Baby on board badge

I travelled from surbiton to acton my whole pregnancy, trains used to be a nightmare, packed and people just didn’t give a 💩💩. I found some lines better than others, overground was terrible, while district and central line were great, never had issues getting a seat. U are entitled to seat x when i got bigger i got quite direct with the demands for seat. If someone sits on the seats for people with less mobility, they are required to give u their seats-its written there. But in packed carriages its not always as easy, I get that.

I would just ask. London commuters are in a world of their own. Probably not really rude in real life, but I think the commuting hours turn people into zombies 😂

I fainted twice on my way to work when pregnant. Literally say excuse me can I sit. I always would say it to a man, because I’m sorry, 60 years ago every man would of got up for a woman to sit, pregnant or not. Men these days are actually not men at all, but that’s off topic hahah. Just ask. I was also pushed past once by a lady and she sat down also with a baby on board badge. She made it before me as I was 37 weeks and waddling. Bit awks cos couldn’t say much LOL

I would just ask, I once got on the tube with a full leg cast on and crutches after dislocating my knee (I was going in to London for my best mates birthday dinner) and noone and I mean noone offered me a seat even though I kept falling into people or down onto my arse and then struggled to get up which noone offered to help me up either 🙄 it wasn't until a very elderly man who was reading a paper and had no idea I was on the tube until he looked up noticed me and gave me his seat that everyone else finally was made to feel bad about their actions and someone gave up their seat to the old man. I have always offered my seat to anyone I think needs it or when I've been asked by someone so I'd just ask for a seat x

@YazmynJade there are still some gentleman in the world. I experienced a situation where older gentleman threw a young guy off the train at the station as he refused to give me a seat.

It’s an absolute DISGRACE. I’m a born Londoner and “in my day” people would get up for those in need. People are PIGS at times. I had to ride almost the entire central line to get somewhere and seats were taken - due to nerves my request for a seat came out like a theatrical speech. Typically a woman got up for me.

I actually found people standing would ask people to stand for me! People sat down have eyes closed and not paying attention. I ask “would anyone mind giving up a seat” or “does anyone not need their seat” and not had an issue getting one. Tube is a bit annoying with people barging, if you can get work to agree different hours and avoid 8.30-9 it’s usually a bit quieter.

I use Victoria line a lot and luckily don’t need to commute in rush hour but when I need to travel in rush over for other reasons, only women give up their seats. Men don’t give a 💩 which is so frustrating and sad! Just like someone already wrote in this post, they look at you and pretend they don’t see you’re pregnant. It’s often city guys too. Makes me sick

I had this same thing throughout my pregnancy and it got to the point where I would just March straight up to the priority seating area and ask everyone there if they actually needed those seats because 9 times out of 10 they don’t. I’d then say sorry but I’m x weeks pregnant and they would apologies and move. It’s nerve racking but the more you do it the more you feel empowered to take back that space. Pregnant women get a really shitty deal on public transport I think it’s criminal how we are treat. Imagine if men got pregnant every second seat would be a pregnancy priority seat!!

Just ask! It's not rude. Everyone is in their own world listening to music, podcasts or reading books.

If you're getting a normal train (not the tube) you can sit in first class for free if you're pregnant and there's no seats in standard

I use to commute every day 2 hours through my whole pregnancy and I use to have the exact same issue. I felt super poorly in first trimester, I’d faint if I stood still for long but despite the badge wouldn’t get offered a seat. In my second trimester I didn’t mind standing because I felt good and wasn’t huge but the third trimester despite being huge and wearing a badge I would rarely get offered a seat! I had to sit on the floor on a few occasions because I felt unwell or and on 2 occasions I asked for the seat because I felt faint. I found the same though people wouldn’t look up from their phones to make out they hadn’t seen you etc. everyone use to tell me to just ask but I felt uncomfortable doing this

@Imogen not on northwestern unfortunately 😔 you might get lucky with the ticket inspector but they only allow first class tickets in there

