baby on Board badge..

[MakiJ]

Morning all today I got my first baby on board badge my belly is still tiny but thought I'd better have one just in case, I wanted to know everyone's experience how you might have had to ask people to give up their seat, or someone kindly offered taking initiative...

I see it as more of a safety purpose, in case the train suddenly stops, crowded and you don't want your bump to get squashed etc.

What are your thoughts and advice?

[apatheticfallacy]

I didn't have one, I just stood if there wasnt a seat. Once very early on I explained to a very kind woman about my age that I wasnt feeling very well and she not only gave me her seat on the tube but asked how else she could help, when I explained it was morning sickness and feeling a bit light headed she offered me her bottle of water.

When I started to get more noticeably pregnant people often offered me their seats or to go in front of them in long toilet queues. Sometimes I thanked them but declined, sometimes if I was feeling tired/desperate for the loo I'd thank them and accept.

[WordGetsAround]

If you'd like a seat, ask for a seat. Don't expect anybody to notice a tiny badge on a commuter train in London! Unless you're in a terrible accident, a few bumps might for uncomfortable but won't damage you or the baby.
Enjoy being pregnant and take cold water with you in the the summer!
I tubed from St James to Hammersmith during rush hour until 8.5 months pregnant and never had a bad experience.

[Spudlet]

I had one, it was helpful I think as I generally was offered a seat. I only wore it when I was feeling terrible (although that was quite a lot of the time, pregnancy did not agree with me!).

I didn't see it as a safety thing though - well, not for me. It may have saved a few innocent bystanders from being puked on / crushed by a fainting pregnant lady...

[lastnightiwenttomanderley]

I had one. (2 Commuter trains and then tube)
For me it wasn't about having a seat necessarily but people giving you a bit more room. There are a lot of pointy elbows and barging on my route so it was just nice for people to be a little bit more aware of personal space.
I always saw it very much as a courtesy though and not some kind of magical 'you must bow down to me' badge as I have witnessed others do. Generally, people were fantastic. I didn't get grumpy of nobody offered a seat and, if I needed one, I'd just say 'excuse me' and they'd normally offer before I even got to saying the bit about could I sit down!
Congratulations and yes to lots of water, DS was born in September and I commuted until 37 weeks so I know how uncomfortable it can be!

[lastnightiwenttomanderley]

(I should add, I'm only 5' so people wouldn't have noticed my bump unless they were looking at the floor! So the badge helped a lot :) )

[MakiJ]

Oooh I see thank you ladies, grateful for your responses

[Inwaiting]

Just to offer an alternative opinion. I worked up to 40 weeks and at 39 I asked for a seat and someone actually said to me where's your badge. Like the massive belly wasn't enough.

If the tube isn't crowded I wasn't really concerned by a seat but if it was then I think the badge really comes in handy to try and get to the seats in the first place. For me it really worked and 9/10 people actually made sure I got to a seat where I couldn't get to the seat aisles.

Wear your badge if you want to - there's no right or wrong. I would wear one again next time round.

[BathshebaDarkstone]

Forget the badge, buy a "Does my Bump Look Big in This?" t-shirt. You still have to ask people for a seat though. Apparently, my bump was only noticeable from the side.

[EmpressOfTheSevenOceans]

If I see someone with a Baby on
Board badge I know to offer them my seat. Otherwise there's always the worry of whether they just look pregnant and I'm about to insult them.

[soundsystem]

I wear mine and always get offered a seat. I'm not showing yet and I have really bad morning sickness so I'm always very grateful for a seat!

When I'm not pregnant, it makes life easier if I see someone wearing one as I assume they want a seat and offer, rather than being all awkward.

[LittleLionMansMummy]

People keep telling me to get one but I've resisted. Tbh I haven't found travelling too arduous and until now I'd have felt like a bit of a fraud. However, I suppose I must now actually look pregnant rather than just fat because yesterday for the first time two lovely people offered me their seat on the Tube. I'm 18 weeks and think the baby is currently having a growth spurt! I'm not sure I'll bother with one unless it gets to be a problem when I'm bigger.

[RuskBaby]

I have one for when we go into London and have been truly thankful for it on more than one occasion. I got it initially for making people aware as I don't like my space crowded at the best of times. I've had lots of people offer their seats but only accept if I need it.

