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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Anyone commuting during Olympics?

13 replies

Mooney1 · 23/07/2012 10:20

And what has your employer said you can do to avoid stress etc?

Mine are being pretty unreasonable saying its BAU, and I'm starting to get concerned as I have to travel through all the major stations to get to Canary Wharf and I'll be 7 months pregnant. Just wondering what others are doing? Am considering going to drs as feeling pretty crap at moment and don't think battling in is going to improve my health!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

WeeJo08 · 23/07/2012 10:51

I'm quite lucky as, although we live in London, I don't commute in to London to get to work (live in Muswell Hill, take a 15 minute bus journey up the road to Southgate) but was slightly concerned about meetings as I travel in most days for meetings. I have just tried to schedule things for non-rush hour (although I reckon it'll still get really busy!) Is there any way you can arrive a bit later in the mornings?

Sastra · 23/07/2012 10:58

Yeah, Crystal Palace to Mile End - joy!

Dunno, I see patients (NHS) so was just going to book them for later in the day and do my best. As well as being more selfish with demanding a priority seat ( though was too chicken this morning!).

FreeButtonBee · 23/07/2012 11:02

Clapham to Bank. I am planning to get off and on at Borough and walk the rest to avoid LB/Bank which will be hellish. Am only 11 weeks though so space is not the issue, it's heat/dizziness/fainting/nausea. Will prob try to go in a bit earlier as well - my day is pretty front-ended due to clients in ME etc so fingers crossed that'll work.

Londonmrss · 23/07/2012 11:06

My employer has done fuck all to relieve stress- I live on the Isle of Dogs and have a 45 minute commute to King's Cross every day.
I don't really have any suggestions other then telling your employer 'I'll do my best' and then just try not to stress (easier said than done, I know!)
Any route to Canary Wharf will be awful, but instinct tells me that the DLR will be slightly better than the Jube (at least it's above ground and less prone to overheating!)
Just try not to make it a battle- my attitude is I'll set off earlier and if I'm late to the office then I'm late- mine and my baby's health is more important than the office bloody schedule so they'll just have to deal with it.
Or you could go to the stupid 'GetAheadOfTheGames' website in order to replan your journey, only to realise that there is no alternative route and the whole system is going to collapse...

Good luck London-ladies! Make sure you demand a seat from those city boys who pretend they haven't seen you.

WeeJo08 · 23/07/2012 11:12

Do you guys have your Baby on Board badges? I have found mine has been really helpful when travelling at rush hour.

GingerDoodle · 23/07/2012 11:17

I commute Sussex (next to Gatwick) to Tottenham Court Road.

As far as I am concerned I will leave at my normal time (07:00 - normally arrive 08.30) and will work to either 16:30 or 17:00 but no later. I can remote in to make up the time if need be. I am not killing myself.

Mainline at the moment is quiet, tubes are rammed but people in the main see the bump and are nice (approaching 7 months). I have no problem being a grouchy cow with tourists!!

As far as I am concerned the whole thing is an expensive inconvenience with no real thought given to commuters.

Original poster

Mooney1 · 23/07/2012 11:17

Agree LondonMrss you need to tread on the toes of the city boys when they totally ignore you, that usually works!!!

OP posts:

minipie · 23/07/2012 11:41

I do Clapham to Moorgate.

I am getting in late and leaving late to avoid the worst of the rush hour. Could you do the same?

Also if it gets really bad I will work from home as much as possible (though that won't be possible every day).

Don't be shy about asking for a seat (loudly!) if you need one and nobody offers. If tubes are crowded it can be hard for people to see your bump/badge.

theressomethingaboutmarie · 23/07/2012 13:31

My boss was drunk (she HAD to be) when we spoke around this subject. I'm coming up for 35 weeks pregnant and have just found my maternity replacement. He can't start until the 17th of August but I finish on the 10th. I'm signed off to WFH due to SPD and she genuinely asked that I come into the office during the Olympics and stay late so as to do an evening time handover with him?..

Belchica · 23/07/2012 13:40

I commute Wimbledon to Green Park - an Olympic station - which is mobbed with tourists at the best of times let alone now. I'm 32 weeks and have already noticed the difference on the tube and they haven't even started yet.

I ditched the 'baby on board' badge a couple of weeks back after a couple of months of being completely ignored and left standing. I had already changed my route and started leaving earlier to best get a seat...I do ask if I really need a seat, but some days you just want someone to remember their manners without prompting!

My employers have been very good and I can come in earlier/leave earlier to avoid busier times and work from home when possible if I need a break from the commute. Perhaps OP you could politely point out that if they can be flexible now its likely you'll be more productive and see it through to your maternity leave date, otherwise, the constant 5 day a week pressure might just result in you having to stop work early.

Midgetm · 23/07/2012 14:03

Our office is in holborn and been told to only go in if we have to (thought this was the advice of all companies doing what they have been told by the Olympic police), To avoid rush hour and to plan to walk. I will go in a bit but figure I will just walk from euston if it's too bad. I will be working from home or going to our other offices instead as much as possible. Dreading the several journeys I will have to make to get to events themselves though. Quite prepared to push people out of the way with my bump if need be.

PQ77 · 23/07/2012 17:54

Greenwich to cannon st - and even though I can work from home quite well, boss is expecting us in as usual. Added complicating factor is the fact I have a toddler in a buggy as nursery is next to work (if I worked from home, my family could care for ds). I am planning to try for a day or two and if it's taking me 2 hours instead of 45mins to get to work I'm going to point out that the firm will get more work out of me if I can work remotely.

Naisy · 23/07/2012 20:54

Hope you told your boss to bang it up her jumper Marie!

I'm working at the Olympics as I work for a major sponsor. So that's Battersea Park to the Olympic Park! Dreading Crowded trains, entry queues and the walking within the Park. It takes an hour and a half to walk across the venue!

Am 30 weeks now and will just be taking it day by day. My team will just have to live without me if its too much. They've already given me the shortest shifts and have been very verbally supportive so fingers crossed...

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