Hellobee Boards

I have never asked anyone to give up their seat, but I have been so pleasantly surprised at how polite people have been--I have been offered a seat pretty much every time I'm on a train/bus. If I felt like I needed one, I would probably be really passive aggresive and make some pained faces and loud sighs and hope someone gets the point! But I don't think there's anything wrong with asking someone if you can sit down (like a younger person), especially if you really feel like you need to sit.

I was pregnant last year and was taking the commuter rail to work every day. I could usually find a seat, but on days when nothing was available, someone would usually offer to get up.

One thing that surprised me was that it was ALWAYS women. Like, 100% of the time. Even when I was standing there, 38 weeks pregnant, it was like I was invisible to seated men. Weird!

@pointybird: I'm not pregnant, but I always notice it's women (often me) who stand up to give a pregnant woman their seat. Like, I actually scan the people getting on the train usually, so see if there are any pregnant or elderly people who need a seat.

@Foodnerd81: I do the same thing! I always tried to be good about it, but now that I've been the person who needed a seat, I'm extra aware.

@WALLAROO: It's crazy! I remember thinking, I know you see me! I'm huge!

I've never asked and no one ever offered. I used to take a train ride that was 40 minutes and it was every man for himself because it was so crowded. No one would want to give up their seat and then have to stand for the next 40 minutes.

I'm not too far along yet, but I have always given up my seat, or I ask pregnant women if they would like to sit. I am hoping that the good karma will come back to me in the next few months.

I live in the Chicago suburbs and used to have to take the CTA buses when I was late in my pregnancy. I was really disappointed with the number of times anyone offered me a seat. I didn't care with the women so much but a lot of times I would just give a death glare to able-bodied men that were obviously trying to avoid eye contact with me so they didn't feel obligated to get up. I think if you want a seat, sometimes you have to just be blunt and say, "Would you mind?" Because honestly people are a**holes sometimes. The only excuse I can give is that you are still sort of early and the last thing people want to do is make a mistake about someone being pregnant if they're not. I've had that happen once to a friend and it was so humiliating for her- it made the rest of that ride really awkward!

my metro stop is out far enough that i usually get a seat, but if you are uncomfortable, you should totally ask. i know sometimes in the past i've had my face buried in a book, only to get up at my stop and realize someone who probably needed a seat was standing a few inches away from me! i bet if you asked people would jump up. if they don't, punch them. no no, i'm kidding about that last part. maybe.

omg - i take public transportation almost every day - in boston, i find people on the red line are much nicer - so I sit almost every time --- when I switch to the green line though, there have been a few times on a super crowded train no one offers!! I get pissed. I haven't ever asked someone for their seat.... In the beginning I "thought" i was showing, and i found i got seats less -- but now that I'm 37 weeks and very obviously pregnant people seem to ask more - or they don't!

one time it was a packed train and there was like a late 30s/40 yr old guy sitting looking down at his phone - i stuck my belly full in his face (ha) and he still didn't offer me his seat, so messed up.

I've been meaning to write a post just like this! I live in Chicago and ride the el every day. I'd say it's about 40% of the time that I get a seat. I'm 35w and you can't mistake me for being anything other than pregnant. I realize that a lot of people are "sleeping" or engrossed in their phone/e-reader but there are way too many times I catch people look at me, stare at my belly and then do nothing.

I did have two guys almost get into a fight b/c one of the guys was blocking a seat with his bag and wouldn't move it for anyone. The other guy saw me, offered me his seat and went off on the first guy. It was interesting to say the least.