Allowing Pregnant Women to Use Handicap Parking Spaces: Yea or Nay?

[BurtWorm]

Poll question: Allowing Pregnant Women to Use Handicap Parking Spaces: Yea or Nay?

http://www.mothertalkers.com/storyonly/2006/3/19/21158/9640

[mconvente]

1. I'll have to "abstain"

I'm not a woman so I don't want to vote either way on this. I can see both sides of the issue, though. It probably isn't the best idea to walk a ways to some place when you are "bustling at the seems pregnant", but then again, if you are well into your pregnancy, perhaps you should not travel to places (IE - grocery store, etc) where you have to walk that far. Not always feasible, but I'm sure things could work out.

All I know is if/when I'm married and choose to have kids, if my wife wanted to be able to use a handicapped spot when she's very much pregnant, I'd definitely fight for it.

[Marymarg]

2. Regular rules should apply

When I was pregnant with my daughter, my feet were so swollen and so painful after walking a short distance, I needed close parking.
It was not the pregnancy that handicapped me, but a side effect, due to the pregnancy.

Some women feel better than ever, (so they say) during pregnancy. Why would they need a special parking place.

Common sense should prevail.

[BOSSHOG]

3. I don't care who uses them

I'm just very thankful I don't need them. I usually park as far away from a store as possible and enjoy the walk.

Caveat: Well, okay one instance pisses me off. I've occasionally seen extremely healthy looking people using vehicles with handicap stickers on them. I soon discover that the person driving the car isn't the person who is eligible for the tag and the parking place; rather a relative or a friend running an error. Now that's downright wrong.

[MuseRider]

14. I learned that one the hard way.

With Rheumatoid Arthritis I don't look like I need the space but there are times that the walk almost kills me. I don't use them, don't have a tag but forsee a day when I might.

I had someone come up to me in a store once two days after I had cancelled something. Her comment was, "You don't look sick." It was said with a sneer. You just never know.

To the subject...it all depends. Pregnancy was good for me, I felt terrific the entire time with both of my boys. Some women are not as lucky so it all depends. I say give them a break. Most of us would rather walk if we feel well but then I could be wrong.

[BOSSHOG]

25. I was referring to

healthy folks using the cars of people who have the tags and using the spaces because they have the tags. I think that's nothing but cheating. I get more worked up about people parking in fire lanes in front of stores. Not for just a second, but just parking it there.

[MuseRider]

31. Sorry, I was not clear.

I meant that I look healthy when in fact I am not. I was just saying that sometimes it is hard to tell.

I get you and I agree with you.

[panader0]

4. The vast majority of people I see in handicapped spaces are

not handicapped. I'm not sure how they get their plates. Sometimes it's just a paper they hang from the rear-view mirror.

[rfranklin]

8. Sometimes it is their passenger or mate who gets the sticker...

But I think there are a lot of people using those spaces who would benefit from a bit or walking.

[havocmom]

45. And sometimes it is an invisible handicap

Like a bad heart, poor lung capacity or really bad arthritis which can flare and make walking very difficult. It may be MS of other nerve related problems where you look fine but at any moment, you can have trouble with your limbs.

And, yeah, it could be the passenger. When a healthy driver parks in a reserved space without the passenger along, they are just plain obnoxious at best and abusive to others who may need the space.

[rfranklin]

5. I think this is part of "the fetus is a person" movement...

If the Mom has to park far from the mall on an icy day and falls, causing a miscarriage is it murder?

[unblock]

6. next poll: no handicapped parking for FAMILY of the handicapped person.

i vote you can only use the handicapped spot if the handicapped person is at least in the car. they can stay in the car as far as i'm concerned but they have to have at least come along for the ride. just because your spouse back at home is handicapped doesn't mean the entire family can park right next to the entrance!

[MuseRider]

19. If people would just use some sense

this should not be a problem. When I would take my mother for her Chemo and doctor appointments I would use the sticker, park in the spot, walk her in then move the damned car so that others who did not have someone to help them could use it.

I don't understand why people have to be so damned stupid all the time or is it selfish? Whatever it is I wish they would use their minds and their hearts.

[Betsy Ross]

39. That is the law

to the best of my knowledge.

[madokie]

42. thats my interpetation too.

[unblock]

49. hmm, that appears to be the case, at least in new york state

at least when they first came out and i was back in ohio, they were totally car-specific. occupants/drivers didn't matter.

