Should pregnant women get handicap placards?

Becky - posted on 05/20/2010

I agree with Jocelyn, they should increase the number of parking spaces for pregnant women and parents with young children and then make you get a placard for them. I'm in Calgary too, and Co op does make you get a placard to park in their stork parking. But they're the only store I know of that does.
My first pregnancy, I was due in February, so heavily pregnant in the winter, and I was tempted to get a handicapped sticker so I wouldn't have to walk across the parking lots in the snow and ice, but in the end, I didn't. I wasn't handicapped, it just would've been a convenience. In my second pregnancy, I had severe pelvic pain and sometimes walking for long periods of time was a real problem for me. But, we would always either park in the stork parking or my husband would drop me off at the doors.
I do think they should be available for women whose pregnancy is actually causing them to have a disability, but not for all pregnant women.
On a side note, I had a friend who had kidney disease, and he got a handicapped placard and used it, even after he had his transplant. It always bothered me - his illness didn't affect his mobility - he could still go hiking and whatnot, so I didn't think he should be taking a spot from people who really did have limited mobility. That's how I feel about using one when I'm pregnant as well.

Heather - posted on 05/16/2010

I would never use one even if it was available for pregnant women...your pregnant, not handicapped...if your to the point that you cant walk through a parking lot then maybe you should be at home with your feet up...not shopping. Our walmart has stork parking for expectant mothers...but even when I was heavily pregnant (in winter) I wouldnt use them...I wore good snow boots...and walked...walking is good for you, unless you are supposed to be on bedrest. I just cant see taking those parking spaces away from people who really need them.

Kathy - posted on 05/15/2010

I was an expectant mother twice, and more then one time I would see someone (not an expectant mother) get in to an expectant mother parking spot at the hospital (as I walk with issues, because I WAS cexpectant mother, from the back of the parking lot). The only other place something that has that kind of parking besides the 'R'us folks. I think it would be great if you could have a temporary permit or something, in the last trimester I had issues walking both times.

Jodi - posted on 05/14/2010

LOL Sharon, you should have seen me trying to get up and down our stairs......I was terrified I'd have another fall!! My older kids thought it was hilarious!!

Celia - posted on 05/14/2010

In Canada we have parking stalls for expectant mothers and families with small children in some shopping areas... and let me tell you I made a bee lign to those stores when I was as big as a house! I had a hip problem and altho I am SO against anyone useing a handicap stall (I support people with dissabilities) I am all for a seperate stall for pregnant ladies and moms who lug their infants in a car seat with a 3 year old in tow (their poor backs!)

Sharon - posted on 05/14/2010

OMG Jodi, my heart BLEEDS for pregnant women on crutches. I have never seen a graceful pregnant woman on crutches.



Poor you!



edited to add..



well, they were graceful considering everything, but they never did look comfortable. I think I would have opted for a wheelchair! or two gorgeous male slaves to carry me about... maybe 3......

Jodi - posted on 05/14/2010

You know, I'll be honest. I never even used the parents with prams spaces when my kids were little......it didn't bother me, and I'd rather leave those spaces for people who really feel they need them, as opposed to using them just because I can. But then, I didn't have a bunch of toddlers in tow, so I could imagine that would be more difficult.

When I was pregnant with Taylah, I had a fall and twisted my knee, ending up on crutches. I used those spaces then for a couple of weeks :) Crutches and pregnancy don't mix very well - your balance goes to hell!!

Charlie - posted on 05/14/2010

I dont think it pregnant woman should take over handicap parking but i like how they have it designed in the big malls and city parking , Handicap get closest and best parking , then the parents with prams get the next row of parking that way no one is taking spots for handicap people and they still get some kind of exception to make it easier for them , the only thing i would change is to allow the parents with prams parking to include pregnancy in the last trimester .

Karissa - posted on 05/14/2010

Here in the bigger cities in Florida there is special parking for expectant mothers. You don't need a permit but I think there should be. I know that during the summer while I was pregnant I could have parked up close to the front. With the heat and hurricane weather not walking so far would have been awesome.

