Is it ok to use parent and child spaces at 27 weeks pregnant?

[dogmumma90]

There have been a few times recently where my husband has had to move my car out of parking spaces, because the car next to me has parked too close and I can't get in.

I have a large car and always park sensibly and carefully, but people seem to come along and park close to me, so I then can't get back in the car because I'm 27 weeks pregnant. In one case I was there alone and a very kind stranger had to move my car out of the space for me because I couldn't get in!

I hate to take up a parent and child space for someone who actually has a young child with them, but would I be unreasonable to start using one of these spaces now?

I always reverse in to spaces. If there's a wall/tree/hedge on that side it's impossible to get close in to that side with the driver's door?

So pick another space.

Parenting requires a hell of a lot of critical thinking and problem solving - you may as well start now!!!

Answered this already, but cheers.

I was only looking for a bit of advice on whether it would be morally ok 😂 I wasn't expecting my ability to figure out end spaces to come under fire! 😂

Maybe she’d enter through the passenger door and climb over like I’ve had to do on occasion as a result of idiots parking so close to me that I can’t get in the drivers side…but I don’t think that’s sensible when heavily pregnant.

I feel harsh saying this - if you can walk well (and don’t have spd etc), please just park further away in the car park where this are plenty of spaces and walk. P&C spaces are there to safely get small children in and out of the car/ car seats and there are often only a handful, if any, at each shop.

Work away.
Anyone can park in a parent & child space. There's no legislation governing their use unlike Disabled parking spaces.

It wouldn't be coming under fire if you had the common sense not to pick an end space that doesn't work as a reason to justify using a p and c space.

If wheelchair users who can't use BB spaces or P and C spaces before they are all busy can manage it then someone pregnant is more than capable of finding a suitable space.

It may take longer than 5 seconds - granted. But it's not the impossible riddle never to be solved.

I’m 27 weeks and drive a large SUV and I wouldn’t do it. I wouldn’t feel comfortable potentially taking a space from someone with a small child who has to wrestle a pram/trolley and another person when I’ve only got myself to worry about. I have a big bump and I just park far enough away that it isn’t a problem or reverse next to the end/trolley unit so I can guard my space to get out. I’m sure it’s not a regular thing someone parking so close you can’t get in right at the back of the car park?

Defo do it. You don’t want to end up in my situation..:.
I remember parking my car at the end of the car park where it was completely deserted of cars thinking ahead so I could get in the car easily being heavily pregnant. I don’t mind walking a bit further if it meant I could get in and out of the car with my big pregnant belly but no!!! I came back to the car and there was one massive van parked right next to my car sandwiching me with another car on the other side. I was fuming - nearly cried as there was no way I could get in the car, I was about over 30 weeks pregnant. I had to stop a lovely lady on the road who agreed to reverse the car for me so I could get in it.

Ha ha I tried that, parked at the bottom of the car park where there was no soul parked out there and still got sandwiched in and I could not get in the car. Car park spots in the uk are ridiculously small.

What a ridiculous and ignorant comment

Do you actually understand what people mean by end space op, because it doesn't sound like you do?

I’m pleasantly surprised by most of the responses here.

In my first pregnancy, by the time I got to the third trimester I had PGP. I used the park and ride to commute to work and I used to use one of the P&C spaces as there were about a dozen and no one else ever used them. The shorter walk to the bus was a lifesaver. One day, a horrible woman started having a go at me and reported me to the bus station manager who told me I was fine to use the space, but I felt so embarrassed and cried about it (hormones!) and have never used a P&C space when pregnant again.

I’m now in the third trimester of my third pregnancy and I’m carrying twins. I’m huge. My PGP is awful. So far, if I haven’t got my DC with me, I’ve been parking at the end of a row or at a very quiet corner of the car park in the hope no one parks next to me. Judging by the responses here, perhaps I should use the P&C spaces? But then as a parent I do understand how absolutely invaluable they are when you have actual small people to get in and out of car seats and I’d hate to take the space away from those who arguably need it more.

Having said that, I see so much abuse of P&C spaces, perhaps I worry for nothing.

Yup it's fine. Congratulations op and I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes smoothly

The space at the end of a row of spaces. Yes. Which I do park in every time if available. Reversed into an end space, passenger side close to the hedge on that side so I had loads of room to get out. Returned to car, other car parked over the line so I couldn't get in.

No, just park further away and walk, when you have a tiny baby in the trolley and it’s raining you will wish there was a mother and baby spot free.

See I’d have driven in forward, closer to the white line, leaving more space hedge side and got out there.

Why don’t you park front end in, leaving sufficient gap to the hedge so you can get out? That’s what I do.

Um. Right. So you didn't. When people say park in an end space, they mean park the drivers side of the car so that you can't get blocked in!

There was absolutely zero point using an end space if you left the driver side adjacent to another car parking space!

Anyway, I am just under 9 months pregnant, I've used a P&C space once when I was actually in too much pain to walk further. Every other time I've tried to find an end space (and use it properly) or tried to squeeze in. I have a child and really appreciate having space to get her out of the car safely and without damaging my car or others, so for that reason I avoid using P&C spaces when she's not with me, despite being heavily pregnant! I wouldn't think badly of a pregnant woman for using one but I'd be secretly quietly raging if she took the last P&C spot if I had my daughter with me! 😅

Don't worry about parking in P&C spaces, they generally are a free for all. And personally I would rather a pregnant woman does rather then a (childless) oik in a suped up banger.

It has never occurred to me to use one of those spaces whilst pregnant, but I suppose no one would begrudge you if you had an enormous bump and were visibly struggling

Maybe I’ve been lucky in my pregnancies but I can’t imagine being unable to get into a car at 27 weeks, unless the driver parked next to you was so close that basically nobody, pregnant or otherwise, could have got in! It’s probably more of a rubbish parking (the other driver, not you) issue than a pregnancy issue.

You have need of the space to get out and you technically are a parent and child! I think it's fine. It's really hard to get in and out safely when pregnant. I wouldn't begrudge a parent and child space to someone in your position.

If you can park further away and walk, I would do so.

when you have a baby in a car seat and there are no spaces left and pregnant people use them …. You will see the necessity of a wider space.

Honestly at 27wks I’d be annoyed. By the time I was 9 months, probably around 39-41 weeks I was struggling if I couldn’t get a p&c because I needed room for bump drivers side and room to open toddlers door wide passenger side. I also couldn’t walk from the empty bits no one parks in because I had a 2yo lump who wouldn’t walk 5 steps.

until then and even until I gave birth to my second at nearly 42 weeks I was capable of walking accross a car park (and carrying toddler) and with my 1st pregnancy I worked till the day before I gave birth and I walked down and back up a massive hill. I don’t think of 27 weeks as heavily pregnant you only just legally have to tell your work! I’d think you were taking the P.