[wordpix2]

7. 1st trimester--nausea, vomiting & 3rd trimester---huge, uncomfortable

but in the 3rd I could walk and it's good for a pregnant woman to get moderate exercise.

[KittyWampus]

9. Other: provide a few extra spaces designated for Preggers. :-)

[helderheid]

59. Yep!

:thumbsup:

[cynatnite]

10. Some stores have pregnancy parking

When I was pregnant with my third I made use of it. My back hurt all the time and it was helpful so I wouldn't have to walk quite as far.

[unblock]

babies 'r' us unsurprisingly has "expectant mother's" parking

as do some of the local supermarkets. but it seems a bit silly to have more than one category of reserved parking....

[cynatnite]

23. I'm not sure if pregnancy warrants handicapped parking, too

When hubby was injured we had a temporary handicapped tag to hang inside the car. His doctor signed off on it. Maybe doctors should consider this with their pregnant patients on a case by case basis.

[slide to the left]

11. I see

a lot of places that have special parking for pg women. I don't think its fair until the second or third trimester. But that is a lot of extra weight to carry. I HATE when I see obese people that get handicapp places and the motorized shopping carts just because they are obese. Walk...

[Horse with no Name]

46. Obesity is an illness

And perhaps this person CAN'T walk?
You don't know what underlying diseases someone might have that aren't readily visible. You don't know that they aren't having to take massive steroids for an illness that caused them to be obese. Point being, you just don't know.
"Judge not, lest ye be judged".
Just move on and be thankful you don't NEED the parking space.

[Iris]

12. If a pregnant woman is incapable of walking for some reason, she should

be able to get a handicapped sticker from her doctor.

[BiggJawn]

13. Does she have a Permit?

If so, no problem. If not, no problem, ticket her. You display your permit or have the special plate on your car or you don't park there. simple, no?

[Canuckistanian]

18. Conservatives would probably want to see a marriage license first

Or proof that the man of the house has given her persmission.

[BiggJawn]

58. Really...

And "Proof of Financial Ability to Have a Child", too.

I think your doctor can give you a mirror-hanger, or a note that greases the skids at the B of Motor Do-Hickies...

[Canuckistanian]

15. I'm starting to see more and more "pregnant" parking spots

And they're usually CLOSER to the store than the regular "handicapped" spots.

There are many women who have serious complications during pregnancy and still need to go out and buy things. And saving a few steps is probably worth it.

I see no problems with it at all.

[soothsayer]

35. Ours aren't closer, and I ignore them if the lot is full

[madaboutharry]

16. Pregnant women

should be allowed to park in these spaces. I will tell you want bothers me and I know this from my mother who lives in a retirement community. Often, when the spouse who had the handicap permit passes away it is simply "inherited" by the survivor who goes on using it as if it were issued to them. She knows only one person who turned it back in after his wife died. No one keeps track of these permits.

[loyalsister]

43. Since when?

I suggest you check your state law. Some are more serious about it than others.

[madaboutharry]

50. This is what happens in NJ.

That's when.

[loyalsister]

52. Here they have to be renewed yearly

and a small fee is charged. They are considering making further changes which will require a Dr. visit for each renewal.

[bleedingheart]

57. I have to say that here in PA there are folks who use grandma's

permit ...meanwhile grandma is in a rest home...not at the mall shopping with them.

Meanwhile I make my handicapped mother walk (it is actually good for her knees...and her orthopedist told her the same thing...but she refuses to comply) and she hates me for it but she ends up feeling better. I think the handicapped spots should be for those who are severely handicapped...

[Lars39]

17. Why should parking lots be any different than coveted subway seats?

That argument doesn't quite hold up because there wouldn't be anybody in a parked car to give up the space if someone in worse shape comes along.


on edit: Are you bored, Burtworm? :D :popcorn:

[northzax]

29. and reserved subway seats are a 'courtesy'

not a legal requirement.
who wins, a pregnant woman, or a heart patient?

[unblock]

20. out of curiosity, any anecdotes of a "showing" woman getting ticketed?

i'm kinda guessing that a cop isn't especially likely to ticket a "very" pregnant woman (at least if the cop sees them), or that a "very" pregnant woman might stand a much better chance of getting out of it....

:shrug:

[annabanana]

21. no.. but when she's wrestling with TODDLERS..

THEN she should have access to the spaces. Anyone who thinks that jackassing a couple of small children, a double stroller, shopping bags, carseats etc etc doesn't give you a significant handicap HAS NEVER TRIED IT

It's like having 3 heads,6 arms,6 legs, and only having real control over 1/3 of the beast.

