Disabled parking for pregnancy?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone gotten a temporary disability parking pass in Virginia for late pregnancy? Apparently third trimester pregnancy is even listed on the form itself for temporary disability passes in some states like Illinois (https://www.wsiltv.com/news/pregnant-women-in-third-trimester-can-park-in-handicapped-parking-spots-starting-in-2022/article_aa1028d2-1ee2-5f2f-8391-0cdac938eca4.html). Is this a thing in Virginia?

[Anonymous]

Is there some reason your pregnancy is especially disabling? Can you not walk from the middle of a parking lot to the store? (Not asked with snark. Asked as the real consideration.)

I have a disability that often makes walking hard, but I can almost always walk from the parking lot to my destination, so I don’t have handicapped parking. I wouldn’t be able to walk through a concert parking lot or something else of that size, but I’m too sick to go to a concert anyway!

In other words, it’s not just if a closer spot would be a nice convenience.

[Anonymous]

I think I got a temporary one when I went on bedrest for DH to use for our hospital visits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I got a temporary one when I went on bedrest for DH to use for our hospital visits.

I hope you’re misremembering. Your DH wasn’t disabled!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I got a temporary one when I went on bedrest for DH to use for our hospital visits.

I hope you’re misremembering. Your DH wasn’t disabled!

NP, since the PP was on bedrest, she would not be able to drive, therefore her DH would need it to get her to the hospital.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I got a temporary one when I went on bedrest for DH to use for our hospital visits.

I hope you’re misremembering. Your DH wasn’t disabled!

The passenger can be the one with the disabled parking permit.

OP, you can ask your doctor if you qualify.

[Anonymous]

This was the rationale behind the Illinois law:

“This law will help protect all our working moms and their babies-to-be, especially during those harsh winter months when snow and ice heighten the risk for women walking from their car to go into work, to go shopping for their families, or to visit their doctor ... Unfortunately, the inspiration for this new law, baby Henry Marcum of Aurora, his mother went into preterm labor at 21 weeks when he was born in November of 2019 and was only with us for about 60 minutes before he passed. This new law is a great way to honor his memory and to demonstrate that a life that only lasted one hour can make a huge difference in the lives of thousands of moms and babies across our state.”

"This family suffered a devastating loss that may have been avoided if this accommodation for expectant mothers had been in place two years ago ... This can prevent future heartbreak if an expectant mother in her third trimester can get temporary disability parking access ... When Marcum’s wife was pregnant with their first child in 2019, she faced a long, difficult walk from her car to her office, which only became more grueling as her pregnancy progressed. When Marcum tried to secure disability parking privileges for his wife, he was shocked to learn that pregnancy was not considered a qualifying condition. Unfortunately, his wife went into early labor at 21 weeks, and their son Henry only survived an hour."

[Anonymous]

I slipped and tore my ACL when I was 8 months pregnant. I am a SAHM and still had to care for my toddler. It was awful and I could barely walk by the end so I was slightly tempted to ask about one but didn't. I definitely wouldn't for a run of the mill pregnancy but everyone's circumstances are different.

[Anonymous]

DINK female who thinks that pregnancy should allow one to have preferential parking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was the rationale behind the Illinois law:

“This law will help protect all our working moms and their babies-to-be, especially during those harsh winter months when snow and ice heighten the risk for women walking from their car to go into work, to go shopping for their families, or to visit their doctor ... Unfortunately, the inspiration for this new law, baby Henry Marcum of Aurora, his mother went into preterm labor at 21 weeks when he was born in November of 2019 and was only with us for about 60 minutes before he passed. This new law is a great way to honor his memory and to demonstrate that a life that only lasted one hour can make a huge difference in the lives of thousands of moms and babies across our state.”

"This family suffered a devastating loss that may have been avoided if this accommodation for expectant mothers had been in place two years ago ... This can prevent future heartbreak if an expectant mother in her third trimester can get temporary disability parking access ... When Marcum’s wife was pregnant with their first child in 2019, she faced a long, difficult walk from her car to her office, which only became more grueling as her pregnancy progressed. When Marcum tried to secure disability parking privileges for his wife, he was shocked to learn that pregnancy was not considered a qualifying condition. Unfortunately, his wife went into early labor at 21 weeks, and their son Henry only survived an hour."

If walking an extra 10-20 parking spaces was the reason this woman lost the baby, is it fair to say that something else would've caused the same outcome? Not to be an AH.

[Anonymous]

I had such severe sciatica pain that I was barely able to walk at times during one of my pregnancies. I was not driving at the time (different city), so I cannot offer advice, OP, but I do sympathize. Different bodies can experience pregnancy very differently.

[Anonymous]

I always thought the time I needed special parking was once I had the baby, but not before. People will bend over backwards to help out a pregnant woman. But if you're carrying the baby in the car seat you're lucky if someone will hold the door for you. Nevermind trying to wrangle a toddler and a baby and safely get through the parking lot. Being pregnant on your own is the easy part, in my humble opinion.

[Anonymous]

When my preemie twins were discharged after a long NICU stay they automatically gave me a handicapped permit, valid for 6 months which was as long as they expected them to be on tubes and o2 and things. I never used it once bc it wasn’t like the twins were walking and needed to be close. It seemed selfish to use when I was an able bodied person who would be taking them to all of their appts, but it was definitely part of their discharge packet

[Anonymous]

No, and it's WAY harder to walk with an infant in a carrier than it is being pregnant. Literally every single person had a pregnant mom. You'll live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DINK female who thinks that pregnancy should allow one to have preferential parking.

Preferential parking, sure. But put it next to the handicap spots, leave the super close ones for the people who are truly handicapped. My Wegman’s has this set up and it works well.