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?

[Brokenbiscuit]

Of course it's not unreasonable. Anyone with genuine mobility issues - due to pregnancy, disability or injury - should feel free to use the P&C spaces of they are needed. They're handy for parents, but hardly essential.

[QuestionableMouse]

I think it's really petty to object to a heavily pregnant women using one of these spaces.

[Pickofthepops]

I saw a couple park in a mother and baby space when I was a few days off of due date. No kids. Saw guy in shop and asked if he knew it was a mum and baby space. Woman came over and asked is I was having a laugh. I said no.

[Pickofthepops]

I think heavily pregnant should mean right to use a parent / baby space. Definitely.

[LBOCS2]

I parked in a P&C space today. Our local supermarket has extremely narrow parking bays, it was heaving and I'm 37 weeks pregnant.

No one batted an eyelid once they saw me haul my whale like bulk out of the front seat.

[AliceInUnderpants]

Of course it's not unreasonable. Anyone with genuine mobility issues - due to pregnancy, disability or injury - should feel free to use the P&C spaces of they are needed. They're handy for parents, but hardly essential.

Unfortunately, not everyone thinks like you. People actually seem to see me as more of a target to walk into or barge past when I am using my walking stick, so I can only imagine the abuse I would encounter if I parked in P&C spaces without my children.
I do, however, use P&C spaces with my disabled 7 and 10 years old DC, as we need the extra space by the side doors. I would stick up for my children's needs, but not my own for some reason

[AliceInUnderpants]

I also use the P&C spaces with my children, due to the fact that most of them at supermarkets here tend to be directly next to a path, rather than them having to walk along the road.

[DropYourSword]

You're a parent, you have your child's with you. No issue at all!
I'm now 34 weeks with my first, huge bump, horrendous shortness of breath, palpitations and SPD. Buy I still do need to eat / shop etc. Everyone has actually been lovely to me. Once they see my ridiculous penguin waddle, my horrendously slow top speed and the fact I'm clearly in pain and can't breathe, no one would begrudge me a parking space. I just get understanding looks of pity!

Just as an aside, I went out for a meal with DH last week. Place we went to had a special 'mums eat free tonight' deal. We asked if I was included in that...I was!!

[lborgia]

Ha! I parked in a p&c spot today as I'm finding walking with my broken foot,boot and crutches, very difficult and painful. Tbf there were free spaces when I arrived and left but I would be happy to argue the toss with any security guard who felt like engaging. I've negotiated babies and toddlers in and out of cars for years, and distance has only ever bothered me when one of us has been in pain! Sail forth OP, kept your nerve, and park using common sense.

[Arkhamasylum]

I think disabled spaces are non-negotiable. Parent and child less so. Apart from anything, there is no satisfactory definition of 'child'. Some of them say 'parent and toddler', which is bizarre as it means people with tiny babies in car seats can't use them. You needed extra space because of your child, OP. Therefore it's fine.

bangs gavel

[PurpleDaisies]

Just as an aside, I went out for a meal with DH last week. Place we went to had a special 'mums eat free tonight' deal. We asked if I was included in that...I was!!

I asked about this at our local pub with this deal on. Basically anyone can be "mum". It doesn't matter if you're two men. You just have to ask them.

[DowntonDiva]

YANBU

I've started using them in my local Tesco car park as I can't get out the car (39 weeks pregnant) and can't control who parks beside me. I'm fully prepared to tell anyone who challenges me to sod off. Think it's the hormones making me brave (usually I'd run away and hide in shame if anyone told me off)

[ridingabike]

I find it astonishing that anyone would object to a pregnant lady using a P&C space.

As for fines, I don't believe a supermarket would do this. And if it's their parking company I'd be more than happy to see them in court as I don't believe a court would enforce the fine.

[Penguinepenguins]

YANBU at all!!!

Who in their right mind would begrudge a heavily pregnant lady a spot near the store/larger space! Shame on them

I've lost count of the times I've had to clamber accross the passenger side or wait whilst DP backs out so I can get into the car around these parts - now I'm pregnant when this bundle starts showing its becomes not possible for me to complete gymnastics to get in the car I will not risk having to do this and will not feel guilty one bit about parking in the parent and child spot and neither should you lovely ladies xx

[PurpleDaisies]

Would those saying pregnant women are OK to park in p and c spaces be happy for others with issues getting in and out of cars to park in them too? I definitely would.

