Parking spaces?!!!

[Excited85]

Hi,
I'm now 37 weeks and have realised this weekend that if a car parks slightly closer to my side than the middle of their space I'm stuffed as I can't open my drivers door to get me and bump back in!!!! Any one else having this problem???

Am guessing all I can do is either park right at the back of Asda car park and waddle all the way to the door in the hope nobody parks next to me, or park as close to the car on my left as possible (then worry non stop that they can't get in their car either)?!!!!

Anyone got any better ideas?!

[SoupDragon]

Park in an end spot.

[Anothermrssmith]

Can't you use a parent and child space when your heavily pregnant,I always thought you could though don't hold me to that!

[Excited85]

Anothermrssmith, am not sure on that - just never thought I'd have this problem! Am sure I'll manage it's certainly not a big problem just wanted to know I wasn't on my own!!!

[easterbaby]

A friend in this situation had to ask a passing stranger to back her car out of a tight space! I'd use the parent & baby bays - they're wider to give parents easier access to their cars. Exactly what you need, even if baby is still inside. x

[ILiveInAPineappleCoveredInSnow]

Last week I had to climb in through the boot of my car because of people parked too close on both sides.
It was not fun at 33 weeks with SPD :-(
Now if there is no end space, I use parent and child spaces.
I can't manage to walk from the other end of the car park without a load of pain so that's my absolute last resort.

[sleeplessbunny]

oh i remember this problem from late pregnancy! i used to instinctively turn sideways if the gap was a bit small but obviously that just made things worse.
no suggestions to add i'm afraid. online shopping? which, incidentally, is even more worthwhile when you have a newborn. (remembering the time i abandoned a half-full trolley in asda to take a screaming 4 wk old home, and crying when i got home because there were no tea bags left)

[HootShoot]

This happened to me twice when I was pregnant last time. I cried both times!! One time a man offered to pull my car out for me and the other time I just waited in the rain then hormone blasted the man for parking so close

I was always too scared to use the parent and child spaces!

[DaleyBump]

You can. There's not actually any law about using parent and child parking, they're just courtesy so anyone at all can use them (although it is frowned upon). But because you need the extra space, I'm sure most people wouldn't bat an eyelid. Just use them :)

[daughterofafarmer]

I was told that I could use the parent and child spaces when heavily pregnant with DC1. Should add I was told by the manger of said supermarket

[Wickedgirl]

I too have resorted to using parent spaces now for the same reasons.......very big and SPD. I rarely use supermarkets now though as it is easier to shop online and get it delivered straight into my kitchen

[NorbertDentressangle]

This brings back memories!

When I was pregnant with DD I worked somewhere with a really small, tight car park. On more than one occasion I had to get colleagues to park my car or get it out of a space for me because i couldn't physically get in or out of the car.

[Excited85]

Ahh glad to hear that's the general consensus, will do so for the weekly shop. Am now avoiding city centre multi stories as those are the worst, have had a few tight squeezes when not pregnant so would hate to be stranded in one and all hormonal! The things we go through hey!

[UrethraFranklin]

Yeah just use the P+C spaces. You are a parent and child technically

I did it all the time whilst pregnant. The P+C spaces at the supermarket I went to were generally filled with lazy arse people anyway i.e fully fit, no children but they can't POSSIBLY walk the extra few metres from the other spaces. So use them

[elcranko]

Definitely use the P&C spaces. I did when I was heavily pregnant and if anyone had dared tell me I couldn't they would have got the full force of my hormonal rage!

[Fairydogmother]

Parent and child spaces are only kept as a courtesy by the shop so anybody can use them - unlike disabled spaces which shouldn't be used unless you have a disabled badge.

So use away! I'm nearly at the same stage and if I can't find a suitable space I'll be using them!

[AhoyAhoy]

I would probably rather ask somebody to move my car out of the space for me, than use the P+C spaces. All the posters on here so far have been really kind and reasonable, but I've seen a few threads on here- I'll just say that I wouldn't like to meet some of those people in real life, the ones who are quite vocal that actual baby or toddler trumps baby bump.

[WinteronPluto]

I think you should use the P and C spaces.

Maybe they should be marked "and pregnant women" although I suppose if they marked all the subclauses of these things the sign would have to be enormous!

The thing I think is unfair is when people with no additional need whatsoever use them.

Maybe they should have "additional need" spaces and let people use their common sense but unfortunately I think people don't have any and are too selfish.

[Jolleigh]

I'll definitely be using P & C spaces wherever possible but the carpark I use for work doesn't have them and I only get priority parking in work's basement with a docs note stating that I'm having physical difficulty or when I'm within 6 weeks of my due date.

Luckily, my car park is a supervised one so I reckon at a push I could get the car park guy to bring the car out for me. If I bat my eyelids, I'm hoping he might even keep a bump-friendly space reserved.

Have to say, if I ever get grief for using P & C spaces while heavily pregnant, lord help the idiot who's decided to get on my bad side!

[FredFlintstonesSister]

Parent and child spaces aren't like disabled spaces - it's just a shop's policy rather than a legal thing. With that on mind I shall be parking in them as soon as I look more pregnant! I'm only 20 weeks and when I go yo tesco I look longingly at those spaces slightly nearer the entrance and think, "In a month or so..."!