I was nervous asking at first, felt a bit awkward with people rushing & pushing past to get on the train in central london, but just had to gather some confidence & ask people in the priority seats to move - even if i was capable of standing, it was more like what if there's a sudden brake, or i feel faint, or people push past too much? Most people just weren't paying attention but were fine to move, just got to get used to asking

I commuted every day till I popped and used to be embarrassed to ask for the seat. You ask away! Astoundingly, the worst offenders for taking the reserved seats, pushing past me or not making eye contact were women! Walk to the seats designed for you and say “excuse me, I need that seat”. They will always give it to you and they are publicly embarrassed tbh.

I ask if I need too - most people are just in thier own world and not paying attention, I’ve never had any problems when asking

I found the tube better than the train. People on the end seats always moved either as they saw me or if I tapped them on the knee and asked for their seat (when wearing the badge). The train, people would suddenly pretend they were blind deaf in order to stay in their place. At 36 weeks with my last baby I had a row with a woman who was in the seats for people with disabilities or who are pregnant and was refusing to move because she ‘had a long journey’. The person next to her moved and then she was squished next to me and getting evils from people around us. You ARE entitled to it, use it and don’t let rudeness get to you (although I know it’s hard).

People on the tube have been great, apart from when some kids started pushing me around, I had to keep saying do not push me I'm pregnant. For me issue is on the train, no one the other day offered me a seat, so had to stand for 2 hours home. I'm also chronically ill so wasn't very nice, especially when I have a very visible feeding tube.

I traveled 4.5 hours on the train while 33 weeks pregnant and massive! Was on my wai to the airport to travel to my family before having baby. Literally nobody offered me a seat either. I asked a man if i maybe could get his seat cause i was in the last train for almost 2 hours and didnt want to stand that long. He looked at me and said it was my own fault for being pregnant and these were the consequences to my actions. So i stood for 2 hours in the train 🫠

@Marissa his mother failed him. Awful hateful person.

@Sarah iknow some people dont have decent respect sadly

London is terrible for this! I used to say excuse me and point to the badge and say sorry but it got me a seat 🫣 people see but just don’t bother moving, don’t feel bad we are literally growing a human!!!! It’s not easy xx

Honestly it’s so sad the world is so rude. I still haven’t been offered a seat and my bump is bumping 🤣 I try to get to seats and people sit in them and I just think you fu***** as*****. I thought for a while that if I was always kind then it would be the same sort of thing as karma and the world would be kind to me, but it just shows even when you’re nice - you’re the nice out of a bunch of wan**** and it doesn’t mean anyone will return the favour 🙄 could rant forever over this. I hate some people

Sorry for all the swearing 🤣 I could ask for a seat but the whole point is no one should have to and it’s just awkward. I will start doing it for sure as time goes on. Just so stupid x

@Jenny no judgement for all the swearing. It is infuriating when you’re entitled to a seat and no one gives it up for you. A couple of ideas I thought of while standing there mad - put your badge on upside down. People can’t help but correct you and hopefully they would help get you a seat after. Just stare at someone in a seat until they are uncomfortable enough to look at you and see the badge 😂 Sit on the floor and make everyone feel guilty. Or option 4 - just cry until they feel bad and give one up. I often did 4 because I’d be thinking about how unkind people are and high emotions in pregnancy made me well up. Usually someone would notice and prod someone for a seat 😂 Don’t feel bad however you do it. It’s not about you, it’s about protecting your baby!

@Marissa that’s horrible 😭 I’d be sooo upset honestly! Bless your heart. Love the bump tho ☺️🩵

@Jenny haha full in hormones i burst out in tears 😂 crying i had a baby with me but she was invisible hahaha she is 4.5 months now 🥰

@Rosie the crying was literally me too hahaha 🤣 I had to take for 2 hours and my legs hurt and I just cried 😭 nightmare. The sitting on the floor I consider every day too 😂😂 x