[BeardMinge]

I almost always got offered a seat, and on the rare occasion I didn't I asked whoever was sitting in the priority seat (unless they were ancient or had crutches). Even if someone is a twat and refuses, someone else will invariably offer you a seat.

[TinyTear]

My husband says GET A BADGE people, he is always afraid to offend people who just look a bit pregnant!

Tip: i wore mine on the bump so it was at eye level of the (usually) fit and healthy looking business men sitting in the priority seats...

[HopelesslydevotedtoGu]

In two pregnancies nobody ever offered me a seat, so I got in the habit of asking whoever was in/ nearest to the priority seats (assuming not elderly/ disabled etc), and someone always stood up. Commuters are often in their own world and don't look at people around them (possibly because they don't want to lose their seat!)

[MakiJ]

aww everyone's story is fascinating & educational valid point on identifying whether they are pregnant or not and offending people, the badge is like an ID and we don't mean to take advantage I also like the idea or wearing it on the bump

[sycamore54321]

I see it as more of a safety purpose, in case the train suddenly stops, crowded and you don't want your bump to get squashed etc. shock.

I am fascinated by this. Can you give some examples of these scenarios and how wearing a badge or not would contribute to a different outcome? This makes no logical sense to me but perhaps there is something I'm missing.

[f1ddlesticks]

Been wearing mine for a week or so now. Touch and go whether I get a seat - some tubes are dog eat dog when it comes to just getting on! If I'm feeling particularly shit and don't fancy risking not getting a seat and having to fight my way on I go the long way round. Thankfully I have a few routes, some quicker than others.

I'm counting up the people who clearly notice the badge then busy themselves with their phone / newspaper / pretend to be asleep - and they think you haven't clocked them. Men and women

[Alichelseagirl]

I have been wearing my badge for a couple of weeks and have found about 8 times out of 10 I get offered a seat. If I don't it is usually because they are reading etc and don't see me. I wear mine mainly as a warning so that I don't get pushed and shoved but if I get an offer of a seat that is a bonus. I do try not to blatantly stand in front of people as I do feel the badge gives off "please can I have your seat" rather than "please be careful around me"

[MrsJoJo]

Out of interest ladies - how long did it take you to receive your badge? I ordered one weeks ago and am still waiting.

I don't regularly commute into London but have worked up there today, and will be travelling up quite regularly until approx. 36 weeks. I'm 17 weeks, obviously pregnant and think I'd keel over if I had to stand on the main commute home (as I frequently do).

I got a seat today but two people pushed passed me to grab a vacant one first...

[Spudlet]

I just went to a ticket desk and asked for one

[soundsystem]

Yep I just asked for one at a station and got it right away!

[LisaTheSimpson]

Any TfL (i.e. tube) station can usually just give you one.

Like others, I don't wear mine to be offered a seat (sometimes I'll decline anyway), but it makes me feel more confident to ask for one if I need one.

If I get on (Southeastern commuter train) and there are no seats, I'll ask very politely 'Does anyone mind if I sit down?', and at least 2-3 people (in or near the priority seats) immediately jump up. Sometimes they don't even look round to clock my badge, but every now and then someone will look you up and down as if to 'check'.

I think most people assume that if you're asking, you should probably have one. I've actually had some lovely people on my route and haven't had a bad experience ever.

I do think you have to ask, though. There are obviously some losers who will notice and pretend they haven't, but most of the time people are in their own world (I know I am!), and I don't think it's fair to expect people to actively look for priority passengers around them, particularly when it's crowded like sardines.

[Fourfifthsof]

I had one but never used it... I felt ok when I was not showing and once that bump popped out, there was no missing it! People always offered me a seat or to jump in front of them in the queue for the loo - people are generally lovely and Londoners the same - we get a bad rap overall for ignoring pregnant women and diving back into our broadsheets! In fact, the only time I wasn't offered a seat was in Knightsbridge on a Saturday lunchtime when the tube was full of tourists. If you want a seat, just ask the carriage in general, not one person. Someone will give you a seat.

[MakiJ]

true it's important that we kindly ask not just expecting people to be courteous, thank you all for your advice