Giving up seats for pregnant women on public transport

[mamamona]

Bit of a rant warning, please let me know if it is justified!

What the hell is wrong with Londoners?!!? I've always given up my seat on the tube or the bus for an elderly/disabled or pregnant woman and I will continue to do so, but yesterday really took the biscuit.

I left work early on Friday because I started having really bad cramps and was scared of premature labour, (ended up in hospital over the weekend just to check), and I get on the train, visibly pregnant, and visibly in pain, and try to make my way to a seat only to have it grabbed by some selfish woman who just smirks at me! Nobody else then offered to give me a seat and I was left standing, with cramps, crying, not having the energy to even muster a voice to ask someone to let me sit down.

This isn't even the first time its happened, even on the so called 'priority seats' for pregnant, those with children, elderly or disabled, are constantly being occupied by some selfish person who is happy to leave a more needy person while they listen to their ipod or tap away on their blackberry.

Whats happened to manners? What would you do? Would you demand a seat? Request that they get up for you? Stare at them giving them evil looks until they feel so guilty that they have to give up their seat for you? Or just let it go?

So angry!

TransatlanticcityGirl - I was also perfectly fit and healthy before getting pregnant, and have had a completely "normal" pregnancy, continuing to be active (eg I am still cycling at 32 weeks pregnant), but I have low blood pressure at the best of times (when not pregnant) and being pregnant just means that I feel even more sick / faint / dizzy when standing up on crowded public transport. So I don't think it's necessarily to do with your pre-existing levels of fitness.

Agree with slowshow and mouseymouse - I actually felt really very dizzy / faint when I was under 12 weeks pregnant and not showing. Second trimester was probably the best for commuting and not needing a seat, and now I'm third trimester I am feeling faint again (just found out from the midwife yesterday I'm actually anemic at the mo), plus getting backache and generally feeling big and heavy. So even more reason to need a seat!

Have only read op and would suggest you ask for a seat! No point standing and getting all pissed off! Seriously not worth it!!!