to 48 km/h, with results showing reduced abdominal force and safer load distribution across the pelvis.

Designed by engineers, trusted by parents

Invented from tragedy, the Tummy Shield was created 20 years ago in Australia by engineer and father George Baladi after a car crash left his wife bruised and their unborn daughter with a lasting brain injury. 

The experience opened his eyes to a major gap in road safety for pregnant women. Determined to prevent similar accidents, he began developing a safer way for expectant mums to travel.

Built from a forged stainless steel plate for maximum strength, the Tummy Shield was crash tested at CrashLab Sydney and certified under Australian Design Rules (ADR 4/03 and 5/04). These are the same national safety standards that apply to vehicles. 

It successfully withstood a 48 km/h crash test at 31 g of force , meeting every requirement for strength and impact protection.

“I’m a paediatrician and I’m fully aware of the dangers of driving while pregnant. I refused to wear a seatbelt during my first pregnancy, since I bought your Tummy Shield I have been using it constantly. I find it simple to use and very comfortable, thank you.” - Review from Paediatrician, Helen.

It’s designed with soft and supportive high-density foam, making it easy and comfortable for daily use.

With more than 20 years of proven testing and trust from parents and safety experts, the Tummy Shield is the gold standard in pregnancy road safety.

How the Tummy Shield protects you and your baby

During a crash, forces travel through the seatbelt into the body in milliseconds. The Tummy Shield changes where those forces go, away from the abdomen and onto the body’s strongest bones – your hips.

Redirects the lap belt to the pelvis

The Tummy Shield makes seatbelts safer and more comfortable during pregnancy by guiding the lap belt down onto the hips, not across the belly.

Prevents submarining in a crash

The stainless-steel anchor holds the lap belt firmly in place, preventing it from sliding upward over your bump during impact, a risk known as submarining.

Works with your car’s safety system

The Tummy Shield has been crash-tested at 48 km/h under Australian Design Rules and proven to maintain the correct seatbelt placement and airbag function.

The Tummy Shield can absorb forces of up to 22 kN (roughly two tonnes) without damage, ensuring your seatbelt performs as expected when you need it.

Proven reduction in injury risk

In the same crash tests, the head injury index (for the mother) dropped by nearly 50%, while pelvic and chest impact loads were significantly lower than with a standard belt.

Designed for daily use

The cushion sits securely on any car seat with a three-point harness, with no installation or modification required. The seat is designed to be portable, easy to transfer between vehicles, and comfortable for daily use.

Tested, trusted, and recommended

Trust is earned through proof and rigorous testing, not marketing promises. The Tummy Shield has been trusted for more than 20 years by parents, doctors, and safety engineers worldwide. 

Our site contains many verified reviews sharing real crash stories, including testimonies from expectant mums who were rear-ended or rolled. Each describes how the Tummy Shield kept the seatbelt safely below the bump and helped protect both mum and baby from harm.

“I bought the tummy shield when I found out my wife was pregnant. When she was 34 weeks, the brakes on her car failed and she ran into a tree at low speed. She was checked over by our Obstetrician, she has some minor bruises on her upper thighs, but the baby is fine and safe thanks to the tummy shield protecting her stomach from her belt. Thanks.” - Troy, Wahroonga NSW

Beyond our positive customer reviews, we provide what others can’t: full transparency. Anyone can read our crash-test reports and ADR report (Australian Design Rules) .

You can demo the Tummy Shield in person at over 15 baby expos and safety shows each year . These expos are a great opportunity for expectant parents to see how the Tummy Shield would fit their own car and talk directly with the team. The PBC Expo is even giving away a Tummy Shield for free . 

Why quality is worth the investment

You wouldn’t cut corners when choosing a car seat, and the same principle applies to keeping your baby safe before birth.

The Tummy Shield costs more because it’s built by expert engineers to the same standards as your car’s safety system. Each unit is made from a single forged steel plate tested to withstand two tonnes of pressure, with no weak points or welds.

Its advanced design combines high-density foam cushioning with a soft velour finish, offering comfort, strength, and durability that meet the same standards used for car manufacturing.

That higher price reflects the engineering, years of testing, certification, and quality materials designed to last through multiple pregnancies. 

The Tummy Shield also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, with each unit engraved with a unique serial number for authenticity.

Busting some common myths

There’s a lot of confusion online about pregnancy seatbelt adjusters, so let’s clear up a few key points.

Aren’t seatbelt adjusters illegal?

No. Seatbelt adjusters are perfectly legal if they are certified. For example, the Tummy Shield meets ADR requirements. These are the same standards used for car manufacturers. The same does not apply to untested alternatives.

