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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Baby On Board

94 replies

aaaarti · 01/05/2018 20:04

Anyone from London using the badges? I have recently started wearing mine due to feeling nauseous and get so many looks (as I don't have a bump yet)
How are you all finding your tube journeys?

OP posts:

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Baby2018 · 02/05/2018 12:12

@kadabrasSppon I agree, otherwise you're wondering if someone needs a seat and you can feel bad if you dont want to offer because you're not 100% sure they are pregnant. I dont see why anyone would be against them.

joystir59 · 02/05/2018 12:15

Get a badge and use it if you need to. There should be other badges such as 'I cannot stand for long' for anyone who needs to sit on trains etc.

LaurieMarlow · 02/05/2018 12:23

They are eminently sensible and practical. Avoids embarrassment if people aren't sure if you're pregnant, gives people the heads up that you need a bit of extra room, nudges people to give you a seat.

I'm on my second pregnancy, this time not in the UK and I wish they were more widespread here

Quite why anyone would think they were 'tacky' is beyond me. I would wonder if that poster has some deep rooted issues about their pregnancy.

Monkies7 · 03/05/2018 10:22

The badges are a sensible and effective way of making sure anyone who needs/wants to sit can do so without embarrassing themselves or others. People see the badge and can then offer their seat. I think they are extremely useful especially before you are "properly" showing because early pregnancy can be horrible for a lot of expectant mums with sickness, dizziness etc and sitting helps. Also, if someone was to pass out and needed medical attention, what a great way to let paramedics know that the person in question is pregnant, particularly if they are passed out and not able to pass on that information themselves.

ohhellojo · 03/05/2018 10:29

I find this so interesting! I work on the railway and am 5 weeks pregnant. If you’re not wanting to wear a badge, I’d suggest to make yourselves aware to station staff if you’re feeling unwell - they’d be more than happy to provide you with a priority seat, or to just ask people to move - we’re all human and know of other people who’ve health issues so unless they’re a horrid person, most will move for you, especially if you point out they’re in a priority seat :) I personally would never wear a badge because I prefer face-to-face interaction, but I talk to the general public A LOT so I’m used to it.

HolyShmoly · 03/05/2018 10:33

joystir my local one has started offering "I need a seat" ones as well as "baby on board" ones. Brilliant idea, imo.

EastDulwichWife · 03/05/2018 11:17

I have a 3.5 hour commute every day, using 8 trains, have low blood pressure and am prone to fainting. I wear the badge and have no shame in doing so! If someone offers me a seat and I don't feel I need it, I don't take it (but mostly, I want the seat!).

Agree with bluebird, better me sitting than the train being delayed due to a fainting passenger! I'm now 37 weeks and still commuting. There's no way I'd refuse a seat...

Dozer · 03/05/2018 11:44

It’s interesting that women feel uncomfortable asking for seats. Even with a badge some people won’t offer.

It’s an assertiveness / feminist issue.

LisaSimpsonsbff · 03/05/2018 12:22

I own one, at DH's insistence (I commute into London between one and three days a week, depending on my work patterns) but have put it on about twice. I do feel silly and a bit attention seeking - and yes, I probably do have issues around the pregnancy (I had a hard time staying pregnant before this and still can't quite say 'I'm having a baby', though I can now manage 'I'm pregnant'!). But then I didn't have a horrific first trimester (though I don't know what I'd have done if I did, as at that point I really couldn't have bought myself to wear something saying 'baby on board'), and I must have been really lucky in who I encounter because I have been offered a seat (which I normally don't take because I rarely need it) on almost every tube journey I've taken since I had a visible bump at about 24 weeks (am 29 now).

QueenCharming · 03/05/2018 12:28

This post has just made me take mine off!! I didn’t even think people would see it as attention seeking or what not. I live in London and travel sometimes but mostly drive to work but I just kept it on my coat without even thinking from the last time I used the tube.

BubblesPls · 03/05/2018 12:34

I have one and I'm nearly 6 weeks!

I certainly don't feel smug and don't even need a seat at this stage but I mostly do it because Londoners can be aggressive and inconsiderate when on tubes and trains and will often shove you just to get that tube that comes every 2 minutes!

I've found a lot less pushing since I've had the badge :)

LisaSimpsonsbff · 03/05/2018 12:36

I'm sorry, queen, if my post made you feel like that - I didn't mean that that's how other women should feel, just explaining how I did. If people feel they make their lives easier then they should absolutely wear them.

LisaSimpsonsbff · 03/05/2018 12:43

(If I'm 100% honest I do also have a bit of a hang-up about it because I used to find them a bit upsetting when I was going through problems getting/staying pregnant, but that's completely on me, not on pregnant women, and not a reason for anyone not to wear one!)

QueenCharming · 03/05/2018 13:01

Thanks Lisa I understand your point. I guess I don’t need to wear it all the time though as highlighted by other posts. Maybe if I’m strictly just getting on the tube or bus.

