Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

1 2 3 4

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:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

GorgonLondon · 09/05/2018 12:37

Did two pregnancies all the way through in London. Never wore a badge. If I needed a seat, I asked for one. What's so difficult about speaking up for yourself rather than expecting everyone to notice a passive aggressive little badge?

chocolatesun · 09/05/2018 12:46

@Gorgon

I don’t find the badges passive aggressive.

Travelling on the tube at peak times can be brutal. To me the badge was also way of telling people I was pregnant so they could take a little more care. Sometimes the tube carriages are so crowded that I couldn’t get close to seats and had to stand. When the train is that packed, my bump wouldn’t be visible to those around me (because I’m so short and my belly was nowhere close to eye level). I tend to get pushed when the carriage is really packed and a few times have nearly been bowled over. Yes I can also speak up for myself but I think the badge helps. It at least made me feel I was doing something extra to protect my baby. Most people I know think they’re a positive thing and not at all passive aggressive.

GorgonLondon · 09/05/2018 13:00

If you can speak up for yourself then you don't need the badge. No one can see them in a crowded carriage anyway. And round here women seem to wear them to walk around the high road/Tescos/etc,. Very odd.

kaytees · 09/05/2018 13:03

@GorgonLondon I have no problem asking for a seat but as previously mentioned here I did once and was asked 'well where's your badge then?' I would probably say that was a little more passive aggressive than the badge itself...

Eatmycheese · 09/05/2018 13:14

I thought this thread was about those godawful stickers you see in cars (vomits in mouth)

These badges aren’t far off this in my view: they are massively irksome and therefore possibly counter productive

I wonder how many women who wear and like these badges also get fucked off when they’re treated as though pregnancy is an illness.

I’ve had three horrific pregnancies and three babies. If I was so ill as to be unable to stand up then I would be signed off work sick until I was fit enough not to rely on a badge. In my experience people have always offered a seat etc, and dare I say it might feel less inclined to do so because someone has stuck a passive aggressive badge on

SiolGhoraidh · 09/05/2018 13:33

'I wonder how many women who wear and like these badges also get fucked off when they’re treated as though pregnancy is an illness'

Funny you should say that, this morning someone pushed past me to get to the priority seat on the tram, turned back to me once seated and said 'it's pregnancy, not a disability, you know.'

You'd have thought that the pair of crutches might have clued her in that in this case it was both, but apparently they're far less visible than the badge...

GorgonLondon · 09/05/2018 13:36

Siol someone who would push aside a pregnant woman on crutches is not going to suddenly become really considerate because you've put a badge on!

MsHippo · 09/05/2018 13:48

Please do wear the badge! So often I sit there having an internal debate with myself - "pregnant or bloated!?". I am really happy to offer up my seat but also don't want to offend someone by presuming unless it's 100% obvious. A badge means I can be sure that no one will be humiliated! Remember, just because you think you look really obviously pregnant (compared to your former self) it may not be that clear to a random stranger!

swimlyn · 09/05/2018 19:54

What's so difficult about speaking up for yourself rather than expecting everyone to notice a passive aggressive little badge?
What tosh! MN always comes up eventually with OTT posters doesn’t it?

As long as I’m in reasonable health, I happily give up my seat to anyone who looks like they need it. Female, male, big tum, small tum, who cares? I may well not notice a badge though, so don’t hesitate to ask if you feel a bit off. Especially in these days of smartphone addiction.

HellaBella0 · 09/05/2018 20:38

As a long time london commuter (and now pregnant commuter myself) I think the badges are a great idea. As someone else said I had times when I would spend the train journey staring at a woman's stomach trying to work out if she was pregnant or not and being so scared of getting it wrong. It can be a minefield as you worry about potentially insulting a non pregnant woman but also not offering a seat to a pregnant lady standing next to you and feeling bad.

I think people who have a problem with the badges are in the minority so don't feel bad about wearing one. If someone doesn't want to give up their seat for you because you're wearing a badge and they see it as 'passive aggressive' then that's their issue and they don't have to. In my experience there will always be several other much nicer people willing to at least offer.

Now I'm pregnant I find it useful and if I'm feeling ok I usually decline but was really grateful for it in the heat recently when I felt quite faint on the hot train. Also it does mean you get pushed a little less (if people notice it).

BettyBettyBetty · 09/05/2018 21:21

Some really ridiculous posters on here.

The badges are great. So is feeling brave enough to ask for a seat.

Do what you need- pregnancy while travelling is GRIM.

nightwispa · 09/05/2018 21:26

I felt guilty using mine in the first trimester because I didn't 'look' pregnant but in all honesty, that's when I needed it the most due to extreme HG and fatigue. Now in the second trimester and I wear mine as and when I remember to as I don't have that long a commute. Plus when I've been sitting at my desk all day, I'd much rather stand!

nightwispa · 09/05/2018 21:33

Ps. I was gung ho before pregnancy and used to be really cocky asking for seats if I wasn't feeling very well (low BP and other issues) but suddenly that's all gone and I feel like a nuisance asking other people to give up their seat for me :/ I don't know what that's about...

nannybeach · 10/05/2018 07:07

How is siting down "without a bump" going to make you feel less sick. Agree, pregnancy is not an illness, I had a tumour removed for cancerlast year coulndt drive for some weeks, did I expect a badge, and special treatment, yes, I was sick as a pig with my pregnancies, the first one almost all the way through, had to get a work coach at a specific time.

Embracethechaos · 10/05/2018 08:02

I only visit this thread for giggles now. Public transport often has priority seeing with pictures of elderly people with walking sticks and pregnant women. pregnancy is a socially acceptable excuse to be offered a seat. 'godawful stickers you see in cars (vomits in mouth)

These badges aren’t far off this in my view: they are massively irksome' haha, I guess you projectile vomit when you see a princess on board or other garish signs in cars, how do you go out in public? Must be in a constant state of irk.

Eatmycheese · 10/05/2018 08:41

I do find it very difficult to be frank

Embracethechaos · 10/05/2018 09:36

I have issues with dangerous mum drivers in big cars thinking they own the road... All well and good having stickers on your cars but if your driving aggressively and your kids are not even properly strapped in...I don't use much public transport but little badges are harmless. If you don't want to use them that's fine...it's not meant to be a fashion statement.

Pollaidh · 10/05/2018 10:09

I think they're useful, but some people will still be idiots - I had a large bump and was on crutches when someone refused to give up the empty disabled place next to them, not even the one they were sitting on, just had their bags all over it. He was a middle aged, smart-looking business type. I had some nice grump pregnancy hormones so very loudly asked if anyone could give up a seat for "a heavily pregnant woman on crutches". Got a seat, and nasty man got several stares.

On the tube I found the young lads in hoodies were the first to jump up and offer their seat.

brogueish · 10/05/2018 10:17

I always find these threads get really weird. If someone feels for whatever reason that they will benefit from wearing a Baby on Board badge, then good for them. I don't understand why others get so offended.

If you choose to wear one and find it helpful, great. If you don't, then don't!

Flip

1 2 3 4