You might recall that I mentioned 3 months back that I'm presently pregnant with my first. So far, everything has been smooth and great for both me and the baby, and we've now reached the start of the 3rd trimester. Until this point, one can barely tell that I am pregnant. Even now, you can easily pass me for someone who may have just had a big breakfast since I am not protruding much at all...yet. However, that's about to change the next 2 months as I approach the due date. Thus far, I've been perfectly capable of standing in the trains and never expect anyone to give up their seat for me. But it will be very interesting to see if the last few weeks before my due date, while I am large, clumsy, and unbalanced, will there be anyone on BART who would give up their seat for me?
Personally, I've given my seat up to visibly pregnant women for years. I sometimes think they need it more than certain seniors because one slip or fall could be devastating!! Plus, they are so tired and carrying so much extra weight that any sudden stop and go could throw them off.
This is not to say I expect anyone to give up their seat for me once I reach that stage. In Japan, as I mentioned, pregnant women are designated the specially marked handicapped seats. Here, they are not and we all know that the handicapped seats are more like first come, first serve anyways, with few (but there are some!) folks getting up for those who need it more.
As my stomach grows more, I'm going to see how people react around me. No big deal if I remain standing...I'm prepared to. I'll grab to the safety bars tightly!!
11 comments:
You never know. Some women don't get huge even at the very end --especially if the woman starts the pregnancy with a small frame--so people may not notice unless one is wearing one of those painfully obvious "baby on board" shirts.
Boy, you're really dedicated towards your social experiments to go so far as get pregnant so as to find out whether people on BART will give up their seats.
I'd be interested to see what people do. Don't forget to share your results with us. Congradulations by the way.
I'm just curious and since I'm pregnant anyways, it won't be hard to see how people react. I wouldn't be putting on a fake tummy suit or anything to do these experiments :) Like I said, I don't expect a thing from anyone. I'm perfectly fine standing.
Pregnant women are now officially included under BART's designation for those who have priority over the designated seats near the train doors. We'll see if that makes anyone more polite, however...
would you, as a pregnant woman yourself, give up your seat on an otherwise standing room only train, for another pregnant woman?
I can wholeheartedly and honestly say that I certainly would and have given up my seat to a pregnant woman while I am pregnant.
i think they should just remove all seating from public transit. nobody has the right to comfort.
this would also make the trains a lot roomier.
Most will act as expected, no pun intended. I doubt many will give up a seat, especially the ADA seats near the doors. That seems to be the way most of society is, only thinking about themselves.
As an employee riding in on a 5-car train during the week it is usually filled before Rockridge, since I get off at MacArhtur, I will gladly give up my seat and stand so someone going to the city can have it.
Even if a woman or an elderly couple wave me off when I offer, I will still get up and stand.
Best of luck with your experiment, be curious to see how BART patrons react.
I saw a woman wear a similar tshirt while getting on board the train. There was a teenager in the ADA seats. He saw her shirt and got up and offered her his seat.
http://www.cafepress.com/maternity.148916732
oh funny, that shirt is too much! i don't think i'd ever do that. my tummy is visible but not humongous just yet. no one has given up their seats for me. no biggie. im fine standing still.
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