Vent - Riding Metro While Pregnant

[Anonymous]

This starts young. These teenagers were never taught by their parents common courtesy and respect for others. I have seen on several occasions children sampling food from the food bar at Whole Foods. Never does the parent say, "stop eating off of the food bar...especially with dirty hands" I have been ran in to, pushed, had my heals scraped from grocery carts, and something knocked out of my hands and the parents never tells the child to apologize or be careful. That's not urban. It's not suburban. It's the way of the world these days. Parents need to teach their children manners and respect.

[Anonymous]

When I was about 28 weeks, and clearly pregnant, I entered a crowded metro train after an exhausting day and knew I couldn't stand the whole ride. So I politely asked a young man if I could have his seat. He said, "No"! At which point a couple of other passengers sprang up and offered me their seats, and we all glared at the rude guy until he got off a couple of seats later. So, asking nicely doesn't always work...

I agree that riding the metro during the first trimester was way worse - holy nausea, Batman!


I always try to lead by example, by offering my seat to other passengers who look like they need it more than I do, whether they be elderly, pregnant, or have young kids. But I admit to occasionally getting so caught up in the book I'm reading, I honestly don't pay attention to who has entered the train.

[Anonymous]

I was on a packed orange line train last Saturday heading to see the cherry blossoms and was tickled that a guy offered me his seat - not because I wanted to sit, because I actually politely declined (had to wrangle the toddler and it was easier standing up), but because he actually offered! I really appreciated it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funny story, my friend told me that when people didn't offer her a seat when she was well into her pregnany she would sit down in the middle of the floor... apparently that gets some attention.

How ever did she get up again?

[Anonymous]

I am 30 weeks along and I get offered a seat about 50% of the time. Of that 90% are other women. Here is a big THANK YOU to all the people that offer their seats!

[Anonymous]

I come from a 3rd world country where people still die because of hunger and diseases that dint exist in your world anymore but we could give you guys a lesson on how
to teat your "disabled" population!
BY law every public building/service has to have a line for disabled, every grocery store, bank, super store has to have the disabled line and also parking for expectant or new
mothers.
Giving up a sear is automatic! The price we pay is that once a pregnant woman is around everybody wants to touch, talk about the size and shape of the belly, wish health/happiness and talk about the baby something I noticed it's not appreciated here...

[Anonymous]

I'm in my first trimester, and I'm just proud of myself for not throwing up on anybody on the metro yet. Not that there aren't some people who would deserve it, particularly tourists and drunk Nats fans. But, I digress. I can't believe there are actually people who have said "No" when an obviously pregnant woman has politely asked for a seat! I think if you say no to a pregnant woman, you deserve to be sat on by a pregnant woman.

[Anonymous]

I had almost the opposite experience while riding metro. I was offered seats all the time - probably because I was commuting and saw the same people all the time. Most of the time i'd decline since it was more work to sit down and get back up again.
What frustrated me the most throughout both of my pregnancies was how everyone thought I was disabled. 'You shouldn't be carrying that' if I tried to bring a basket of laundry to the laundromat. 'Let me get that for you' if I was picking up cans of paint. Very nice of folks to offer, but it adds up in the frustration department. Just because I'm carrying a baby doesn't mean that I suddenly lost the strength in my arms!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was about 28 weeks, and clearly pregnant, I entered a crowded metro train after an exhausting day and knew I couldn't stand the whole ride. So I politely asked a young man if I could have his seat. He said, "No"! At which point a couple of other passengers sprang up and offered me their seats, and we all glared at the rude guy until he got off a couple of seats later. So, asking nicely doesn't always work...

I saw a young man on crutches and asked him if he wanted a seat without really waiting for the answer. I was standing too so I asked the people standing in the handicapped seats if someone would give him a seat. The young guy sitting right next to us didn't get up but a middle-aged woman across the car got up. The guy on crutches said no, he didn't want a seat. I was embarrassed because I thought I shouldn't have assumed he wanted a seat. Maybe I had embarrassed him. So I apologized and turned the other way. But then I heard him announce that he wasn't going to take that woman's seat when a perfectly able bodied young guy wouldn't get up, he would rather stand. The young guy was shamed into getting up and giving him his seat. Score one for the guy on crutches!

[Anonymous]

If it's any consolation, though I was rarely offered a seat while pregnant (crowded trains + bulky winter jackets = no seats for pregnant commuter ladies) I have on my forays on crowded Red Line trains with the baby in a carrier been offered a seat. I'm actually more grateful for these offers, because I feel like the baby is vulnerable to thoughtlessly swung backpacks, purses, elbows, etc. in a way she wasn't when safely tucked in my belly. But I had a fairly easy pregnancy, so I could deal with standing.

[Anonymous]

maybe no one cares that you're pregnant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:maybe no one cares that you're pregnant.

That's sort of the point of this discussion... many people on metro are so self-absorbed and/or selfish that they don't care about anyone other than themselves. Screw those pesky people on crutches, elderly, pregnant, or with disabilities. Bunch of savages in this town...

[Anonymous]

Spent the weekend in NYC w/ my 34+ weeks pregnant friend (who is ALL belly -- there's no mistake there) and after riding their subways, I feel much, much better about the people who ride our DC Metro system. As my friend waddled through the cars looking for an empty space, she actually got glares from people who refused to give up their seats, or even move aside to allow her access to an empty space without a firm "Excuse me."

[Anonymous]

I am 34 weeks and was riding Saturday. I was the first person to the left of the door as it opened and no kidding some woman PUSHED me aside to get in first. Despite the even chance of her fighting me from the looks of her, I made a huge show about what she did, to which she shouted "I don't care that you're pregnant!" She claimed I pushed her, which was hilarious considering she was to the left of me the entire time. I feel better she was publicly shamed

[Anonymous]

OP-- I hear you. Definitely not looking forward to the Metro commute whenever I get pregnant again. There is a special place in hell for people who stare and pregnant women and don't offer them a seat on the Metro.