Christa - posted on 05/14/2010

Oh thanks!! :-)

Sara - posted on 05/14/2010

Prams are strollers.

Christa - posted on 05/14/2010

I see your point Mary and I think if we had more of the parent spots, that would be fine enough. I agree with those whove said you need more help those first few post partum weeks. That's when getting in and out of the store is so difficult.

Question: Many of you have talked about the parents with prams, what does prams stand for? I'm assuming kids but I've never heard that term before. :-)

Mary - posted on 05/14/2010

I really think that the point that all of you are missing is that you CAN request for your OB to fill out the paper work for you to obtain a temporary handicapped tag IF you indeed are one of those women who has a difficult pregnancy. There doesn't need to be some special law in place for that to happen...you just need to take it upon yourself to do it.

The problem with making it an universal policy for ALL pregnant women in the 3rd trimester to have unlimited access to a handicapped tag is that it opens it up to abuse. As I said earlier, the last few weeks of pregnancy are uncomfortable and exhausting for ALL of us...but are we truly "handicapped"? Sorry, but the real answer to that is an unequivocal NO for the greater majority of expectant mothers. The 'normal' aches and pains of pregnancy do not make any of us disabled, nor does having to cart around an infant.

I'm a little amazed (and, quite frankly, appalled) at how many women on here seem to think that being pregnant, or having small children seem to entitle them to some sort of special treatment from society at large. Perhaps I am unique, but I CHOSE to have a child, and I really don't believe that random strangers owe me any special favors for it. I agree, common courtesy and consideration of others is a bonus, and something we should all try a lot harder to employ in our daily life...but I sure as hell don't think I am any more deserving of it than anyone else in this world simply because I chose to be a mother.

I too hated lugging around that infant carrier...it was cumbersome and awkward. I found 2 simple solutions for it. First off, I just rarely used it. It was so much easier to strap her into the Bjorn or Ergo, so 95% of the time, that was what I did. If for some reason I couldn't do that, I looked for a spot near one of the several cart return kiosks, and parked near that. That way, I only had to carry that carrier a short distance, place it in the cart, and wheel her and the cart into the store. No great hardship whatsoever, and I never had to feel badly that my able-bodied self was snagging a prime spot from someone who had genuine physical hardships, and not just an unwieldy infant carrier or rambunctious toddler. Silly me for trying to be considerate of others, when, apparently, being the mother of a small child makes me more deserving.

Susanne - posted on 05/14/2010

I agree for some during pregnancy we should be allowed to use disabled spaces. I also think a good campaign to make others realise how much common courtesy helps a pregnant woman. Im sick to death of people with no conscience. No one ever gives up their seat on the bus for you anymore thats just the start of it. Heavily pregnant on my 3 year old i went into a supermarket for a loaf of bread, there was only one till open and i stood there waiting my turn. My legs and back were killing me and i was dying for a pee. This man barges in front of me with two things in his hand and says you dont mind if i jump in front of you do you? I said yes i do actually im 8 months pregnant and ive only got a loaf of bread. To which he replied yes but its not as if your disabled though. Nearly beat him to death with my bread lol. Have to say in all our supermarket we have child parking spaces but usually they are occupied by people without kids at all. I played hell in tescos one day because there were no child parking spaces so i had to park in a normal one when i went back to the car the idiots either side of me had parked so close i couldnt open the doors enough to get my babys car seat in so i stormed back in and played hell in customer services made them call out the registration numbers of the cars parked either side of me so they could move their cars. Tescos did have someone checking the child spots for a while after most of the spots are taken up by workmen in vans nipping in for a cooked breakfast though.

Charlie - posted on 05/13/2010

being over 30 weeks pregnant , with a very sore vagina , a waddle a duck would be proud of , sciatica pain , and the fact i can barely move at all , and sore ass feet , YESSSS we do need them .

They have them in the city for parents with prams but not here.

