Should Pregnant Women Use Disabled Parking Spaces?
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A bill is currently being considered in California that would classify heavily pregnant women, and brand new mothers, as legally disabled. These moms would be able to receive a temporary disabled parking placard and take advantage of the disabled parking spaces nearest stores and offices.
When I heard about this, the lazy part of me thought what a good idea it was. When I was eight and nine months pregnant I was the size, and had the maneuverability, of a aircraft carrier. And when my son was a newborn, when I was still recovering from his birth, and before my triceps bulked up carrying his carseat, it was a big effort to tote him and the seat all the way through a parking lot.
I would have loved to have been able to park right next to Target or the post office so I could waddle or haul the carseat the minimum distance possible.
In reality, perhaps it’s not such a good idea. Apart from taking a space that could be needed by a genuine disabled person, most pregnant women are as capable as anyone else as walking through a parking lot.
For brand new moms, an alternative to carrying baby and carseat, is to carry baby in a sling or baby carrier - much less weight to haul, and baby will probably be happier up next to you than in the seat. Or if he was asleep in the carseat, and I was going to a store, I used to park next to one of the the cart drop-off places so I could just plop the carseat in a cart and push it to the store, rather than carrying him to the store.
What do you think? Should pregnant women get to use disabled parking spaces? Have you got any tips or tricks to share about shopping while heavily pregnant, or with a newborn?
MrsH says...
More exercise for the mom too, if they have to park a bit away which is a good idea. I don’t think it’s necessary but it’s sweet. I would personally never park there.
Science-mom says...
Many shopping places, malls, supermarkets in Germany have parent-and-child parking spaces - marked with a pram instead of the usual wheelchair - in addition to the disabled parking. The spaces are as wide as disabled parking to facilitate loading and unloading child and pram. I used them while my kids were small but gave the spaces to more deserving mom as soon as my kids got more mobile.
Melissa Haynie says...
I would have used a disabled parking spot… but then I was extremely high risk during my pregnancy and was on modified bed rest with allowances of going to the store for 15-20 minute jaunts. We hit Target or Wal-mart a couple of times a week( I was pregnant all through summer) in order to keep me walking some on the docs orders. I also had a C-section to deliver my daughter and those first couple of weeks it would have been nice to get the close spots… as it stood my dh would drop me off at the door both before the kiddo and after. Not to mention it can be hard to get a baby carrier in and out when the spaces are so close to each other…. the extra space could be useful after the baby, for that matter I don’t know about you but I was HUGE at the end there and often worried about getting in with out whacking the car next to me with the door of my car.
Mary says...
This all depends. I was on “modified bed rest” and had so much pain while standing that, when going to the store, I had to use a motorized scooter. However, there are many eight-nine months pregnant women whom are fine and dandy up till the end. Maybe there should be a way for a doctor to “prescribe” handicap placards to their patients? I don’t know.
Also, as was previously mentioned, some women have more pain during recovery after birth than others.
It would be nice if more places simply implemented “Expectant Mother” spaces, much as Babies R Us does.
ROSI says...
When I was pregnant twice,I was high risk pregnant with a slipped disc and at 7 months already 3 cm dilated.I couldnt walk very far without losing my breath and wantimg to sit ever few mins. Shopping was terrible. I was issued a temporary placard. My doctor signed for it. I dont see whynot, woman who are pregnant after a certain period of time are at risk for many things, People who are disabled are also able to do what pregnant woman do, and they get a placard. I work with disabled people,and trust me it wont hurt anyone if a pregnant woman has a temporary.They are at a difficult time. with all theyre organs being crouded with no room, with baby growing. I was pregnant in summer, and at 6months, walking no more than 7 mins in store, nearly passed out. I was being overworked,and was put on disability. Older people get placards just for being too old to walk far to the car. well pregnant woman have same problems.
MrsH says...
I had a normal pregnancy and didn’t think about all the hardships of high-risk pregnancies. I changed my mind. This is definitely a bonus for those moms-to-be!
Lisa says...
It seems that more and more places are making parking spaces specifically for “expectant moms”. I’m not quite sure how I feel about the disabled parking spaces for new mothers, though. I agree with what you said about putting the baby in a sling or carrier. However, I did not have my baby naturally. I had to be induced and required an emergency c-section, which meant that making long walks from the car to the store (even with baby in a sling) was closer to running a marathon than making a short jaunt to buy diapers.
Bre says...
I DEFINATELY think that is a much needed bill. I was pregnant with twins. Along with being huge I was considered high risk very early in my pregnancy. Along with multiple babies comes multiple appointments compared to a singleton pregnancy. I also live in Arizona where the temps reach at least 118 degrees during the summer. And yes…I was at least 6 months along at the start of this dreadful season. I can’t count how many times I circled parking lots praying to find a close space to the front of the doctor’s office, grocery store, what have you. Every waddle took so much effort and the blistering heat rising from the asphalt just made my trek that much more difficult. I was in tears by the time I reached my destination.
Then after having 2 beautiful babies there came another confrontation I had with parking lots. The lack of security I felt while trying to load my children as quickly as possible. Whenever I had no choice but to park at the back of the parking lot because it was the only available space I truly felt like a sitting target. There were times that I would put off the errand I needed to do if I couldn’t find a closer spot that was near people and lit up. The risk just wasn’t worth it.
I don’t think pregnant woman or new moms should take handicap spaces. There are too many people that do have disabilities that need these spaces. But I do think that spaces for pregnant women and new mothers should be made right along with the handicap spaces.
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FYI says...
I don’t feel that it’s necessary, but it is a nice consideration. I have several grocery stories on Long Island that have special parking for patrons with children. Not exactly the same, but it is nice to have that convenience when trying to drag several children into a store. Great topic!
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