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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Travelling on the Tube under 3 months and MS

21 replies

tootsroots · 20/03/2015 09:59

HI all
So this morning, the assertive me disappeared and I stood all the way in from home to Bank on the NL. I am 6+5.

I was sweaty with ms fear, do I throw up in their lap or just their feet and nauseous but did not feel confident enough to ask anyone for a seat. I am nibbling crackers all the way in and have packed mini bin bags in case... but I was literally sweating and over heating, stripping off my coat etc today. I am suffering from 24hr Ms, with V at least 4 times a day. Mostly worse at the end of the day.

I can't wear a Baby on Board badge in case someone I know sees me but I am was almost near tears by the time I got off and need advice on how you are coping and what to do.

I have a bad back and asked for a seat before when i was in pain and was told, I don't see anything wrong with you... by a 'very large and not pg' woman and was so humiliated I got off and cried a little. So unlike me.

Help! I am super emotional and see unable to be normal about this.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

piglet81 · 20/03/2015 10:44

Honestly, I think you should get a badge. Take it off your coat before you get to your stop if you're worried about bumping into colleagues, but even if you do the worst that happens is you have to swear the odd person to secrecy - surely that's better than having such a miserable journey? Sorry you're suffering so badly, it sounds rotten.

PossumPoo · 20/03/2015 10:50

Agree, if you are that sick you need a badge. I am suffering from all day ms but have worked from home a lot these last few weeks. That thought of ms on peak hour tube, that is grim.

Choccyhobnob · 20/03/2015 10:54

Just wear a badge!! If you're that sick you won't be able to keep it a secret for long

Thurlow · 20/03/2015 10:55

Get a badge.

Yes, someone might see you, but is that worse than standing there feeling sick and feeling self-conscious asking for a seat?

The Tube and sickness is a horrible mix. If you're anything like I was, logica says just ask for a seat but you're tired, sick, hormonal and suddenly conscious that you might just burst into tears if you have to ask anyone anything!

Zahrah5 · 20/03/2015 11:19

Get a badge, you dont even need to take it off, just cover it with scarf.

gennibugs · 20/03/2015 12:39

Definitely get a badge. You can hide it with a scarf if need be and take it off before your stop? I'm in a similar position - 5+6 and suffering from all day nausea which gets worse on the tube - I've been breaking out into a cold sweat every day on my commute. Doesn't sounds as bad as you you poor thing but I've told myself If it gets much worse I'll have to brave getting a badge even though it's so early.

Please don't suffer

mousmous · 20/03/2015 12:43

agree with bagde.
you don't need to wear it, but you can hide it under the flap of your bag or inside your coat and show it to the young person hiding behind the metro with headphones in

Icarustoohightofly · 20/03/2015 12:50

I was in the same position as you - Clapham to Tottenham hale with extreme morning sickness (all day). I was too nervous to wear the badge as well.
I ended up going to work an hour earlier - guaranteed seat at 7am - and coming home an hour earlier.

This also meant I was home for my worst time of day and could lie on the couch and eat through it.

Original poster

tootsroots · 20/03/2015 13:02

Right.. though DH is dead against it , I think I will wear the badge... I have never 'not coped' before so I am not used to it... also feeling sick this morning, I was worried if I opened my mouth... I would be ill...

Going to man up.. so if you see a non pg looking but green woman with a badge.. getting on at Tooting Broadway.. wave!!

ps.. what happens if a MASSIVELY pg woman asked you for a seat ....

OP posts:

GoooRooo · 20/03/2015 13:08

In my last pregnancy I was asked for a seat by a pregnant woman - I was sat in the pregnant/disabled/elderly seat. I wasn't wearing a badge. I just said "I'm so sorry but I'm pregnant too and if I stand for very long I'm a bit scared I might be sick." The woman next to me offered her her seat instead.

I felt terrible about it though!

Cornberry · 20/03/2015 13:20

I was in the same position - I just took the badge off and put it back on every day. Also carry plastic bags with you and tissues and water in case you are sick. It takes some of the anxiety away to know that of you're sick at least it won't be all over people. And I would say just ask people for a seat if you have to. People won't mind. And if they do they won't say :) I think people often don't notice because they're in their own world and would happily offer their seat if they knew someone needed it.

Cornberry · 20/03/2015 13:29

Also, if you're that sick it might be worth confiding in a manager so you can arrange to come in a bit later/leave a bit earlier so you can avoid the worst rush hour peaks.

mousmous · 20/03/2015 13:37

what happens if a MASSIVELY pg woman asked you for a seat?

you give the person next to you a gentle nudge.

mousmous · 20/03/2015 13:40

those ziplock bags a perfect.
you can just close them up and bin in case you needed them.
(and they come in handy for used nappies/soiled baby clothes when baby has arrived)

2015isgoingtobeBIG · 20/03/2015 13:52

I'm the heavily pregnant lady with SPD who might ask if I can sit down: yesterday I asked a lady if I could possibly have the priority seat she was on but was only after she got up that she spat back at me "I've recently had a back operation you know" then refused to sit back down. I felt awful but also cross that she got angry with me when she could have just explained why she also needed the seat.

My message is, I would happily find another seat if somebody said they also needed the priority seat because to be honest I'm so big people can't ignore me whereas anybody with a less visible reason for needing the seat (like you or this other lady) will have less chance of getting somebody to shift.

Get a badge, grab the priority seat and try not to feel guilty. I hated asking for a seat in the early days but needs must....and by third tri miss "polite but assertive" is back in the house :)

Thurlow · 20/03/2015 13:54

Well, your DH isn't the one who's about the throw up everywhere, is he?

Justyouwaitandsee · 20/03/2015 14:31

I am now in my third trimester and people are much quicker to offer a seat, but I would definitely say I needed one most during my first trimester (up to 16wks) when I had horrendous sickness throughout the day. I wore a badge and no one complained, although I did occasionally have to ask as it is harder to spot someone without an obvious bump. Strangely in my third trimester I am often happy to stand as the struggle to get to and from a seat, plus the effort it takes to sit down and stand up, is often not worth it for the time I will be on the train.

I made sure I took my badge off each day before reaching the office.

Original poster

tootsroots · 20/03/2015 14:50

Feeling the assertiveness trickling back.. thanks ladies! ( watch out tube this evening!!)

My boss does know as I am a shade of green at work.. no one else does...( she is overjoyed and so happy for me) but cannot accommodate a shift in my hours.. I am already doing 7.45 /8am to 6.30/8pm so I am trying to shorten them not move them sadly!

OP posts:

Sallycinnamum · 20/03/2015 14:57

Please, you really don't have to suffer with horrendous morning sickness. There are anti emetic drugs you can take that can make those first few weeks much more bearable.

I had mild MS with my DS when I was commuting into London and coped ok but with DD I was sick every day for three months. In the end, I was so desperate I was prescribed Cyclazine. Fortunately, I was working locally so could throw up in the car but I can't think of anything worse than being on a tube train feeling that awful.

Hope you start to feel better soon OP.

MissTwister · 20/03/2015 15:01

Badges work wonders. It's very rare I don't get a seat now - although the amount of people who sit in priority seats pretending to sleep is quite impressive! Usually someone stands up though

I didn't have a badge in early weeks and like you felt upset and tearful that people didn't understand I needed a seat. In reality though people can't know unless you tell them!

Once someone did jump up out of nowhere and told me I looked like i was about to pass out though!

MissTwister · 20/03/2015 15:02

Also I used to take badge on and off. Put on at the station and take off when you get a seat!

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