to still not want to go shopping alone after this.

[TotallyAndUtterlyPaninied]

I'm currently 33 weeks pregnant and a couple of weeks ago I dared to go shopping at Christmas time.

I only needed a few bits for DS and I to survive on until DH would be off work and he could take us or go shopping as it's a struggle at the moment.

So I was crippled around the supermarket as I have bad SPD and I'm meant to be on crutches but it's not practical with DS as he's 19 months and I can't hold his hand if I'm on crutches. He was in the shopping trolly and I was finding it difficult to manoever.

When I got to the tills, it actually wasn't that busy- the queues were only small. The cashier didn't offer any help with the bags so I would pack them, then hobble to the side of the trolly and put them in- I can't exactly lean right over everything as my bump is huge. I noticed a man and lady behind me huffing and puffing at me. The man then barged past me. They could have joined any queue but had chosen the one I was in.

The cashier was chatting to DS as she put the stuff through which seemed to be annoying them even more. There was a bit of a cram getting out- I think someone had dropped something, and as the lady had only bought 1 thing (and not thought to use the self service or 'under ten items' tills which were free anyway) so she caught up to me. I was trying to get through but as I am now some size and my trolly was a wonkey one, it was difficult. Her and a miserable old woman who work there began tutting and rolling eyes together and barged past me- banging my bump against the trolly quite hard.

I know it's been that time of year and people get ratty but now we have no food in the cupboards and I don't want to go shopping as I don't want to be made to feel like this again.

This isn't a one off experience- last pregnancy people were all smiles and asking when I was due, etc. This time, they seem to look down on a young mum who's pregnant again.

[TotallyAndUtterlyPaninied]

By the way I am usually quite fiesty and I would have stuck up for a pregnant woman who was being treated like this, but when I'm pregnant I go to bits and feel quite teary- particularly as I had been in hospital for the couple of days before and had no sleep at all.

[underpantworm]

people are absolute arses in the supermarket this time of year but i'm shocked they behaved that way to you!!

do you have a mate who could go with you?

[AvrilH]

Obvious answer is shop online

but I think you should go out anyway, go to a nice cafe or similar and have a coffee

Before Christmas and before new year's, people seemed to turn evil in the shops. Glaring at my baby, barging past us, pushing in front. Everyone looked stressed and miserable - maybe some combination of festive season and recession. It was really grim.

It seems to be better now!

[TotallyAndUtterlyPaninied]

Has anyone else found that when they order online a lot of stuff comes with a use-by date of that day or the following day? I used to always order online but stopped because of this.

[littleducks]

Dont wait to be asked if you need help, just politely say "Please could I have a hand packing"

Oh and if you can take your crutches, stick them if trolley if necessary. Then if you get trouble, turn around apologise and point at crutches saying that you find it tricky, the fools will then be suitably mortified

But if you want to stay home and order online, it might save some hassle

[poinsettydawg]

SUpermarkets will improve again once the new year rush is over. They have probably improved already. You should explain to people how you're feeling and why you are slower as well. Don't assume people will be observant and will notice your discomfort. Tell them! Then they are less likely to get huffy.

[2madboys]

Hi Totally - I had pretty bad SPD with my last pregnancy and pushing a shopping trolley is one of the worst things you can do. PLEASE get it delivered - when the shopping arrives, look worn out and ask the driver to bring it into the kitchen so you don't have to do any lifting. My SPD did not continue beyond pregnancy and I think one of the things that helped is that I stopped doing lots of things like this at around 20 weeks. Another thing that might help is putting a plastic carrier bag on your car seat so you can just swivel round when getting in and out (keeping your knees together), avoid ironing, hoovering, anything that involves standing, and NEVER stand on one leg! Put socks, trousers, etc on sitting down. Keep your knees together when you turn over in bed. Hope this helps and if you already know all this stuff please ignore! Hope things improve for you soon.

[handbagqueen]

You should just ask for help. The supermarket will provide someone to unpack your trolley and pask your bags if required. In fact if required they can provide someone to push your trolley and help with the shopping too.

[PfftTheMagicDragon]

It's awful getting barged like that but you can't get annoyed because they didn't offer to pack your shopping. If you need help, you should ask for it. Outside appearances would say you are only pregnant, you cant tell that someone has SPD, so struggling on alone when you need help and feeling annoyed is ridiculous.

As for people tutting, they do it all the time, it's not just you. You have to just ignore it, tune them out, don't let them get to you. They are making themselves annoyed, it is nothing to do with you.

If you find physical shopping unpleasant, do it online. it's what I do as I hate doing big shops in the supermarket. I hate the way they make you feel rushed despite the fact you are spending money there.