Avoiding Awkward Pregnancy Moments on Public Transit

Have you ever ridden on public transit and seen someone who was probably pregnant and thought you should give up your seat but didn’t want to insult the women?  I’ve actually seen a man try and do this, only to find out the much insulted girl was not with child.

Alternatively, have you been in a stuffed bus or metro and dying for a seat for your pregnant ass but no one can tell because you have a huge winter jacket on or don’t really look pregnant?

In the UK they have a solution for this.  The London Underground has a badge that expecting mothers can wear to let people know that they are indeed pregnant.  I would love to have this worn on public transit in Montreal so I could give up my seat with confidence.

I asked my sister, who had a baby in London, if she wore one and what her experience was.

photo via momlogic.com

Roasted: So, did you wear one of those tube preggo badges?

I always carried one in my purse but only wore it when I felt I needed it (ie) I was exhausted and the tube was packed.  I would have felt like an idiot wearing it when there were a ton of empty seats

Roasted: Did it feel awkward or are they so common that it felt normal?

They are super common so it never felt weird.  

Roasted: What was your experience?  Did you find people were more likely to pleasantly give you their seat?

Before I got pregnant I had a policy that I would only give up my seat if someone was wearing a badge.  I just didn’t want to accidentally assume someone was pregnant and thought if they couldn’t be bothered to wear the badge I couldn’t be bothered to give them my seat.

My experience though was that clearly very few people think like me.  If someone is going to be nice enough to offer you their seat they will do it whether you wear the badge or not.  I have had times wear I wore the badge and nobody offered their seat and times when I didn’t wear it and people offered.  However this was maybe because I always looked pregnant.  I feel like if you were barely showing or just a big person they would def come in more handy.  

On a side note I found that if people did offer their seat and you declined they got a bit irritated therefore I started always accepting the seat even when I knew I could stand.  It seemed to make the person feel good like they were doing their good deed for the day.  

So there you have it.  When is someone going to design and start selling badges for the Metro??

Would you wear one??