Sharon - posted on 05/13/2010

UGH - except for the fact I foresee a shitload of abuse coming from those cards, yes, women should get them.



Not all women are created equal and pregnancy was a living hell for me. Having had a broken back, shattered pelvis and two broken legs, the extra 27 - 35 lbs was KILLER. To add to my misery the 24/7 nausea and puking made every trip out of my house a trip through embarassment vs. necessity.



AND trips to the store when you're recently postpartum, coping with an infant and/or stitches/soreness... comeon!! Who hasn't got sympathy for that?



Now-a-days I park in the last few spaces in the back of the lot. 1. I need the exercise, 2. It protects my precious truck. 3. I may hurt and be tired but there are plenty of people worse off than me. At least I'm still able to walk that far. oh and 4. my kids are all older now and much easier to handle in a trip across the parking lot.



So, Yes, pregnant women (not just late stage) should be allowed a special parking privledge(sp?)

C. - posted on 05/13/2010

I disagree with you, Jackie.. There is a need for high risk women. I think if it's going to affect someone or their baby, they should be able to get the placards. Like I said, though.. If they are able-bodied, then no. Medical conditions, then yes.

Jackie - posted on 05/13/2010

NO, I don't agree. Pregnant women need exercise! The reserved parking spots I have always seen are for moms with infants...that I understand b/c of all the stuff you have to lug around, just pregnant though...no need.

C. - posted on 05/13/2010

Yes and no. Many stores now offer Expecting Mothers parking spaces. No, b/c I think if you do that, you open the door for some women to be lazy.. Some women may make something up and b/c they're pregnant, nobody's really going to question them about it, but that would take away from the people that really do need it.

Yes, b/c if someone is diagnosed as high risk during their pregnancy, they should be able to get a handicap placard b/c something is more likely to go wrong (pre-term labor, placental abruption, etc).

But for the able-bodied?? Nope.. No way.

Amanda - posted on 05/13/2010

Thats right, they are courtesty spots, and parking laws are private property. Next time though I will prob go back into walmart and ask to speak to a manager. The store can request the car to be towed, if they do not follow the parking rules.

Dana - posted on 05/12/2010

Dana, I think they're just a courtesy parking space, not something there by law.

Chatty - posted on 05/12/2010

If I saw someone in a ' mother/child ' spot that shouldn't have been there I would have called the police! Why wouldn't they do anything....he was abusing the carseat and I bet the police would have reprimanded him??

Rosie - posted on 05/12/2010

what are there handicap spots for then if everybody that has a horrible time getting around is supposed to stay home and not shop? i mean i understand people should stay home more if they have a hard time moving around, i did when i was pregnant, but to say that everybody should just stay home if they're pregnant and in pain all the time is ludicrous.

Nicole - posted on 05/12/2010

I agree with Amanda. There is no protection of the expectant mother/parents with children parking spaces from those who intend to abuse them.

However, where I live, the only public places that I have seen these spaces were at Babies R Us and the mall (and there are only TWO of them in the whole mall parking lot).

I think that giving ALL pregnant women a handicap space is not warranted, but feel that it should be possible for those who's pregnancies are causing them disabilities to park closer to the entrance.

When I was in the final months of my second pregnancy, I was still working and worked in a building in the middle of downtown and parking was limited. The parking space I paid for was like 12 blocks from our building and it was in the middle of the summer in Florida! Once entering my third trimester, I tried to be happy that I would still be getting this exercise everyday, twice a day, but by my 8th month, it was incredibly hard on me to walk that far. So, I embarrassingly requested one of the temporary disabled parking spots from my employer and they gave me a form to have my doctor fill out. When my doctor found out how far I was walking, she about fell over! ha ha Not because of how far I was walking, she was against how far I was walking in the summer. Ooops!

Dana - posted on 05/12/2010

What a jerk.

Amanda - posted on 05/12/2010

I dont know how to answer this. As for those expecting mothers parent parking, a few weeks ago I was at Walmart. A man parked in the expecting mothers spot, I rolled my window down and said to him...

