Comments on: Should Pregnant Women Use Disabled Parking Spaces?

By: FYI

FYI — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:27:18 +0000

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!

FYIs last blog post..Fit Women Are At Higher Risk Of Stress Incontinence - But Help Is Available

By: Bre

Bre — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:45:49 +0000

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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By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:01:19 +0000

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.

By: MrsH

MrsH — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:13:29 +0000

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!

By: ROSI

ROSI — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:58:36 +0000

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.

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:55:10 +0000

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.

By: Melissa Haynie

Melissa Haynie — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:27:23 +0000

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.

By: Science-mom

Science-mom — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:05:59 +0000

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.

By: MrsH

MrsH — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:38:40 +0000

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.