Original poster

aaaarti · 03/05/2018 13:47

Wow! Didn't realise I'd get lots of posts on this thread.
Just like everyone has said, it's a great thing to have handy in your pocket and put it on if you feel unwell especially when you dont have a visible bump yet.
I have worn the badge a few times now and have been offered a seat, better that than me being sick or fainting on other commuters!

OP posts:

Lndnmummy · 03/05/2018 13:50

I wear mine daily and also very visibly pregnant at 7.5 mnths. I use trains and tubes at least twice a day and am yet to be offered a seat. Dreadful.

spydie · 03/05/2018 15:09

I didn't bother in my first pregnancy, but have this time round. It's actually on my rucksack and purposefully so, to try and minimise the shoving when getting on trains and tubes. Not so worried about the seat aspect, but I've been really badly pushed up stairs and when getting on a train so if it stops that (and it seems to), great.

Embracethechaos · 03/05/2018 15:11

All you public transport comuters are amazing. I drive and get motion sickness. I've travelled to and around London twice in my pregnancy but not in rush hour. First time I wasn't showing and prepared well with parocetomol and headphones(my motion sickness is often a headake) really enjoyed my day out and felt more well than most of my first trimester. Second time was in the second trimester, I was showing slightly but wore a maternity dress and it was warm enough. Train in was the busiest and longest. I got a seat but a narrow one by the window, facing people. One of those 5 in a row trains. Was so uncomfortable I wished I was standing instead. Lots of loud children, made it hard and I was eating crackers and just being fidgety so getting some odd looks... I'd have worn a badge if I was a comuter, if not for a seat then at least to send a message and ask for space so not to overheat... With my hip pain I don't like sitting unless it's comfy, prefer leaning.

Embracethechaos · 03/05/2018 15:16

And I used the walk in a straight line and elbows out technique as I was quite wobbly and less able to dodge. Is actually not a problem on public transport, where there is a flow. I found it more of a problem pavements and shopping centres...walked into peoples hands holding out money and phone a couple of times.

Ilovecsleep · 03/05/2018 15:19

I wore mine from 8 weeks! It was a total lifesaver. I couldn’t handle the 15 stop commute from one side of London to the other- especially in the first trimester. It was winter and I’d overheat at feel faint. I used to have to get off 3 stops in because I was starting to black out or needed to be sick. The heat, claustrophobia, motion and smells were just unbearable for me without a seat. Even with a seat it was really difficult sometimes. It got better later on. Towards the end I actually preferred standing.

HolyShmoly · 03/05/2018 19:12

*It’s interesting that women feel uncomfortable asking for seats. Even with a badge some people won’t offer.

It’s an assertiveness / feminist issue.*

No it's not. It's an understanding that not all disabilities are visible and I wouldn't want to make someone feel like they'd have to justify their need for a seat.

And honestly, I do have assertiveness issues, which I can totally relate to it being a feminist issue. But not in this situation.

surreygirl1987 · 03/05/2018 19:26

@holyschmoly I completely agree with you. @dozer is incorrect thst it is an assertiveness issue. I am VERY assertive (too much, often!) but I still don't like to ask people to move out of their seats on trains (unless I have booked it) as I don't knoe what their needs are. And that is where these badges come in: They remove the uncertainty over need. My husband is very considerate and would immediately offer his seat if an obviously pregnant woman (or elderly person, or person on crutches etc) got on the train... (as would I) but if the need isn't clear or obvious, he won't offer his seat up. He would also be embarrased if he thoight a woman was pregnant when she wasn't (as would I). The badges make the need clear and removed ambiguity.

londonliv · 04/05/2018 10:26

I have been wearing my badge pretty much since the beginning on the tube - I felt really nauseous and claustraphobic and having a seat really helped. I don't like to ask people for seats as I don't know if the person sitting may already need it & I've witnessed some pretty aggressive responses in the past when people have asked for seats and I hate confrontation.
I have to admit that I take the badge of the moment I get out the station though as I do feel a bit embarrassed wearing it & I'm a pretty private person who doesn't really want to announce it to the world!

Dannibelle · 05/05/2018 07:11

I wear one, can't say it often makes a lot of difference! Only tend to put it on when there have been cancellations etc and I know the trains going to be packed.

To be honest, commuting is crap at the best of times so to have the opportunity to get a badge and be offered a seat I say why the heck not! Make the most of it!

Dozer · 05/05/2018 10:06

Badges are fine, but it IS an assertiveness issue. If you are assertive in many other circumstances but not this one, it’s still an assertiveness issue! If people approached by a pregnant woman need their seat more they can decline to move.

There are no badges for “hidden” health problems and disabilities so all those people, if they need or would like a seat, ask (assertive) or miss out (passive) to their detriment.

Asking is very often necessary even with the baby on board badge.

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