[Penguinepenguins]

For sure, if someone really needs the space id much rather see someone not struggle!

Even if that meant I had to park miles from the store with children.

However in my view lazy does not count as need

[WorraLiberty]

My area has one of the highest rates of obesity in the UK.

If everyone used the P&C spaces because they struggle to get in and out of cars, I doubt anyone with a child would get a look-in.

Not that I care who uses these spaces

[RedRoots]

Personally I think you should leave the spaces free for parents with children. You don't need extra space around car to assemble a pram or get a car seat out. Why can't you park in a normal space but leave extra room by drivers door?

I managed when heavily pregnant with SPD, without using the P&C spaces. I think if you can manage you should, even if you need to park a bit further away to find a space that's not as tight.

[MartinaJ]

My husband was once on a business trip for a whole week when my daughter got a very bad case of flu. Couldn't get her below 39.5 for three days, no amount of Calpol, Nurofen or whatever helped. GP simply recommended to keep up the fever medication, plenty of liquids, i.e. the usual.
I was ill myself but not as bad but with no other childcare support I was basically chained to the house for 3 days, working from there, taking care of her. When DH came back, I was exhausted to the point of falling flat on my face but I also had to get out of the house for at least 15 minutes. DH also had a bad case of jet lag so unusable. So off I went to a nearby supermarket, no parking space except for one slot where a car was just leaving. Accidentally it was a parent/child space. I parked there and promptly got a bollocking from an older man who started giving out to me because I'm taking valuable space for Mums with children. I can honestly say that I was beyond the point of caring at that stage hence I just gave him an f-off look and went to buy some orange juice for my daughter.
Taught me to be a bit more relaxed with people taking up those space, you never know the reason, even though it's mostly sheer laziness. But if a woman is pregnant, she has a full right to park there. You are with a baby at the end of the day.

[RedRoots]

Martina, I don't understand why you 'needed' the P&C space? What if everyone having a bad day used one? If your shop was urgent couldn't you have waited for a normal space or gone to a different supermarket?

Even at 37weeks pregnant with SPD I managed in normal spaces. It took a bit of wriggling but I tried to park with maximum room on drivers side. For every pregnant woman using one there may be another heavily pregnant woman with a toddler trying to manage in a normal space, assembling buggy in the way of traffic. Don't you think the second woman has greater need of the P&C space?

Likewise I don't think a broken foot or feeling tired warrants a P&C space [confused

Exceptions would be disabled people who can't get a blue badge, who physically cannot get equipment out without the extra space.

[honkinghaddock]

A disabled person can need extra space without needing to get equipment out. Ds who now has a bb is one of them.

[lampygirl]

Red, I can't go shopping with my broken ankle without them. I can't physically get the cast swung out of the door if I can't fully open it. I also need to use the door as leverage, and wouldn't want to hit someone else's car by accident. Getting out and about is important for your mental health when you are cooped up recovering. Supermarkets are one of the few places we can reliably go because we can park where I can get into a wheelchair.

Having said that, I have never ever seen all the blue badge spaces full at any of the local supermarkets, even when people are driving laps waiting for any other space, so maybe a temporary blue badge system would be better, like they have in the states. If an end of row space is available I will take that, but I won't park in a small space because other people might park too close. I also try to go after 8 because hopefully a lot of children who have to travel in travel systems will be asleep at home later in the day. I would say a parent with a baby in a carrier or disabled child would have more need than me, a pregnant woman no other kids would be equal and a parent with a fully mobile child capable of walking a few steps round the car with a held hand less than me, when it comes to needing extra room.

[browneyedgirl1974]

Yanbu

[MartinaJ]

RedRoots, I didn't give a damn then and I don't feel any remorse about what I've done then now. Between a sick child and a husband who was falling asleep on his feet I went for an available after cruising for some time. And OK, fair enough you object to me but a pregnant woman or someone with a broken ankle, what the hell? Why shouldn't they be able to park near an entrance to a shop? Why should they have to park somewhere at the back and then have to walk across a busy car park? I'd say they need them even more than a mother with a child able to walk.

[dairymilkmonster]

That would be fine with me!