[Lars39]

22. And on ice.

[mainer]

right on. It's far harder when they're OUT of the womb

Pregnancy is a cinch compared with those squirmy things after they're born.

As for pregnant women getting seats on buses or subways, I think that's a whole different situation, and there they SHOULD get the seat. Because pregnancy throws your whole body off balance, and the last thing you want is a wobbly 160-pound woman trying to stay on her feet in a moving bus.

[LizW]

48. Especially when it's very hot or cold

When it's 95 degrees, you have to choose, let the kids broil in the sun or bake in the hot car while you load the groceries in?

The grocery guys used to routinely aske me if I needed help when I was pregnant (which I didn't), but never after I had a toddler and an infant (when I most definitely did).

[Lone_Star_Dem]

24. That depends on if her doc thinks she shouldn't be walking.

Walking isn't bad for you when you're pregnant, unless you're having problems. If you are having complications, your doctor can and will (I've know of pregnant women with them) give you a handicapped parking permit.

I walked to work up until the day before my daughter was born. However, my pregnancy was an easy one with no complications.

[Fleshdancer]

26. Only if they have a permit

As a mom, I know how physically demanding a pregnancy can be and for some, the pregnancy is high risk. If this is the case, then I recommend the pregnant woman discuss the situation with her doctor who can then help her get a temporary permit.

Many places are adding stork parking that is based on the honor system and, in my opinion, a great alternative to handicap parking. Life is hard enough for people who are truly handicapped, let's not make it any harder for them at this point.

[JitterbugPerfume]

27. this is a good question

some pregnancy is very difficult, and anyone who has never has the swollen feet and back pain just has no idea . Walking is a very beneficial exercise for pregnant women , but of course when my daughter was having 7 lb (apiece ) twins , it was inadvisable

[derby378]

28. Some businesses provide parking especially for expectant mothers

That's one way to do it.

[seabeyond]

30. it isnt a handicap and give them a space. especially

those women that JUSThad the baby and have to lug a car seat to do the weeks shopping, especially since they probably have that huge cumbersome thing and a 2, 3 year old... lol lol following behind.

why not make it a little easier. i will even retrieve a cart for a mother so she doesnt have to carry the carrier thru a parking lot.

i on the other hand so do not mind walking thru a parking lot, getting some exercise and fresh air, to get to store entrance. and if i am in a hurry, i can wlak really fast.

[kevinbgoode]

32. I figured the next move by the Republican -controlled legislatures

would be to ban women from driving, period. After all, God wants them at home with those pregnancies.

[Lars39]

34. Shh. Don't give them any more ideas.

But damnit, I could see them doing it, too.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

33. Recognizing that SOME women need it and may get stickers as it is now

No, I don't believe pregnant women should generally be allowed to use handicap spaces. Most women do not need it and the ones that do are eligible for stickers.

[ThomWV]

36. Why Shouldn't Lazy People Be Able to Park In HC Spaces?

Are they not as deserving as anyone else and is not laziness simply an illness of the mind, equally as disabling as any other malady?

[laylah]

37. I voted "other" because

for me, it would depend on how far along she is and what "shape" she is in. Difficult pregnancy? Absolutely! Normal? Walking is good for preggers women...I know, I was one twice.

Jenn

[SmokingJacket]

38. No. But...

I think it's okay for a store to add extra "stork/child parking" in addition to handicapped parking. Having been both pregnant and with little kids, being with little kids is actually a much greater burden -- and it can be dangerous hauling a two year old and a baby across a busy lot. A little kid who breaks away from his parent is nearly invisible to cars backing up.

Most pregnant women can use the exercise! ;-)

[madokie]

40. Yes I qualify for the use of the handicap parking spaces but haven't

sent the request in yet for fear of giving in to my condition. If we can't allow them to use the handicap spaces we need to add Pregnant spaces, me thinks.

[Horse with no Name]

41. Pregnancy is considered a disability so why shouldn't she be able?

and if the need warranted I have no problem with that.
Some women have a hard time with pregnancy and some women have complications.
To say that the "women should just stay home"--what if they aren't married and have a pressing need to get groceries or whatever? What kind of crap is that?
I'm sorry--this isn't "about the fetus" as many are saying, it is about the woman. A woman who might have mild toxemia, swelling, or perhaps even suffering exacerbation of pre-pregnancy illnesses such as arthritis, etc.
In some, their zeal for pro-choice seems to leave out the obvious.
This woman utilized her choice and decided to have a child.