"I dont think you are pregnant and you sure dont have a small child with you, find another spot"

He responded to me with..

"Cant you see I have a carseat"

Thats right he figured because he had a carseat, he was entitled to take that parking spot away from a pregnant woman, or a mother with children. Unfor unlike handycap spots, you cant be ticketed or towed away for misusing a expecting mother/parent parking spot.

Sara - posted on 05/12/2010

You know, I thought more than once in my last trimester how great it would be if I could get a handicap pass. I mean, I could barely walk because I felt like a freakin' human wish bone, my pelvis was sooooo sore. I think though, that a better alternative would be to have more parking for pregnant women and families with babies and toddlers and to have it actually be enforced...maybe you could get some kind of pass for that.

Alison - posted on 05/12/2010

Yes if a medical condition develops during the pregnancy that makes it harder for them to get around than the average pregnant woman. No if it's a normal pregnancy. It's not good for pregnant women to put their feet up like they did in the old days. It's better for the baby and mother if they walk about and get pleanty of exercise.

Dana - posted on 05/12/2010

Yes! I've always thought that. Although, I like the parking spaces you see with a sign of a stork carrying a baby. I think everyone should have those just like you have to have handicap parking.



After reading the other replies, let me clarify, I don't think it's a disability. ;)

ME - posted on 05/12/2010

I was THRILLED at the end of my recent pregnancy to stop at a store that had pregnant/new mommy parking. I don't think pregnant women are handicapped...but walking on ice and snow while 38 weeks pregnant is no joke.

Erin - posted on 05/12/2010

I have never seen a parent parking here in WA? I don't go to Babys R Us, but thats in OR anyhow...I hated when ppl treated me like I was disabled while pregnant! In a helthy pregnancy you wouldn't be gaining more then 25lbs and that would not make me think you needed disabled parking spots? My parents got around w/6 kids w/out taking disabled parking spots or having parent parking spots...as nice as a parent parking spot might sound...I think if we led everyone to believe pregnancy was a disability then we'd lose ground. Or women would think they can eat whatever they want w/no regard for health. I gained 60lbs w/my 1st born I KNOW 1st hand that it SUCKS!!! In some instances I can see the necessity, especially for multiples! Having a temp card that your dr. files for seems appropriate.

Nikki - posted on 05/12/2010

Maybe if they were having complications and it was medically necessary, with a Doctors certificate. The whole parking thing annoys me, as hard as it is to organise children and babies out of the car, and for that matter pregnant women as well, I think that senior citizens should get the close parking spaces. In my local shopping centre in Australia they just replaced all of the senior citizen parking with parent parking which I think is just rude, we have safe spacious car parks with easy to access walking areas, I would rather walk an extra 10 metres than let an old granny on her walking stick walk that extra length. Sorry off track a little, if they are deemed to have a temporary disability then I don't see a problem with it. However I do agree with Mary's point, what are they doing out shopping if they are in that condition?

Sarah - posted on 05/12/2010

I agree with what Cathy said at the beginning about the parent and child spaces.
Here, we have them at pretty much every shop, so rather than causing a controversy about disabled spaces, just allow them to use the parent and child spaces.

I guess that might not work if other places don't have parent and child spaces.
I guess i've never given it much thought because i don't drive and had to walk everywhere anyway!!
:)

Carolee - posted on 05/11/2010

My hips have been dislocated since I was 16 weeks. I'm almost 30 weeks now, and it's getting to the point where I stopped going places because I just cannot walk. I think, in certain circumstances, it should be allowed. If the doctor sees that the pregnant woman is in need of it, they should be allowed to give it. The women should be required to give it back before the end of the typical 'recovery period', though.

