To think refusing to walk in the snow because you're pregnant is a little ridiculous?

[Catsnotrats]

OK you can all slate me if you want as I haven't been pregnant myself and am only basing this on instinct rather than any fact.

However a friend and colleague of mine is 13 weeks pregnant and has been 'banned' by her dh from walking anywhere while it is snowy, including to work which is a 15 min walk for her. They don't drive so she has been housebound all weekend. We live in london so it's not a case of 10 feet drifts. She is quite happy to go along with this, and is planning on getting a taxi tomorrow instead. I'd have personally thought that driving in the snow with an unknown driver is more dangerous than walking.

I know this is non of my business really, it's just that I'm getting a but fed up with her extreme preciousness since she's been pregnant (she was generally sane before!). I've had a number of friends and colleagues who have been pregnant and I've never been irritated by them being cautious about various things before. It's just her and her constant pfb behaviour before they are even here that is driving me mad!

Ok rant over, and as I said you can all give me a virtual slap if you like.

[MollyMurphy]

Been very active during my pregnancies until later on where things got more difficult but that's me. it's their pregnancy and they should do whatever makes them comfortable and happy - don't worry, she won't stay this way forever.

[Catsnotrats]

bue the ironic thing is is that she is also from a snowy part of canada! I'm not sure what she would have been planning on doing if she was still there.

[catladycourtney1]

When we had bad snow at the end of last week, my bosses told me that if I didn't feel comfortable coming in (being 34 weeks pregnant and not a driver) that I could ring in and make the time up another day. And I did think about it when I saw the state of the roads on Friday. I did go in in the end, since I only live a ten minute walk away and wouldn't want my colleagues talking about me like OP is talking about her friend!

Anyway, I don't want to say that you're being totally unreasonable, because I think there are some women who will use pregnancy as an excuse to get out of anything and everything. But if I had felt that I absolutely had to make it in to work, or anywhere else, and I had walked it and slipped and fell, I don't know what I would have done. Personally I would sooner walk than drive or be driven when it's snowy and icy anyway, but if your friend feels safer in a taxi then what is it to anyone else?

[comedycentral]

Wow I bet you are a dream to work with

I fell in the snow whilst pregnant a few years ago, I had to be monitored over night. We were both fine but it was an awful experience.

[Moominsarescary]

I'm almost 37 weeks and won't be going out in the snow

[Bue]

Cats that is just bizarre then. Utterly, utterly bizarre. Ask her what she would do if she were at home! I guarantee that time off work until March would be an option

[Bue]

would NOT be an option

[FergusSingsTheBlues]

For all you know, she might have had a history of miscarriage and might be understandably neurotic. Some people find pregnancy incredibly stressful, its an emotional time without people like you sticking their oar in.

Either way its not your business. Im 34 weeks and not going out in the snow.

[PandaOnAPushBike]

I'm 25 weeks pregnant and in Sweden so I can't avoid the snow but I wouldn't go out if I weren't properly prepared. Going out without snowboots or ice-spikes if it's icing is madness. But then I fell over once, when in the UK before learning how to do it properly, and dislocated my shoulder. It's made me very nervous of a repeat performance.

[PandaOnAPushBike]

• icey not icing. If it's icing you need to go out with a spoon and cake.

[oldebaglady]

the snow in canada is dryer, it stays frozen as snow or compacted snow here it thaws and refreezes more and gets wet and more icey. I find the snow here harder to manage than the snow in canada, partially because you don't have the kit here and partially because its a different material!

[Moominsarescary]

I might go out if there was icing!

[SoWhatIfImWorkingClass]

I am 34 weeks pregnant and although I went flying on some ice a few weeks ago, I still have to brave it and be very careful as I really don't want to be housebound. It's my last week at work this coming week so after that I can pick and choose when I want to go out.

[RuleBritannia]

Well, I'm not pregnant but there's nothing wrong with walking on the snow. Snow itself is not slippery. It's when it's been trodden down into hard cake that it becomes slippery. I walked to the bus stop the other day (about 500 yards) and walked on the snow that had not been trodden on and, if it had been, I walked in the road (facing oncoming traffic as the Highway Code stipulates). Okay, there was not much traffic but ...............

The only time I fell over was on ice outside my GP's surgery. It was drips from the gutter that had frozen.

[SoWhatIfImWorkingClass]

Plus if I don't go to work I don't get paid! I work I a different town as well so taxis are out of the question.

[NigellasGuest]

is this a first baby?

[TwllBach]

Also, when I was pregnant the second time, DP at the time "banned" me from doing some things, like heavy lifting etc. what he actually meant was "I don't want you to do things that could be dangerous for you and our baby. I feel protective and want you to look after yourself and our child" but he used the word banned instead, jokingly. Could that be what your friends DP did, OP?

[tiredemma]

And friends relative slipped in snow whilst pregnant with twins. Both babies died in the womb.

[SoWhatIfImWorkingClass]

tiredemma, that's awful :( How far along was she?

[AlwaysHoldingOnToStarbug]

Yabu. I've never been pregnant during snowy weather but I would avoid going out in it. I always managed to fall over nothing when I was pg. when I was expecting twins I fell over a few times, so I would never take that extra risk in snow or ice.

[oldebaglady]

and its patchy here and inconsistant, with bits of black ice inbetween. Its more consistant in colder countries so easier to balance

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

You sum it up by saying you haven't been pregnant yourself. No you haven't, so don't judge someone who is and what they choose to do.

I was cautious about walking in the snow. All you want to do is protect your baby. It's none of your business what she does.

[Lavenderhoney]

It's none of your business as you say, op. You have no idea of her personal history, just what she chooses to tell you. Her dh is being lovely and she is very lucky. If she fell and something awful happened she would never forgive herself, especially if it could have been prevented.

Let her enjoy her pgncy and take care as she sees fit of her unborn child and not take uncesscary risks. Everyone is different. It matters not what other people did when they were prgnt.

I don't think you are a friend of hers at all, you are not very supportive or kind.