Don’t doctors advise against them?

Doctors don’t like the untested devices that aren’t made from durable materials and have been proven to cause more harm than good. Since the Tummy Shield is crash-tested and ADR-compliant, many doctors recommend it. 

Will it be uncomfortable?

The last thing you want when you're pregnant is to be sitting on an uncomfortable seat. That’s why we made sure our product is comfortable for daily use. Each seat has high-density foam cushioning and a soft velour finish for lasting comfort. 

Isn’t it overpriced?

Our product is a premium, engineered safety device; the price reflects this level of safety. We’re confident you’ll love it. If not, we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Everyday safety tips for pregnant drivers

Our mission is to help every expectant mum travel safely. To help you stay safe in the car, here are some general safety tips to keep in mind. 

The following advice can be used whether or not you have the Tummy Shield.

• Keep the lap belt low: Place the belt under your bump and snugly across your hips and upper thighs. The purpose of this is to keep the pressure away from your abdomen.
• Place the shoulder belt correctly: The belt should sit between your breasts and lie over your collarbone. You never want to have it behind your back or under your arm.
• Leave your airbags on: Airbags inflate toward your chest, not your belly. They are designed to work with the seatbelt to spread crash forces safely across the upper body, not the abdomen.
• Adjust your seat for extra space: Try to keep at least 25 cm between your chest and the steering wheel. As your bump gets bigger, you’ll want to re-measure and move your seat back again. It can also help to tilt the wheel up toward your chest instead of your stomach.
• Limit long drives: In the later stages of pregnancy (third trimester), take regular breaks to stretch your legs, move around, and stay hydrated. Staying alert while you’re driving will keep you and your baby safer. 
• Drive gently: When you can, avoid sudden stops or sharp turns. Now is also the time to keep a safe distance from the car ahead of you, to give yourself more time to brake. (The NSW government recommends travelling at least three seconds behind the vehicle in front of you.)

Please note that the tips given here are not a substitute for your doctor’s advice. 

Protect what matters most

Born from a family’s tragedy, the Tummy Shield was engineered to make sure no other expectant parents would ever experience the same pain.

While most pregnancy seatbelt adjusters are untested, unsafe, and made of flimsy plastic, the Tummy Shield is crash-tested, ADR compliant, and trusted by parents and doctors for more than two decades.

When it comes to your family's safety, you can count on the product that was invented by an engineer, refined and tested by experts, and relied on by mothers around the world.

You can shop for the Tummy Shield directly on our website, or test the product for yourself at 15 of the biggest baby expos across Australia. 

Need support making your decision? Have safety, car compatibility, or order questions? Contact our team at 1300 307 540 .<

FAQs

Is the Tummy Shield legal to use in Australia?

Yes, the Tummy Shield is completely legal to use. The Tummy Shield has been crash-tested and certified under Australian Design Rules, the same standards car manufacturers must meet.

There’s no specific law in Australia against using pregnancy seatbelt positioners, as long as they don’t interfere with the restraint system. Since the Tummy Shield works with your seatbelt, not as a replacement, it’s fully compliant.

If you’d like extra reassurance, you can always email or call your local road authority to confirm, such as Transport for NSW, VicRoads , or the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Will it void my insurance?

The Tummy Shield should not void your insurance. However, every insurer has different policy details. 

For full peace of mind, you should check directly with your insurer. Tell them you’re using the Tummy Shield (which is ADR-compliant and crash-tested) and ask if it impacts your policy coverage.

Will the Tummy Shield fit all cars?<

Yes, the Tummy Shield works with any car that has a standard three-point seatbelt system. For returns, you’re covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee, provided the item is returned in new condition.

How long will it take to ship?

For Australia, free shipping is offered nationwide, and the typical delivery window is within 14 working days after payment.

How should pregnant women wear their seatbelts to stay safe?

Pregnant drivers and passengers should make sure their seatbelt is properly fastened every time they get in a car. 

The lap belt should sit low across the hips and under the bump, never over it, while the shoulder belt goes between the breasts and across the collarbone. 

Also, always keep the airbags switched on and adjust your seat to maintain a safe distance from the steering wheel for better overall vehicle safety.

Can I be fined for using an aftermarket seatbelt accessory?

You can only be fined if your seatbelt accessories stop you from wearing your seatbelt correctly. 

Under Australian Standards, drivers must have their belts properly fastened at all times. If an aftermarket seatbelt device hasn’t been properly tested or isn’t ADR-compliant, it will be considered unsafe.

What if I don’t like it or it doesn’t fit?

If it’s unused and returned within the guarantee period, you can get a full product refund (shipping costs may still apply).