Sapphire - posted on 05/11/2010

Mary, I agree 100% of what you said. Some pregnancies are a breeze, others can render the mom with a temporary disability, therefore making them temporarily eligible for a handicapped placard. Pregnancy does not offer any special privilege. I never made it full term, but I taught right up through 36 weeks. Some days I felt great, and some days I most certainly taught from my seat! I know women that had serious medical issues while pregnant, and once again mary-you're right. They were all bed-ridden!

I also find it so frustrating when I do drive with my disabled mother, father, AND sister and get nasty looks. Just for the simple fact that they do not LOOk disabled, they have enough medical issues that made them eligible for the handicapped spot. My sister won;t use her handicapped placard if she is having a good day and feels good.

Good Day! - posted on 05/11/2010

Mary, I taught school til the end. And my principal's motto was, "we teach on our feet, not in our seat." and he would walk around and peek in our windows to make sure we were doing it! A full day with thirty 10-year-olds is exhausting, but, like you said about nursing, it was doable.

Mary - posted on 05/11/2010

Pregnancy, in and of itself, is NOT a disability. SOME women have complications that may render them temporarily disabled, and in that case, they can have their doc fill out the necessary paperwork for a temporary handicapped tag. Chances are, if you are *truly* that disabled, you care provider has already put you on some type of bedrest, and you shouldn't be out running errands at Walmart or wherever by yourself.

I certainly know how uncomfortable and exhausting those last few weeks are, and sciatica is it's own little slice of hell, but is it a true disability? No, not even close in my opinion.

I think that enabling all pregnant women to have a handicapped tag is absolutely ludicrous...especially if it could come at the expense of someone who is TRULY disabled. Yes, it is challenging towards the end, but if you are still able to chase around a toddler all day on your own, does the rest of society really owe you the courtesy of a closer spot....just to make maintaining your lifestyle choices easier?? I personally would be too embarrassed to take choice parking spot from, say, an elderly man who may not be technically disabled, but is in a hell of a lot more pain and discomfort from, say, chronic arthritis. I'm a little appalled that more of you who responded don't feel the same way. At the advanced age of 38, I worked full time nights, delivering babies, up until 2 days before I delivered. It was NOT fun or comfortable at the end, but it was obviously doable. I'm not implying that I'm special...the majority of my co-workers have done it as well, along with almost all of my non-work friends and family. The thought that ANY of us needed, or warranted a handicapped parking space is just ludicrous.

Chatty - posted on 05/11/2010

TOYS 'R US and Wal*Mart where I'm at both have ' EXPECTANT MOTHERS' parking as well as ' CUSTOMER WITH CHILD ' parking on top of the handicap spaces!

?? - posted on 05/11/2010

We have "Customer with Child" parking in nearly every parking lot with 25+ parking spots. Small businesses or businesses downtown that have a side spot for customer parking or sidewalk parking don't have them but the mall has designated parking at the back for handicap customers and "Customer with Child" parking. Walmart as 4 "Customer with Child" parking and 8 handicap spots.

Jocelyn - posted on 05/11/2010

Maybe they should increase the stork parking and then give out placards for THOSE spots. Say you have to be pregnant or have at least one child under the age of 4 to qualify. Then the assholes who park there without children can get a fine lol.

Lindsay - posted on 05/11/2010

I'm not sure that giving all pregnant women a handicap sticker is the best way to go. I do believe that if their was a true need of concern for it from their OB, they could get one provided for them, but not for the average ache and pain that comes along with pregnancy. My reasoning is that handicap parking spots are already limited and if every pregnant woman had a pass even just for her last month, how many truly handicapped people would be having to circle the lots looking for a spot? While it may be uncomfortable or even painful for a very pregnant lady to have to walk a little further to get in the store, I don't feel that it's worth the risk of someone that's truly handicap being forced to park in the narrow spots and try to get in their wheelchair, use their walkers, etc.



It should be available to those women that have a true handicap that could cause harm to the baby. But as for any woman? I say suck it up.

