London folk- baby on board badges rant

[GirlFromMars1]

Is it just me or do you find most people will pretend not to see your badge? Seriously I wish I could time my morning sickness so I could do a fabulous projectile vomit over all the buggers who see it and then quickly look away to avoid giving up their seat! I'm sure people are much more gracious elsewhere. I've always offered up my seat in the past when I've seen pregnant women. It just makes me really angry.

I'm taking the NY subway and Path train everyday. What I do is ask for a priority seat when I get on the train. If someone doesn't move their arse I announce that I have nausea and unless they want my last meal all over themselves they should do the right thing and give me a seat.

It's my 3rd child. My patience for these selfish people has worn really thin. When I am not pregnant and see or hear someone need a seat I give it to them. If I don't notice because I'm dozing but hear someone I am always quick to stand up and also help clear the path If a small child is on the train.

I don't feel comfortable asking either. The one time I did while pregnant I got screamed at and told to fuck off.

The answer to the people who say "if they'll ignore a bump then they'll ignore a badge" is
A) it's February, people are wearing coats and are not visibly pg until 7 months
B) as a hundred MN threads and one toecurlingly embarrassing RL moment have taught me, the very worst thing you can do is to assume a woman is pregnant when she hasn't actually told you that she is. I would never dream of offering a woman a seat on the mere assumption she was pregnant because the consequences of getting it wrong can be socially horrific. A BOB badge means "Yes I am indeed pregnant" and "Yes I would probably like a seat thankyou" so you can safely offer one.

I stopped wearing mine as it just annoyed me too much. I can vouch for the Jubilee line, ignorant gits who look straight at you then look down back at their phones. East side of the District line too

Commuting to CW everyday has taught me you have to ask and also make sure you have enough room. I was shoved in the back 2 weeks ago by a woman while the train was stationary. I had to tell her to please not push me. It wasn't a gentle tap. I often wonder what has happened to people's manners. Pregnant or not you shouldn't shove anyone!

When people say things like 'I didn't need one and I was fine' etc, I do wonder if they have ever had to commute on the central line at peak rush hour.

I'm 36 weeks, have been wearing mine since 14 weeks - low blood pressure in my 2nd trimester made me dizzy if I stood for too long and I fainted a couple of times on the tube as a result so I did need a seat and these days I'm just huge and wobbly. My commute is from a zone 2/3 stop to zone 1, have had some real shitheads. The student-type that told me to fuck off when I asked for the priority seat, the crazy cat lady type who insisted that her cello deserved a seat more than I did, the middle aged lady who gave out to me when she leaned her elbows on my bump and my little guy kicked out, the morbidly obese "lady" who thought that me fainting on a 9am train was the funniest thing she'd seen all year... People love pretending to be asleep on the morning trains too even when it's really obvious that they're faking it.

Pregnant or not you shouldn't shove anyone!

This is spot on! I can't think of any other situation other than commuting by tube where its 'acceptable' to body shove people and cram in/disregard personal space.

I mean, you don't see people shoving each other in the supermarket queues or to cross the road or board a plane, it's just so bizarre.

I use Southeastern too though my preg days are thankfully behind me. I changed my working hours and either went in early or later. Much harder with a second pregnancy when you were trapped by childcare timings btw.

V early and even if the seats are full there is some chance of getting into London Bridge within 10 mins of the timetabled arrival time. In peak periods close to 9am it's hellish without a bump so if you are not being offered a seat and you have to travel then then it's time to learn to really stick your neck out.

An old kiwi colleague of mine used to get on at St Albans every morning. She was 5 ft nothing and must have been mostly invisible, and announce to the entire carriage that she was pregnant and would anyone be kind enough to give up or share their seat if the train got delayed. I had to seriously admire her gumption but I have on occasion loudly announced that I am pregnant and to stop pushing me when trying to board a train. A seat often followed.

People are rude, I see them ignore people with (obvious I need to sit down) disabilities on the train on a regular basis.

I wear the badge as people can't see the bump during rush hour/under winter coat (although my bump is quite big!)

Badge is good for moving around station too, hopefully people don't bump into you.

I think the badge is great as it helps people clearly see you are pregnant, it's like saying 'please be careful I am pregnant'. No confusion, makes it more certain even though I am prepared to ask for a seat politely if I need it

I fainted on the train to work last week as had to stand for too long (apparently 2 mins is too long for my low blood pressure!)

I have SPD and a tendency to faint on the train so I def need a seat asap when I get on.

Bring on maternity leave, commuting is the worst!