There's no respect for pregnant ladies anymore!

[Mog]

I had a rare day to myself on Saturday and went shopping for an outfit for my sister's wedding. It was probably a mistake to go on a Saturday as there were queues for every changing room and till point I seemed to go to. I'm 32 weeks pregnant and though not huge I definitely look pregnant. So why in all this queue waiting did no-one suggest I could go in front of them. Only one lady did in the queue for the toilet in M&S and the ladies in front of her ignored me!

Must admit I'm pregnant and angry at the moment but has anyone else noticed this?

I hardly ever get a seat but the times I have it has been offered by builders not businessmen - GGGRRR - Have given DP a good talking to as to how much he needs to be aware that pregnant women should get to sit down so if he sees one get up - now he has gone the other way and if we get the train hime togetgher he glares at people whoare sitting down if I am standing up until they give up their seat!!

I actually gave my seat up for a pregnant woman the other day and we commented very loudly about how rude people were (she was more preganant than me!!) and still no response - although a woman on the other side of the aisle gave her seat up for another woman who was blatantly not pregnant rather than offer it to me!!

I have to say when i was pregnant I was bowled over by how kind and caring people were. It was amazing and fantastic and I constantly felt special. Never forgetting how it made me feel I go out of my way to make other pregnant women feel the same. I was in the queue for the loo and happened to notice that the lady behind me was preganat so told her to go the front of the queue. she said 'oh no that's okay' and I told her to enjhoy people being nice to her and to allow people to make her feel special as the minute she hasn't got the bump peopel will go back to being miserable!! She went to the front of the quese with a smile after that!

Literally the day after i found out I was pregant (4 months) someone gave up their seat on the tube and that carried on right until the end. Some people were a bit ott but it was all good in my experience.

Sorry some of you haven't been treated the same way it makes me and that you're not treated like the goddesses you are carrying the most precious gift in the world.

I think if you are 38 weeks pregnant then you are entitled to ask someone to give up their seat - I was on a train once and somebody got on, announced she was pregnant with twins and would somebody give her a seat! I generally find most of the time somebody will offer, but the more crowded the train the worse it is.

Message withdrawn

ggglimpopo

how galant! Did you get his phone number??

A very kind man helped me with my pushchair on the Sheffield tram a couple of weeks ago.

I hate it when people don't move out of your way in crowded shopping malls and when they trip up over the pushchair, look at you as if it is your fault!!

Am shamelessly hijacking this thread to forward you on to one I've just put on the media requests about drinking during pregnancy - any help would be much appreciated!

Sponge I had the same thing when I was a couple of months pregnant it was 7 in the morning and I quite literally must of been turning green! I was hot and sweaty and I had a UTI so I had tummy pain too, someone did stand up for me, and someone else sat down!! The girl, bless her, pointed out she had stood up for me, and the lady got back up again, and proceeded to give me evils for the rest of the journey!! I knid of mumbled when I sat down that I was pregnant, but I'm sure everyone must of thought I was an early morning drunk or else abusing some other substance!!

I experieced helpfulness & nonhelpfulness. Sometimes I was offered seats, sometimes I wasn't. Once I was traveling by plane alone with ds (then 2), in my third trimester. When it came time to claim my bags at the baggage carousel, I found that I just couldn't lift my one, enormous piece of luggage off the carousel! I gave it several tries, but had to let it go back round the carousel a few times. People watched this struggle, but no one lent a hand. Finally I had to endure the embarassment of asking a man to help me get the thing onto my luggage cart. He was an American (& usually they're quite helpful), so I was surprised when he looked at me with annoyance and said, "Yeah, I guess I can help you out. . ." with an utter lack of enthusiasm or warmth. My mother was appalled when she heard this. . .this would not have happened in her day.

As for queues, I'd never expect to jump a queue except MAYBE a loo queue. It would seem to me that if I were not feeling well enough to stand on a queue, I probably shouldn't go out to the shops. Am I wrong? Do pregnant women traditionally get special consideration in shop queues?

I wasn't aware it was polite to let women in front of you at ques, etc. I have never done that and I wouldn't expect anyone else to do that for me, I agree with you expatkat.

I think the queue thing is because of standing. And sometimes, you can't avoid going to shops when you're pregnant, you still have to buy food etc.

Your story reminds me of a time in Gravesend when i asked a suit to help me carry the buggy down the stairs to the platform. (I was with my DS, then 2, and my DD, about 2 months old.) He just said, no I'm in a hurry, and ran off. When I saw him later (having been helped down the stairs by a young black man in remarkably wide trousers) I told him I hoped he didn't have any children and wasn't planning any. Couldn't stop myself, I was so angry.

Sorry Mog but I wouldn't expect to let a pregnant woman go in front of me in queues - except for loos. I know you needed an outfit, but shopping is an optional activity, unlike commuting or other travelling.

I'm 31 weeks pregnant, my bump has just started to look obvious (as opposed to looking like a slightly fat knacker )

TBH, this has only happened twice, but it made me really angry:

standing on bus minding my own business.....

Chap: 'ooh, you look like you need this seat more than me'

H: 'that's very kind of you, but I'm actually happier standing. I'm sure there's some older people down the front who would appreciate your kind offer' (said with a smile)

Chapin loud voice, so everyone stares) 'but you're pregnant! You must have a seat!'

H: 'once again, you're very kind. I do not WANT a seat, thank-you' (still smiling)

stranger: 'go on dear, take a seat'

H: 'No, I'm comfortable standing - would you like the seat?'

And so on........... being offered a seat is very generous of someone, but the cheek of complete strangers to assume that they know what's best for me after I gently explain that I'm happy as I am.

I find sitting VERY uncomfortable as the sprog's arse pokes into my diaphragm - standing is a welcome relief.

I think the correct response should have been

If I sit down the sprogs arse pokes me in the diaphragm!!!!

They would have shut up then

ha, ha beachyhead - I definitely need to stop being so polite!

i try to avoid using the tube with kids in tow or being pregnant. ust after i had dd1 i took dh down to london for his birthday for record shopping. we took dd1 with us in her buggy. as we were getting off the tube some suited man rushed past us pushing dd1 buggy to the side and almost tipping it. so i rushed up behind him and struck the back of his heels with the buggy so he went flying. ooooooooooo that felt good.

Even now at only 8weeks i find sitting a bit uncomfortable as it puts more pressure onto my bladder and makes me want to pee, but i know when i get further along if i do need a seat on a bus/train etc i will be asking for one.

Sorry Highlander, each to their own . It was just your 'disabled' comment that got my goat.