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Original poster

Did people give up their seats for you when pregnant?

91 replies

ShirleyPhallus · 06/08/2019 19:19

Second time using my baby on board badge today, get on the tube and ask the man sat in a priority seat if I could please sit down

Get a mouthful of abuse about how its not his fault I’m pregnant and he wouldn’t give me his seat. If he’d just said no I might have assumed that he had hidden disabilities or something but he was just being a prick.

A lovely older lady in the seat next to him berated him and several suited men standing up did too (as did I) and finally he got up then just got off the tube

Second time using my badge!! Is it always like this?!

I don’t expect people to be looking up at every stop for an pregnant woman and would be happy to ask for seats but Christ, are people this dickish about this stuff all the time?!

OP posts:

jennymac31 · 07/08/2019 00:32

I wish the badges were around when I was pregnant with my 2 kids, as I rarely was offered a seat on transport. When I would ask a commuter if I could sit down, they would begrudgingly give up their seat but not before having a slight moan. My dh thought I was exaggerating until he joined me on a couple of journeys and couldn't believe how 'unlucky' I was to get on the same bus as such inconsiderate commuters.

AngeloMysterioso · 07/08/2019 00:33

I had a bloke ask me to give up my seat for his pregnant wife today.

I’m 29 weeks pregnant

VforVienetta · 07/08/2019 00:47

What did you do Angelo, have a bump-off?

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EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 07/08/2019 00:54

Yes all the time and before the badges came out (and used public transport everyday unless I didn’t go out) apart from two time and both near the end and I had a huge tummy

The bus driver told a guy to get up for me and he pretended not to hear and then a number of passengers started to have a go at him it was embarrassing but I got a seat

And always had help with buggy being carried up/down stairs maybe I looked a little weedy

almostmummywils · 07/08/2019 00:57

Last week I went for my 38 week growth scan and consultant appointment. I went into the waiting area in the midwife suite and it was full of couples, not one of the partners of the pregnant women stood up, there was four of us preggers ladies practically dying in the heat standing. Of all places they should probably have a little more consideration on the bloody maternity ward..

Pipandmum · 07/08/2019 01:00

Once on the tube. I was standing and I think the tube shifted and I sort of shut my eyes and when I opened them this man was looking at me and offered me his seat. But I also don’t think I took public transport much when very pregnant. And people really aren’t helpful at all when you are struggling with a baby and toddler on the tube/ bus! I still burn when I remember taking the Eurostar and this train guy just watched as I struggled with the pushchair, toddler, luggage and baby in a sling. I didn’t notice him until I got down and looked back up and he was just standing there not moving!

HippyChickMama · 07/08/2019 01:04

At 30 weeks pregnant and on crutches (SPD) I had to stand on a train from Slough to London for the entire journey. Not one person would give up their seats even when dh asked.

Skittlenommer · 07/08/2019 01:12

I don’t offer my seat to pregnant people anymore after mistaking a lady who was cupping her enormous ‘burrito bump’ and leaning back in obvious discomfort as pregnant.

Also got shouted at by an elderly gentleman for assuming he needed assistance! “I’m not dead yet ya know”!!!!

I’ll give it to someone if they ask me but I don’t offer anymore!

AngeloMysterioso · 07/08/2019 02:02

VforVienetta she wasn’t showing, she was exceptionally slender in fact! I guess she may have had morning sickness or something.

I just looked down at my bump and back up at him with a Dwayne Johnson-esque raised eyebrow. He muttered an apology and they moved down the carriage where there were plenty of free seats. He’d obviously just got on and decided to ask the person in the priority seat to move without pausing to assess whether of not they may be sitting in it for a reason!

KatherineJaneway · 07/08/2019 05:18

If you want a seat, just ask the carriage in general. On a crowded tube or train carriage you often can't see many people clearly so can easily miss seeing a badge.

Beechview · 07/08/2019 05:30

I got offered seats sometimes but often I didn’t.
I got offered a seat twice by teenagers, and, in my pregnant state, felt tearful and wanted to gush that their parents had done an amazing job and they were wonderful young men.

thatlldodotpig · 07/08/2019 08:30

I definitely agree that you're far more likely to get a seat on the tube vs. commuter train in London.

I think because people are coming for longer distances on the train, generally get the same train and even sit on the same seat, any disruption to that seems to not compute. On the odd occasion I'd have to get the train, I'd literally be standing with my bump in someone's face and would just be ignored.

I commuted daily on the Northern Line and never had a problem.

Original poster

ShirleyPhallus · 07/08/2019 10:14

Well I got the tube to work this morning and people were lovely so it seems normal service has been resumed!

@dobedobedobedoo lucky for you that you didn’t need a seat, but I am really dizzy and nauseous and think other passengers might prefer me not to faint my wide arse, landing on them or redecorate their clothes and belongings with a fetching shade of vom

OP posts:

Damntheman · 07/08/2019 10:38

I had two pregnancies, both relatively easy luckily! But towards the end of the second one I needed a seat due to ligament pain in my stomach. I used to find that women of any age and teenagers/students were the ones most likely to be considerate and give up a seat. Everyone else would studiously pretend I didn't exist.

It's frustrating AF. It's not just pregnant women, I've seen people on crutches or with arms in slings, blind people, the elderly, all be ignored by those seated. I give up my seat in a heartbeat to anyone looking less firm than myself. But most people seem to be very self centred when it comes to these kinds of things. Hopefully I'll manage to teach my children by example to do the same when they're old enough to be able to safely stand on moving transport.

cakesandphotos · 07/08/2019 10:49

I used to live in Moscow and once a pregnant woman got on the metro and an old lady told the man next to her to give the woman his seat. He refused so she stood up and whacked him with her umbrella until he moved. In Russia it's completely not acceptable to let pregnant women, people with children or disabled people stand. They even tell you to when they announce the doors are closing

Smellybluecheese · 07/08/2019 11:41

I was offered a seat every day, even if I didn't want one. On both tube and train. Normally by women or young people. Never every by a man in a suit. I didn't wear the badge though.

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