Attention PG Commuters!

[RGPargy]

Did you know that when you are 20 weeks pg, you are allowed to sit in First Class, provided you have your MAT B1 and have applied to do so at the ticket office.

A handy little tip there for those, like me, stuck in Commuter Land for the next few months!

[TheBlonde]

I thought it was only if there were no seats left in standard class

[RGPargy]

I'm not sure about that as it goes, but the entitlement is there!!

I will double check with my railway (South Eastern) and get back to you.

[Kathyis6incheshigh]

I heard this rumoured but have never seen any actual evidence. If you have any that would be good. (not that I am pg any more.)

[RGPargy]

Just got this from South Eastern's web site:

"We realise it can be difficult for pregnant women travelling on our busy trains when there are no seats available. So, Southeastern monthly or longer season ticket customers who are 20 weeks into their pregnancy can apply for authorisation to sit in First Class if there are no seats left in Standard class. We offer this as a courtesy to mums-to-be but of course cannot guarantee that there will always be a seat available.

To apply, we need a copy of a MAT B1 form, or a signed letter from your GP or midwife which confirms pregnancy and the date the baby is due. We also need a photocopy of your current monthly or longer season ticket and your photocard, along with your name, address and daytime telephone number.

Please send these to:

Southeastern Customer Services
PO Box 286
Plymouth
PL4 6WU"

It's not much, but it's something at least!

[BWMum]

South West Trains offer an upgrade to first class when standard class is full (but doesn't help if you're on the suburban lines that don't have first class carriages). This is link here and the info from their website:

South West Trains' Mums-to-be initiative aims to make journeys to work a little easier for expectant mothers. This innovative programme offers pregnant Season Ticket holders a complimentary upgrade to First Class when Standard seats are unavailable.

Customers who hold a South West Trains Standard Class Season Ticket and MAT B1 form can apply for a complimentary pass which allows an upgrade to First Class accommodation if no Standard Class seats are available.

To be eligible for the Mums-to-be upgrade pass, the following are required:

A copy of a MAT B1 form (see www.dwp.gov.uk/medical/hot2.asp for more information)
A copy of a current Season Ticket
Name
Home address
Season Ticket number
Photocard number
Season Ticket expiry date
Daytime telephone number
To apply, print off the Mums-to-be form here, fill it in and post it along with your MAT B1 form to:

Mums-to-be Co-ordinators
South West Trains
Overline House
Southampton
Hampshire SO15 1AL

Tel: 0845 6000 650
Email: [email protected]

You can also fax the information through on 023 8072 8187.

[theressomethingaboutmarie]

I have one of these passes but have had to stand up for the past two days during my commute. I amazes me how many male passengers stare at my boobies and then let their eyes travel to my tummy, all from the comfort of their seats. Happy to see the blooming effects of pregnancy but don't give a monkeys about making it easier on me.

To clarify, it's not that I only expect male passengers to give up their seats. I saw a distant relative on the train today - we both acknowledged each other (she knows I'm pregnant - it's not like you can miss the bump!) and she carried on sitting down and then happily drifted off to sleep....

[Hersetta]

I work for a PLC that owns train companies and our main commuter line run this offer as well - although I must admit it's not well publicised. Anyone using 'One' from Liverpool Street can also apply for an automatic upgrade using their MAT B1 - in return they receive a letter which has to be shown to the ticket inspector along with your standard class season ticket. No letter, no upgrade. Take care of it as no duplicate will be issued if yopu lose it.

I am at the moment almost 32 weeks pregnant and although I have no problems with the train journey (I use 'One' and sit in First class) the tubes are another matter. Not once have I been offered a seat - even taken to wearing a TFL baby on board badge but still no luck. Central Line commuters are the worst!

[barbamama]

Hi I wasn't able to apply for one of these on SouthEastern as I went back to work part-time after my first baby so only have a weekly 3 day pass. Nonetheless, i have always sat in first if no seats in standard even before I got my MATB1 and they always back down - most don't even hassle you when they see you are pregnant. Can you imagine the bad publicity if you went to the papers. I have to say I normally get offered a seat on the Jubilee Line, sorry for those of you who are not getting them! Only really outrageous experiences I have had this time (as opposed to none last time) were on a train where a schoolkid zipped in front of me and took the last seat I was about to sit in. And then noone else offered me one. However, a lovely old lady of 75 all the way down the carriage came marching down and gave me her seat and started shouting at all the men about how they should be ashamed etc - it was really funny. They still didn't move but one young girl gave the old lady her seat and I had the other one. And then this morning on the Jubilee line, a woman did exactly the same thing - stole the seat I was literally just about to sit in (have to sit down slowly due to SPD) and then when she realised I was pg said "Oh sorry, I am just desperate for a seat as well" stupid bitch!!! I couldn't believe it. the man next to her gave me his seat in disgust.