Caitlin - posted on 05/11/2010

I think that it should have to be prescribed. Around here, the automobile agency (or whatever you call it) has been toughening up the laws regarding handicapped parking permits, and my friend who has a blind child can no longer get a handicaped parking permit, because leading a blind kid through a parking lot must be the easiest thing in the world. Honestly, neither of my pregnancies I would have needed it. I use the parent/expectant moms parking a lot, because with a 17 month old and a 2 month old, getting them inside the store is tricky (especially for groceries, because I have to carry them in to the carts, one baby seat and one squirmy resistant child on my hip, because she refuses to hold my hand..) With the stroller it's a bit easier, but still tricky and it takes a while to load them in and out. We have a lot o parking lots around here with that kind of parking, so I don't really feel that a handicaped sticker is necessary. The problem here is that the "family" or "expectant moms" spots are only a curtosey, and i've seen some young teenage boys park in them because they are too bloody lazy to walk the extra few feet. Technically there is no fine that can be given, though I think a window punch would come in handy sometimes for those asses. Sorry, I feel strongly about that I guess, having known my fair share of handicapped people.

Suzette - posted on 05/11/2010

The only place I've seen expectant parking is on post and the only way you get a placard for that is if you're an expectant mother who is driving herself to the hospital, the commissary, etc. Otherwise, you get to walk your happy butt from wherever your hubby finds a spot. (Regardless of what issues you have... and I've had the little one on my sciatic as well as the SPD issue.) I've dealt with both issues, as painful as they are, tears and all. Thankfully he makes my life easier by dropping me at the front door and I wait for him to find a spot then join me. He also goes to get the car when the appt is over then comes to get me. He's the only one to help me, other than my neighbor who does stuff if I need her to. (Though I don't ask her unless I'm at her house and it's rare that I ask her then.) I think that if a woman has a severe issue then she should be prescribed a placard, but only if the issue is severe enough to need one.

Christa - posted on 05/11/2010

I disagree with the need to have "problems". My problem you couldn't medically diagnose it. I told my doctor the baby was sitting on my pelvis causing pain and she believed me. There's no way to know if that was true or not. You wouldn't be able to pick certain pregnant women that deserved it. Plus IF a women was just getting it to be lazy, who cares, let her be lazy since she won't be able to be lazy again for like 18 years, it would only be for a few months.

Jocelyn - posted on 05/11/2010

I like Joanna's idea about having to get a placard "prescribed" by a doc or midwife. If you have no problems, then obviously you wouldn't need it; but if you had sciatica, SPD (which is what I had, I would end up crying while walking at the end of my pregnancy) , high blood pressure (etc) then I can see it being VERY useful.
Luckily where I am (Calgary area) we have tons of stork parking.

Jenny - posted on 05/11/2010

I don't think it's neccessary. I would have no problem with giving it to those having hard pregnancies for whatever reason but not for the average pregnancy. I always parked at the back of the lot to give my butt a bit more excercise right up until the end.

Krista - posted on 05/11/2010

We have the parent spaces at Wal-Mart and at Superstore, and they are an absolute blessing -- especially where they're wider, and you're trying to wrestle an infant carrier out of the back seat.

Erin - posted on 05/11/2010

All of our shopping centres and malls have 'Parents with Prams' parking close to the entrances. Heavily pregnant women tend to park there, even if they don't have any other children, and that seems to work. As someone else said, if you can't walk through the carpark, how are you going to walk through the store to do your shopping?

I couldn't even drive after about 35 weeks because I was so big I couldn't fit behind the steering wheel (no I'm not joking), but before that I would just park in the 'Parents with Prams' section. I would have no objection to a gesture like this if those parents' parks are not available. But, as someone else said, they would also have to increase the number of disabled spots to cater for this, so that others don't miss out.

Chatty - posted on 05/11/2010

Isn't there usually ' parent parking ' ?.....if not then definitely.....how is it any different then a handicapped person? Plus, all the handicapped spots are always empty....may as well use them!

Rosie - posted on 05/11/2010

pretty much everywhere i shop here in iowa has those spots. hyvee (grocery store), walmart, toys r us, target, etc.