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Being Pregnant on The London Underground without a badge

37 replies

AJSJ0 · 29/04/2019 09:34

Am I being unreasonable for refusing to give up my seat at 8 weeks pregnant on the London Underground? I was almost forced to get up just because I wasn’t wearing my badge which is still being processed by TFL.

OP posts:
TheBulb · 29/04/2019 09:39

Who 'forced' you? And the badges, when I was a pregnant tube user, used to just be given out at ticket offices in tube stations. (I got a handful -- I think I still have several, despite the fact that my son is seven and I moved out London when he was a small baby.) Has that changed?

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 29/04/2019 09:41

Well we managed before the badge! ‘No I’m pregnant’ should suffice but then I’ve never been asked to give up a seat in the tube.

IDontMindAnythingWillDo · 29/04/2019 09:42

Both times I’ve been pregnant I just walked up to the ticket kiosk at a tube station and asked for a badge and they just gave me one Confused

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Countryslices · 29/04/2019 09:42

I think it depends who asks you and how you feel at 8 weeks pregnant? If you needed to sit down because you felt unwell then no of course you're not being unreasonable. I'm sure the tube was full of people who could have given you their seat to the person asking for yours. However I don't think just because you are pregnant you are entitled to that seat. How are you feeling? And yes you do have to apply for the badges and they take a few days to come through.

Can you give more context to the situation?

englishdictionary · 29/04/2019 09:42

It depends. The badge is irrelevant. It's the need for a seat that would answer this question.

Why did the person need the seat?

Why do you need it more?

ShowOfHands · 29/04/2019 09:43

I never knew they existed. I just used my words if I needed to.

IDontMindAnythingWillDo · 29/04/2019 09:43

And who was trying to ‘force’ you out of your seat? Why didn’t you just say ‘I’m 8 weeks pregnant’?

Ohnotheinlaws · 29/04/2019 09:44

When I was 38 weeks pregnant I went to London and I kid you not every seat was taken by a big hench man who looked at me and didn't move. Everyone was pushing but a teenage lad put his arm in front of bump and told a man to watch his elbows. It restored my faith in the younger generation. At 8 weeks I puked like a dog and your baby is much more vulnerable to pushing. Your not being unreasonable!

IDontMindAnythingWillDo · 29/04/2019 09:44

You have to apply for the badges now??

tisonlymeagain · 29/04/2019 09:44

Pregnant or not, I wouldn't be forced out of my seat by anyone. People can have all kinds of 'hidden' reasons for needing a seat, it's nobody's business and I wouldn't feel the need to justify it to anyone.

Stormei · 29/04/2019 09:45

If you are 8 weeks pregnant and feeling sick/ faint or unable to stand for some reason then yanbu

If you are sitting simply because you are pregnant then yabu

It’s the same as everyone else, if you need the seat you just say, if you don’t then get up. It could be another reason, say arthritis, they can’t see and you’d have to say just the same.

I was fortunate to be fine to stand through pregnancy easily, bar a period in my third pregnancy where the tube made me sick easily

AJSJ0 · 29/04/2019 09:49

Was feeling vey dizzy and close to vomiting. The speed and movement of the train didn’t help either

OP posts:
Aozora13 · 29/04/2019 09:50

If you’re 8 weeks pregnant and don’t have a badge, how can anyone tell you’re pregnant? Wouldn’t a “oh sorry I’m actually pregnant too/find it it difficult to stand would you mind asking someone else?” suffice? Presumably you weren’t the only person in a seat?

You have my sympathy as using public transport is an arse when you’re pregnant - I wore a badge and still regularly had to ask for a seat. I'd never ask a specific person though as you don’t know if they have a hidden disability or whatever.

AJSJ0 · 29/04/2019 09:52

Thank you, it was a free seat also

OP posts:
whitesoxx · 29/04/2019 09:53

NC fail op

englishdictionary · 29/04/2019 09:54

Thank you, it was a free seat also

What do you mean a 'free seat'?

Are you the OP?

I'm so confused now

bluebluezoo · 29/04/2019 09:54

oh sorry I’m actually pregnant too/find it it difficult to stand would you mind asking someone else?

This.

Just explain you are sitting down because standing makes you vomit. Please ask someone else.

I never had a badge, never had a problem either. Generally got a seat, if I didn’t and I needed one I asked nicely and people would move.

Fudgenugget · 29/04/2019 09:57

Ticket offices closed four years ago.
Station staff kept a supply in the station office but Customer Services stopped taking orders for replenishment. You now have to order one on the phone or online.
I think this partly has to do with data gathering. We also have a "give up your seat" badge for people who have hidden disabilities. If you have to give personal details to get either badge TfL can then send bulletins about improved access facilities etc. and roughly calculate how many people with extra needs use the badges.

Also, cost. Sometimes people would ask for two (we have 2+ coats, don't we?) so if you order from CSC they will send one. Though postal charges are involved so I don't know really how much is saved by posting the badges.

London is a rude SOB so my advice is to simply say, "No, I'm pregnant". The Underground is bringing in colour coded seats with pictures of pg females, disabled and senior logos on them so be sure to try and find one. Be assertive enough to turf people out who are not entitled.

I abuse my authority sometimes and ask people to give up their seat. Got into a few scuffles but my dad has a hidden disability so I know what it's like to be ignored on his behalf. I have travelled with him in my regular clothes, and he's too shy to ask, so I say, my dad can't stand for long, could you give up your seat? Usually it works.

(I'm a tube station supervisor)

bettybiggestballs · 29/04/2019 09:59

Just use your words and ask, I've been commuting for twenty years and have never seen anyone been refused if they ask - usually more than one person shoots up. The only issues I've seen is if people don't ask. On busy trains people are usually reading, looking at phones, having a snooze or in a world of their own - people are not hypervigilant for pregnant women.

Micah · 29/04/2019 10:04

On busy trains people are usually reading, looking at phones, having a snooze or in a world of their own - people are not hypervigilant for pregnant women

And not all pregnant women need a seat. I actually felt better standing.

AJSJ0 · 29/04/2019 10:52

Thanks Fudge Nugget, I would take on your advice for next time :) at least until my badge arrives

OP posts:
stucknoue · 29/04/2019 10:59

There weren't badges 20 years ago, I coped by saying no, I need the seat

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 29/04/2019 11:00

I haven’t ever been asked to give up a seat and the only time I remember being given a seat was by a pregnant woman (I had flu and looked like I was about to die).

RomanyQueen1 · 29/04/2019 11:04

How did they force you? I'd report, that's terrible, they could have harmed you.
I had no idea there were pregnant badges, you learn something new everyday. Grin
Do they say Fuck off I'm pregnant?

Redorangeyellowgreen · 29/04/2019 11:05

Did you actually say you were pregnant and feeling sick/dizzy?