[designerbaby]

I've noticed that it's almost exclusively women who get up on the tube? I think the men get transfixed by the enormous t*ts and fail to look any lower down...

People have been really good recently though, and I usually get offered a seat - although am still socked when some young oik shoves past to get to the last remaining one - which still happens - again it's always a bloke...

'Baby on board' badge does seem to help.

[RGPargy]

And it's normally always scruffy builder-type (normal) blokes that offer you a seat, not the suited and booted (stuck up) twats!!

[hoxtonchick]

i used to ask people to give up their seats in a very loud voice. worked a treat (on the central line too!).

[kittypower]

I'm 33 weeks and so far have never had to stand - people have been so lovely offering me their seats. Although I find it is almost always men who offer. From city boys to scruffy builders, they have all been so kind so far. Bet I have to stand all the way home on the tube tonight now I have said that!!!!

[RGPargy]

Ah but kittypower, are you an attractive wee little delicate thing? If so, that could be the reason?!

[kittypower]

ha ha there is nothing little and delicate about me at the moment from my swollen ankles to my massive belly they are all big!
X

[quint]

With dd DD2 I managed to get a seat ont he train most day, with DD1 I sometimes had more trouble. I think that this was because with DD1 I was heavily pregnant int he winter so had a big coat on which hid the bump more, however with DD2 I was heavily pregnant in the summer and t-shirts really don;t hide the bump! And I wasn;t any bigger the 2nd time around!

The worst that happened to me was with DD1. There were no seats on the train and I had to stand in the aisle (everyone was too busy reading their paper to notice me). A couple of stops down the line a woman tried to push past me, I tried explaining that I couldn;t move, but she got very arsey and said that I shoudl move down as she could see space. I then said very loudly 'I'm 8 motnhs pregnant and have a broken arm so no I can't move down, but if you want to get past, go ahead!'

And she did, she pushed right passed me! At least someone then looked up and gave me their seat!

Just for the record, I really don;t recommend breaking your arm when pregnant - not much fun!

[bossykate]

i asked someone to get up for a pg woman on the tube recently. he did it!

i also used to ask people in the priority seats to let me have their seat - politely. mixed responses alas.

[bossykate]

btw - had spd. not bad enough to be signed off but bad enough to make standing very difficult for more than a few minutes.

[MrsMar]

It's a shame there isn't a first class section on the tube so those sweating underground can take advantage of that thing to... I've had a real selection of people stand up for me though, I would definitely say women, but younger men too. Older men just look at you as if to say "you may be pregnant, but I'm so I need to sit down!" I do really get the feeling that sometimes people look at me like "well you shouldn't be commuting/working/out of the house when you're pregnant so you've only got yourself to blame", maybe the hormones are making me imagine it, but I just want to yell "would you say that to your wife/girlfriend/sister/mother?"

[Pennypops]

Interesting thread!! I have had it confirmed by First Great Western customer services that they have no policy that allows pregnant season ticket holders to upgrade for free or even at a reduced charge.

Good to see FGW keeping their reputation for having utter contempt for their peak time customers alive and well.

On the subject of the tube I get the odd seat (I have to say usually from men - women just seem to look through me) but usually its so rammed that I can't even get near enough to the seats for people to offer me one. Never mind a Baby on Board badge - i could be dressed from head to toe in neon and no bugger would notice. The trains are just too full.

[MrsMar]

Hi penny you are so right, 9 times out of ten I'm squeezed in by the doors. I did get lots of tutting the other day when I insisted on opening the window at the end of a carriage so the wind would blow through as the train moved, I made out I was going to faint so all the tutting women whose hair was getting messed up would feel guilty

[Judy7]

Sussex commuters - this applies to First Capital Connect too. I got on at Brighton when there were always seats available but by the time you got to Burgess Hill the train would be packed and last summer it would be roasting (First Captital Connect don't see fit to air condition their trains). So on a couple of baking hot days I sat in first class prepared to argue the toss...but I was never asked to. All the ticket inspectors were lovely.

[LackingNicknameInspiration]

I only commute by tube (central line!) from the wilds of zone 6, so always get a seat on the way in. My experience going home is mixed but I generally find younger blokes better - less of the selective blindness. Agree though that you haven't a hope if you can't get seen by people - was rather annoyed by bloke with huge rucksack yesterday who shoved past me onto the train and then blotted me out with aforementioned rucksack until he got off three stops later...

[Pennypops]

Hi MrsM {smile}

Good for you! Actually my colleague told me a hilarious story yesterday about the whole pregnancy seating thing. He has a couple of girls under 4 so is very conscious about that sort of thing because his missus had to commute as well when they were expecting their first.
Anyway, being South African and not backwards in coming forwards he was on the tube, noticed a pregnant lady and whilst he was standing he said loudly " is anyone going to give up their seat for this woman who is obviously pregnant?"

You so know whats coming don't you?

She wasn't. My poor colleague said he was beyond mortified and got out at the next stop despite it being miles away from his destination.