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

[kinkytoes]

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

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?

[Spudlet]

YANBU. I had SPD and a huge bump, I needed all the help I could get towards the end!

Never, ever again (pregnancy, I mean).

[pollyblack]

YANBU but you might have to deal with comments- as i do when I park in a disabled space with my blue badge even though i don't have a wheel chair. Most people are understanding, the odd few are ignorant tossers.

At 38 wks pregnant i was too massive and angry to leave the house- get a delivery!!

[Sunshine87]

Yabu those spaces are for parent and Child not pregnant women..i have severe spd heavily pregnant. I use when i have my toddler. You wouldn't park in a disblabled spot.

[kinkytoes]

Bless you Horis! That's very sweet of you.

[GinBunny]

Well technically you do have a child with you... it's just it's inside you atm

[foragogo]

Yanbu as far as I am concerned and have as much moral right to park there as the people with 15y olds in the car and retirees that I see regularly parking in our local ones. Anyone that objects to a heavily pregnant woman using a parent parking space is a massive dick IMO. Legally of course anyone can park in them. If you go again maybe speak to the store manager to confirm they are happy for you to park in one, I'm sure they would be, then you can refer any pedantic twat that approaches you to them.

[kinkytoes]

Not just a child Gin, a great hefty placenta and loads of extra fluid too! Much easier to carry a newborn around

[HunterHearstHelmsley]

Probably not U to use it. But I don't think it's up to others to decide!

I had to use one once when my blood sugar crashed and I had to park before I killed someone.. Got a gobful when I got out. It can't really be up to others to decide who is and isn't 'worthy'.

Only saving grace in that situation was that I was feeling better when I came out so the arse got a few choice words back.

[foragogo]

Just read the asda stuff, id take my business to waitrose or tesco then OP, and check with their store managers. You're lucky if you can find a P&C space that hasnt got a piss taker in a sports car in it round here so I'd think they'd be pleased to see an actual parent in it, even if still pregnant.

[PurpleDaisies]

You wouldn't park in a disblabled spot.

This chestnut always pops up. Those spaces are not in the same category.

[Bejeena]

I am a bit baffled by this post to be honest, pregnant women having to park in parent and child spaces because they can hardly walk, but they can walk around the shop? That must be further than the extra distance from parent and child space in the car park for sure?

[PurpleDaisies]

Sometimes it isn't the actual walking it's the getting out of (and into) the car that's the problem bejeena, not necessarily the walking around. My mother's arthritis is ok when she's up and moving but really struggled with getting out of a car. I haven't parked in p and c spaces but it would make it easier if they were designated "accessible spaces" for all those who need to open the doors fully to get in and out, not just those using baby seats.

[Bejeena]

Well being able to get out of car is a different matter (although I am heavily pregnant with my second right now and never had a problem either time) but there were posters above who specifically said they could hardly walk, well why go to the shops, nothing is that critical just send partner/husband or shop online for any essentials.

[AliceInUnderpants]

nothing is that critical just send partner/husband or shop online for any essentials.

And what if you don't have a partner, and don't fancy spending £6quid delivery on a pint of milk?

[MrsMook]

Why are disabled spaces close to the shop? To minimise the distance travelled by a person with impaired mobility.

I persevered with shopping as long as I could to keep as mobile as possible, but saving an extra few minutes of heaving a heavy, painful body around made a difference.

[storybrooke]

Technically you do have a child with you?

[foragogo]

I physically.couldn't get my bumpnout of the car into the gap between mine and the next car in the regular spaces for the last couple of weeks of all my pregnancies. Have you ever been pregnant Bejeena? Add to that the pain of SPD and perhaps you can see why a heavily pregnant woman might make the agony a bit less when they had to go to the shops. Shuffling along in the open holding onto a trolley for support is much easier than getting down or out from a car into a narrow space that won't physically allow your stomach out. Ok, she could have used online shopping but maybe she needed to go and get something quickly or in an emergency, a present for an older childs party, or pick up a prescription, or buy some emergency pants after wetting herself. All these are familiar scenarios to heavily pregnant women, I'm surprised that it's not immediately obvious why one would want or need to park in a larger space.

[DorothyHarris]

Yanbu, I'm 37 weeks with twins and walking further is not an option I'm cream crackered by the time I get to the door.
I had to go to hospital earlier in the week and some arsehole had parked so close to my door I had to climb over into the drivers side. not relevant but I'm still furious.

[foragogo]

Oh and you can't park across 2 normal spaces as somebody mentioned or the parking company the supermarket uses will issue you with a parking charge notice for improper usage, I speak from experience. I have also experienced being 41 weeks pregnant, parking in a normal space with nobody beside me and then coming back to find a car has used the other space and not being able to get back in the car. I had to ask a random passer by to reverse it out for me.

Why would anyone, especially another woman, begrudge pregnant women using P&C spaces? Really, it's mind boggling.

[GinBunny]

Anyone that objects to a heavily pregnant woman using a parent parking space is a massive dick IMO
^
This. I was surprised there wasn't a thread about this yesterday when I saw the headline. And KinkyToes, exactly too. Glad you took my comment as it was meant! It's outrageous that she was fined, I hope she appeals and Asda review their policy.

[LeonoraFlorence]

You're not being unreasonable. When I was out shopping and pregnant with DD1, someone parked so close to me that I literally couldn't get in my car door. I was about 38 weeks and didn't have much of a bump but still, they parked so close I simply could not squeeze in the door. I think I cried

[Bejeena]

I am heavily pregnant with my second child and I have SPD and I just don't go to the bloody shops which is why it baffles me. Nothing is that important when you are in agony you can't face going anywhere anyway

[possum18]

I've been parking in P&C spaces since 33 weeks pregnant with twins. I only use them if I am on my own, my ability to use the normal spaces has been hindered by my children and so they have caused a need for me to use the wider ones available, labelled parent and child.
If I am with someone, I get them to drop me off before pulling into regular spaces to allow me room to get out.

YANBU - fuck em

[foragogo]

Wait til you're on your third child and have to do the school run, that's also fun with SPD, a toddler and a huge bump.

[hollinhurst84]

See when people say park further away where there isn't any cars parked... Does nobody else have the "neighbours car" syndrome?
You park say in the furthest corner, nobody near you, settle with your coffee and bang - car parks directly next to you despite the million other spaces
So you would be fine getting out the car but getting back in it...