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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Aibu. To use parent parking at 33 weeks pregnant?

63 replies

rosiedays · 02/06/2013 13:13

Yesterday was long day. In and out of car and lots of walking miles. By 6pm I hurt everywhere. We had 1 more shop to go to. Dh has a 2 door car with really heavy doors. I have to open them with my foot and heave myself out(glamorous! )
So... could we have parked in nice big space right outside doors? ? (We didn't as i couldn't decide if it was okay or not)

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Dilidali · 02/06/2013 20:05

I would. Purely because over the years I had to get the car out for several heavy pregnant ladies who would not fit through, the cars were parked too close to theirs and I'm sorry, getting in and out of car whilst heavily pregnant isn't a lot of fun at the best of times.
No matches, just ignore.

Bowlersarm · 02/06/2013 20:10

YABU

You are not a parent and child yet!!

I am a parent but i have teenagers and sometimes i quite fancy parking in those convenient places because I'm tired from ferrying them around or whatever.

A lot of people are going to be/are parents. Everybody would therefore have a right to use those spaces by your logic, which means they aren't free for people who really need them.

SirChenjin · 02/06/2013 21:04

I also wonder at what point in a pregnancy it becomes 'acceptable' for a pregnant woman and her DH/DP to use a P&C space?

TripTheLightFanjotastic · 02/06/2013 21:24

Was the issue you were tired and wanted to be near the shop, or that you needed the space to manoeuvre out of the 2 door car? There's always going to be a battle of wills over who is more deserving of a bigger/closer space. The person with twins, the person with a baby and 2 year old, the person who is pregnant (but by how many weeks, 38, 33, where to draw the line?). I go with what others say, get DP to drop you off, that's what loading and unloading is for!

weebarra · 02/06/2013 21:25

Was wondering that myself today. I'm only 26 weeks but it's DC3 and I'm less than 5ft so have a substantial bump. I had to repark today at the supermarket as there was no way I could have got myself out of the car. The car park was really busy so I had to drive for ages looking for two free spaces.

DIYandEatCake · 02/06/2013 21:26

I don't think I would - if it's busy and I can manage without I leave them for others with a greater need now (dd is 2). Imagine having baby twins in infant car seats and having to wrestle them out of a car and into pushchair/trolley... Yes being heavily pregnant is a pain but those spaces are there for a real practical need and are often as rare as hens teeth. I'd come back when it was quieter or i was less shattered, or get dh to drop you outside the door and then park if he's with you. Only a few weeks and then you can use those spaces as much as you like (and you will be so thankful of them and protective over them too!) Good luck with your new arrival!

lozster · 02/06/2013 21:57

Ive thought the same too as I'm finding it harder and harder to get out of the (2 door) car with a huge bump.

I guess in order of need is put myself ahead of people with 10 year olds but behind toddlers and babies! Haven't done it though and probably won't!

Smartiepants79 · 02/06/2013 22:03

I do not think the world revolves around me but I think I would still be a little miffed by anyone who doesn't have a child using the parent and CHILD spaces.
Irrelevant if I wanted one or not.
I'm a stickler for rules!

hedgehogpickle · 02/06/2013 22:14

I would rather a heavily pregnant woman used them than the obviously child free individuals (ie no children shopping with them!) I see parking there all the time. Like yesterday, young single guy, no kids in the car, pulled into a parent/child space and proceeded to sit in the car watching a couple with 2 toddlers struggle to get them out with Dad in the drop off zone so Mum could go & park elsewhere. Git.

Cluffyflump · 02/06/2013 22:22

I would use one if I were heavily pg and needed extra space to open my door.
I did use them when 10wks pg and was in a state with hyperemises.
If anyone had, had the nerve to berate me for it, I would have puked on them!
Yes it is handy to have the p&c space when you have to get carseats in and out ect, but they are not a god given right and people cope without them.

SirChenjin · 02/06/2013 22:31

What?? Why does hyperemesis mean you need a P&C space???! Dear god woman

(And yes, I have had it - 3 times)

Tulipsandbuttercups · 02/06/2013 22:49

At some supermarkets you can have a free parking permit

www.tesco.com/clubcard/baby-club/

Cluffyflump · 02/06/2013 22:50

Yes.
I needed it because I was unable to walk very far without fainting.
I needed it a dam sight more then than I'd do now (have two in car seats).
DH asked about a blue badge (I had spd and pg induced epilepsy as well) and we were told that it would take so long to get one that it wouldn't be worth it.

matilda101 · 02/06/2013 22:54

Yanbu - if you join tescos baby club they send you a little car sticker saying you can use their parent and child spaces so that you can use the spaces when you're expecting.

