Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To use the parent parking spaces at 37+ weeks pregnant?

76 replies

kinkytoes · 20/03/2016 21:39

Oh yes another parent parking thread - I just couldn't resist starting one of these and I was thinking of you all when I actually did it Grin

I was not with my toddler at the time but I am very much 'with child', and the size I currently am I need the extra space to open my car door and squeeze out.

Wouldn't do it if there was a queue for them, only when it's fairly quiet. Nobody questioned me. WIBU?

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 20/03/2016 21:42

Not in the slightest. I did. I had SPD and struggled to walk. And I was bloody huge!
if I couldn't park at the end of a line of cars (and so guarantee I could get back in) I did exactly what you did.

BayLeaves · 20/03/2016 21:42

YANBU. I think I did this once or twice when pregnant. I think the feeling that everything is about to fall out of your body from between your legs trumps the frustration of dragging a wriggly toddler out of a car seat and into the shop.

moanwhingemoan · 20/03/2016 21:43

Yanbu Wish I had done this when I was heavily pregnant instead of not being able to get back in my car as others had parked too close Blush

gunting · 20/03/2016 21:43

Nah thats not unreasonable.

Being pregnant is shite and so is shopping so if parking closer makes it easier for you then go for it.

Pixilicious · 20/03/2016 21:43

Definitely nbu and I am the local parent and child space vigilante!

TheDuchessOfArbroathsHat · 20/03/2016 21:43

You've been reading The Standard haven't you?

It's going to cost you!

5madthings · 20/03/2016 21:43

Yanbu, have been doing the same. Almost 38wks preg and been on crutches for past two weeks after falling and injuring my pelvis, am pretty much housebound but in rare occasion I have been out we have used parent and child space.

AliceInUnderpants · 20/03/2016 21:44

YABU as you didn't have a child with you.

I get that you need the extra space, but couldn't you have found a couple of empty spaces together?

I have mobility problems and often need the extra space to get out of the car, so I often find myself having to park at the far, empty end of the car park and walk further.

Original poster
kinkytoes · 20/03/2016 21:45

Excellent! I so wish I had thought of doing this first time around. Yet another thing that parenthood teaches us.

OP posts:
WonderingAspie · 20/03/2016 21:46

YANBU. I was huge and had pelvic problems with DC1, I parked there because I couldn't squeeze my bump between 2 cars. Would anyone really challenge you!

Wolfiefan · 20/03/2016 21:46

Alice. Walk further? At 37 weeks. Really. Ouch.
She did have a child with her!
If her baby was early they could be out and about now.

Original poster
kinkytoes · 20/03/2016 21:47

Alice I also have PGP which affects my mobility although I hope it's only temporary. Wouldn't you be able to use the disabled spaces in your situation?

OP posts:
Original poster
kinkytoes · 20/03/2016 21:49

Wow Duchess, coincidence! I was in an Area car park too Shock

OP posts:
AliceInUnderpants · 20/03/2016 21:49

No, I don't have a blue badge, so can't use the disabled bays.

Of course, the P&C spaces aren't legally enforceable, so I'd have probably used it too in your situation Wink

5madthings · 20/03/2016 21:50

If you have mobility problems surely you Park somewhere thst means you have less distance to walk. I think you should use the spaces as well Alice you sound like you have need.

I physically couldn't walk any distance at the moment, finding it massively frustrating as until I fell over I was still riding my bike every day and having really easy pregnancy. When I was fine we didn't use the spaces as had no need, now I do.

Jitterybug · 20/03/2016 21:50

I tried to do this once at 40w and was told by the Asda car park attendant to move as it wasn't allowed, I could have really done with the extra space and was really struggling to walk. But I moved and went with my tail between my legs.

I suppose it would be quite difficult to police and all the spaces could end up being taken up just by pregnant women and none left for the actual parents with child.

megletthesecond · 20/03/2016 21:51

Yanbu.

Original poster
kinkytoes · 20/03/2016 21:52

Asda not Area. Stupid phone.

OP posts:
katienana · 20/03/2016 21:53

Yanbu I'm in the same position I would not be able to get back into my car if someone parked next to me. Am usually with my 3 year old so don't think twice about using the spaces.

SaveSomeSpendSome · 20/03/2016 21:53

There was an article in the daily mail online about asda issuing a woman a fine who was pregnant and parked in the child spaces. I ve no idea whether it was true or not as the daily mail are full of shit but there was lots of comments on the post which went something like this....

Your not a parent when pregnant until you have actually had the baby so no you should not park in the spaces.

The parent spaces are for the safety of children (WTF)??

Your only pregnant and just being lazy.

It went on and on and on.

I was in horrendous pain from 6 weeks pregnant. I used them whenever i could, no1 said anything and if they did they would of bloody wish they hadnt!

MrsMook · 20/03/2016 21:54

YANBU. I had to start using them at about 6 months as I was struggling to get my huge bump out of the gap between my seat and steering wheel (short legs) and had to open my door to maximum. Undiagnosed SPD made it necessary to cut walking to a minimum. At 7 months, I did my final trip to the supermarket as I was holding back tears by the checkout from the pain of walking around. I also had to end up using disabled toilets as I often couldn't shut the cubicle door. I really did look like a weeble!

Wolfiefan · 20/03/2016 21:56

You are all reminding me of the pain of being heavily pg.
OUCH!!!!!

lem73 · 20/03/2016 21:56

The Asda near my parents allows mothers to be to use those spaces. Why do they have different rules in different places?

Horispondle · 20/03/2016 22:02

YADNBU! I had SPD and I would rather you got the last P&C space than me with a 5 & 1 y o in tow.

Swipe left for the next trending thread