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Original poster

Not allowing heavily pregnant woman to use a loo

665 replies

pelvicfloorisnomore · 08/10/2024 10:38

I’m imminently due my third baby and have a massive bump. Popped to the local coop post school run and as I was checking out was desperate for the loo. My pelvic floor is pretty shot from previous 2 kids, the baby had dropped during the school run walk so I was feeling like I could not wait. The store was empty bar a couple of pensioners. I asked if I could use the staff loo as desperate, there are no other loos nearby and I was unlikely to make it the half a mile home in time. The member of staff said no against policy and I soiled myself before I even made it the front door of the shop. Completely humiliating and had to walk home like that and could have been avoided if a little kindness shown.

AIBU to expect some flexibility in branch policy to accommodate for those in need? It hardly fits with the coop key value of caring for others.

OP posts:
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Justice4Friend · 08/10/2024 10:48

Wear those nappies for adults.

Kindness has nothing to do with it - they can't lose their job for you.

Original poster
pelvicfloorisnomore · 08/10/2024 10:47

How could I plan better?

I live in a small town. I went to the loo immediately before the school run. I don’t have access to a car during the week as my husband uses it to commute to work so my only means od transport is to walk the kids to school and was just picking up some milk before returning home. There are no public loos. The staff in that coop see me several mornings a week picking up staples. I don’t normally need the loo on the school run but the baby dropped.

OP posts:
Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 08/10/2024 10:47

I'm sorry that happened to you but remember that the person you asked is not the person who decides policy or gas the authority to disregard it.
They could have been fired if they'd let you use the loo and something happened. Maybe if it didn't.

ClarasSisters · 08/10/2024 10:46

You've learnt the lesson to go straight home I guess.

KnottedTwine · 08/10/2024 10:46

Partly insurance and partly security. Behind the door of the backarea there is probably lots of stock, potentially staff personal belongings/bags, cash being counted in the office.

If they had let you in, they would have had to ensure you were accompanied at all times. Someone would have had to left what they were doing, walked with you to the loo, waited outside the door until you had finished, and walked you back out into the public area. Can you not see there are problems with this?

NerrSnerr · 08/10/2024 10:45

The problem is that you'll probably have to go through the stock room, maybe staff room etc. there might be the staff member's phones/ purses in the area.

I was awful when pregnant and needed to wee probably every 45 mins to an hour. You just have to plan where you're going. I did wee in a lot of bushes over those months.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 08/10/2024 10:45

They can't let you into the staff areas, including the loo.

OoodlesofNoodles · 08/10/2024 10:42

I doubt it's insurance and that's it. It's security, they can't let a customer be walking around the areas where food/money/staff belongings are stored. It's sounds like a bad experience for you OP but it's not the shops fault, I hope baby is here soon and this is a past memory.

NeedToChangeName · 08/10/2024 10:42

I sympathise, must have been awful, but I wouldn't criticise the shop for this

We should have more public toilets

AllAboutNiamh · 08/10/2024 10:42

This reply has been deleted

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user2848502016 · 08/10/2024 10:42

Sorry that happened to you but they really aren't allowed- for insurance purposes and shoplifters trying it on

ChungKing · 08/10/2024 10:41

Yeah, it would be nice if we could use any toilet we needed if desperate, but as a PP said, often the insurance prevents it.

HangDai · 08/10/2024 10:41

Even if you have a toilet urgency card/disability radar key most shops wouldn't allow you to use the staff toilet for insurance and liability purposes. This is standard everywhere.

ThisHangryPinkBalonz · 08/10/2024 10:39

Lots of stores have this policy, I'm on water tablets and even have a card to confirm the urgency but I wouldn't expect them to bend the rules to me. Unfortunately, you need to plan better.

TheDrunkenClam · 08/10/2024 10:39

Insurance is the answer. They can’t allow members of the public into staff restricted areas as insurance wouldn’t cover if you had an accident