Original poster

rosiedays · 02/06/2013 22:59

It was really about the space getting the door open and getting out easily without banging into the next car! !. Yes I was shattered and aching which is probably why I looked for an easy solution. never even crossed my mind before to use one.
Interesting that because my baby is not breathing air yet I'm not a parent
I have 2 grown up dd so I know just what it's like getting babies in and out of cars. No parent parking on 1988!!
Dh has often had to pull out of the space to let me get in.
Think I will avoid and save myself from the dirty looks. Only 7 more shopping trips to go. [Grin]

OP posts:

TheDetective · 02/06/2013 23:01

YANBU. If you feel you need it - use it.

I was 37 weeks pregnant - my last set of night shifts at work. Came back out to find some utter twat had parked their car so close to mine that I could not get back in to it. I tried. I hurt myself trying. I tried to climb in the passenger side but I just couldn't manage it. In the end, I stood there in tears while a passerby pulled my car out the space for me. I had to trust a stranger with my car keys FFS!

And did I mention I was knackered, after a manic night shift? I was fit to explode in rage.

I had to use a disabled space when I had hyperemesis. For no reason other than it was the closest space when I realised I was about to vomit. Obviously once I'd vomited, disposed of the vomit, and cleaned self up, I moved. But yeah, I did need that space (any space) at that point. And yes, I have vomited all over my steering wheel before, as well as out of the car door while I was moving (was driving across a busy and dangerous junction - you can't just stop there). And I barely drove except for essential reasons with it - maybe I was just very unlucky?!

Weegiemum · 02/06/2013 23:04

I've got big dc - all 9+

I only ever use p&c places when all the disabled ones are taken as I can't get out of the car in a normal space.

Makes. Me fizzing mad when half the disabled space Parkersburg dont display a blue badge!

Didnt stop me getting yelled at by a parent at tesco when we got back to the car with me in my wheelchair for parking in P&C with no dc needing car seats!

Blobby11 · 02/06/2013 23:15

Weegiemum that is atrocious. I am appalled by those who think that having a child should take priority over blue badge holders. There seem to be several on this thread who don't quite understand that whilst the extra space is very helpful if you're a parent it is absolutely essential for those with mobility issues.

BabyHMummy · 02/06/2013 23:41

My mate is disabled and has been since her early 20's, you should hear the abuse she gets from little old ladies for using disabled spaces until they see she needs 2 sticks to move. Was worse when her kids were babies and supermarkets etc didn't have p&c parking!

They cannot enforce p&c parking, it is not even mandatory to provide it. It is a courtesy and companies can only request that it is respected. Technically anyone can park in them and there is nothing legally that can be done.

Futterby · 03/06/2013 00:46

If you need the extra space, park your arse in that spot. I would see no problem whatsoever letting a heavily pregnant woman use the P&C parking. If anyone has anything to say about it, smile, nod, and walk -(or waddle)- away :)

Futterby · 03/06/2013 00:46

Aw fuck. *(or waddle). It's lost it's effect now. Damn.

Futterby · 03/06/2013 00:46

Oh my god I don't care anymore.

EugenesAxe · 03/06/2013 00:52

In my opinion YANBU. Mainly because I did it occasionally in 3rd trimester - physically getting out of the car (ignoring the weight of doors etc) was sometimes a challenge in the normal spaces.

ChasingStaplers · 03/06/2013 00:55

I don't have a car ATM so it's not particularly relevant for me but having had 3DC I actually think you need the space more when heavily pregnant.

You're stuffed if someone parks too close and you're the driver and it's not as if you can just hop into the passenger side and shuffle across!
I had SPD and a broken coccyx during my last pregnancy and everything was agony and come the end of the day I was practically shuffling everywhere but I still needed to go to the supermarket.

OP YANBU

GTbaby · 03/06/2013 01:12

I used them in last preg. And tbh will more likely use them this time as I have SPD and use crutches.

If with DH I would get him to drop me by door though.

Not that I can use them much, alway full of drivers with no children.

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