Why shouldn’t life be made easier for pregnant women/mothers?

And who do you think will be propping up the economy and caring for you when you are old. Other people children.

As long as adjustments to accommodate pregnancy don’t negatively impact other staff members, I don’t really care. Everyone’s got life stuff going on.

Not comparable at all your parents are not your dependents.

Ah I'm so glad you made this post OP, I completely agree. Pregnancy takes a massive physiological toll even before thinking about the many possible complications. It can be temporarily disabling for many. We don't expect someone with a broken leg to get on with it - why should pregnancy be any different? It in't sexist or admitting weakness to acknowledge this - this is why obstetrics exists as its own branch of medicine and why healthcare professionals as so cautious with pregnant women.

Furthermore, babies both in and out of utero are vulnerable. We should protect vulnerable members of society, that is what being civilised is. This is why P+C spaces and seats on public transport are important. It is nothing to do with deeming those with children better or more deserving. It is just looking after those who need looked after.

However, posters on here often seem to forget / ignore / disagree with the above because they didn't get (or need) special treatment or because children are a 'lifestyle choice' (or, I suspect, because they disapprove of women sticking their neck out to request support and possibly disagree with anyone getting something they don't have). The lifestyle choice crew also seem blissfully ignorant to the fact that we do actually need some people to make that lifestyle choice to, you know, keep going as a society...

But it's not one size fits all.
Some working women who are pregnant might not be up to travelling for 4 hours. Some might.
The problems and kickbacks begin when every pregnant woman "can't" or "won't".
It actually sets equality back rather than helping.

Of course it's great that there are adjustments for the women who need them.

The key being "who need them".

And it's been made clear by the moderation team that the childless and child free have as much right to post as anyone else.

Yeah, I've been told by various establishments to use the P&C spaces when I need the extra space. I don't have a blue badge so they tell me to park there. To a parent needing a space, I probably look like I'm just being a lazy mare!

But who will pay your pension when you retire if no one had children? And who would look after you in old age if there was no one younger than you fit and able? Doctors/nurses, if no one had children because of lifestyle choices then we would all be in a slight pickle

@Duckwithnobill Oh totally, I meant to put the disclaimer on it about not applying in the context of pregnancy at all but, somewhat ironically, my small child distracted me!

I think, in the early days, with the sleep deprivation etc, small things like not getting a p&c parking space can seem massive. But once you've experienced it a few times you realise its not so bad. But by then you've had an online moan and came across badly. Then, you might experience other things in life that help you understand other people, not just parents, could do with wider parking spaces, nearer the shop etc.

The workplace things... People want things to be fair. If they feel a parent is doing half a job, they get resentful. It can be a tricky balance.

The only time I've seen issues are work (as above) and public transport.

I'm childfree and I don't think it's unreasonable for parents and pregnant women to be given flexibility but flexibility should be afforded to all staff. All too often, it's expected that the childfree will pick up the slack/cover weekends/work late/not take popular leave dates. Obviously, that's not the fault of the parents but can lead to resentment.

Public transport wise, I've often seen that those seen to be able bodied need to move for pregnant women or families with young children. I often get targeted for this and I have a stick when using buses or trains. It can get your back up as it immediately puts you on the defensive, it feels more of a directive to move than an ask a lot of the time.

Fwiw, I agree with @MidnightPatrol. Sneering at "entitled mothers" and bitching about "lifestyle choices" on a website that's literally called Mumsnet...is goady.

Whatever the reasons for having or not having children, bitterness will eat you up inside.

Some of you would have been delighted with the attitude of an ex-manager of mine. I asked to go term time only and her immediate response was “Why? You don’t have children!”

As though there couldn’t be any other reason I’d rather not be at work 🙄.

It's a lifestyle choice and it's a choice that leads to caring responsibilities. As a functioning society we should support people who care for the next generation, or indeed care for the older generation. Do you think people with children actively enjoy having to take days off to take care for their ill children, for example? Who do you propose should do that, as I'm sure you'd complain if parents didn't do it (it is their responsibility after all, if no one else is offering to help...)

What does she sound very bitter about?

Also it’s just another convenient way to hate women.

And to expect women with children to put their needs below those of everyone else, to ensure they aren’t deemed ‘entitled’

Perhaps it shouldn't be adaptations based on pregnancy status, but rather the symptoms. So if someone is nauseous and wants to work from home they should be able to... whether that person is pregnant or has some kind of other diagnosed condition that causes nausea. Or someone needs more breaks to walk around due to a bad back caused by pregnancy or by another diagnosed condition then they should get them.

As for parent and child spaces, well if they are provided then I'm of the opinion that it should be enforced that only people with children use them! Otherwise just don't have them!

However as a parent of twins the wider spaces were lifesavers when mine were babies in car seats. I don't know how I would have got them out the car without scratching other cars without them. I couldn't park over as needed to get a seat out of each side!

@Escapetothewhere The four year old who is currently eating his tea next to me would take issue with the assumption that I've never been pregnant! If a pregnancy is complicated, then yes, that should be accommodated in the way the any other physical health condition should be but that doesn't automatically mean that just because you're pregnant, you should be afforded flexibility that wouldn't be offered to someone with, for example, a chronic health condition (which I also have)

Bingo!

It’s called mumsnet.

If you think people who have children are ‘entitled’ and ‘demanding special treatment’ it’s seems a very curious place to spend your time.

You do know we have lots of bereaved mothers? Infertile women?

Shame on you.

Flexibility at work - as long as it is equal for anyone with caring responsibilities or health issues or any other similar need for adjustments

P&C spaces - agree, it should just be for people who need to be able to open a door very wide, that’s all

Adjustments when pregnant - again, depends how your pregnancy go. I was fucked with both of mine and between the constant vomiting and the fainting, frankly it was a choice between long term sick leave and working from home. But that should stand for anyone with an illness really - yes, pregnancy isn’t an illness but quite often it makes your body react as if it is.

I agree OP, and then on other threads there is discussion about why women are having less children than over before.

Because what I found was outright structural hostility within society. To making sure my existence and that of my DC is dedicated to ensuring strangers are not inconvenienced, whether in the workplace, supermarket, maternity wards, public transport and into infinity.