[Arkansas Granny]

44. Normal pregnancy shouldn't require using handicap spaces. If

there is a medical condition along with the pregnancy, get your doctor to sign off for a handicap sticker. For most pregnant women, moderate exercise is a good thing. My doctor always recommended walking when I was pregnant on the theory that it keeps the muscles strong and makes for an easier delivery.

[Cats Against Frist]

47. I think they should be able to, but they should also be reasonable

If someone is eight to nine months pregnant, and about to pop, sure. If they're less than eight, they need to move their ass as much as any healthy person, to stay healthy. All kinds of people get handicapped spots that need it far less than someone who's about to go into labor. I don't believe in handicapped parking spaces, though -- mandated by fines. I would prefer to see just a special spot, set aside, for expectant mothers.

[AbbyR]

51. This reminds me...

the only time I ever used a handicapped space or allowed my husband to use one when I was with him was when I was very much in labor with my third child. He made a beeline for the handicapped space, and I told him not to. He told me that if I wasn't handicapped then (the baby was born about 15 minutes later), no one was.

We parked there and got me in - but I still made him go move the car before he came to delivery.

(She was 21 on on March 13, by the way, and is a constant joy.)

[RebelOne]

53. Kroger supermarkets here in Georgia

along with handicapped parking also have spaces especially for pregnant women.

[porphyrian]

54. I'm only for this if it doesn't penalize others the spaces are for.

I think some pregnancies, at least in the later stages, could warrant the use of handicapped parking spaces. I would certainly rather they use the spots than lazy healthy people who are "in a hurry" and park there illegally (or worse, use connections to obtain a permit tag). I don't believe all pregnancies necessitate this, not for the entire nine months (in most cases), anyway. If there is no health risk, most people could use the extra fifty yards walking. Politeness, like morality, should not be legislated.

[qanda]

55. Only a person who has never had a baby resting on their sciatic nerve

Would say that pregnant women shouldn't be allowed to park in a handicap parking space. Ouch! That really hurt.

[helderheid]

56. They had parking spaces in France set up for pregnant folks - I loved it!

[kestrel91316]

60. Pregnant women NEED exercise, and like most Americans

probably don't get nearly enough. Unless they are having some sort of complications and are ILL, I say get up and WALK like the rest of us. Pregnancy is not a disease or disorder, it is a perfectly normal life situation, like having a period.

[gollygee]

61. If late in their pregnancy they can get the doctor to give them a sticker

or thing to fly in the window, then sure.

Late in my pregnancy, I was HUGE, unstable, and extraordinarily tired all the time. It would have been helpful. Especially since I was like that during the late winter and it's hard to walk on the snow and ice when you can't see your feet.

[bklyncowgirl]

62. Pregnancy is not a handicap

I'm a bit dated here (by 18 years) I remember being told to excercise. I even rode my bike to work through the streets of Brooklyn until my eigth month when my coworkers threatened to steal my tires.

Pregnancy is different for every woman and if someone needs a handicap sticker she should be able to get one without jumping through too many hoops, but I wouldn't do this as a universal thing for all pregnant women.

[rpgamerd00d]

63. Of course not. Pregnancy is voluntary.

I'll be damned if I'm walkin' 20 extra feet because you decided to reproduce...

:rofl:

[Katherine Brengle]

64. Having been a pregnant woman, I would have appreciated it...

I mean, I could barely make it from the car to the inside of the store before needing to pee--that in itself should qualify as a handicap. (I voted "yes"--but I think it really depends on how far along you are.)

[GreenPartyVoter]

65. As for me.....

I've tried walking across a long icy parking lot at 8 months with a squirming toddler under one arm and two bags of groceries under another and I appreciated the thoughtfulness of those stores that had maternity parking spaces just after the handicapped zones.

[donsu]

66. in my last months of Pregnancy walking/standing was not fun!

and parking close to stores would sure help.

pregnancy can have short term disabilities.

many pregnant woman have to continue to live their lives without help.

[FlaGranny]

67. MY local BJ's has

handicapped parking spaces for people with babies - believe it or not. These are actually closer to the store entrance than the handicapped spots for handicapped people. But, I don't really have a problem with heavily pregnant ladies being allowed to park near the entrance. It's been a long time, but I DO remember that 9th month.

Edit: I'm wondering if these baby "handicapped" spots and "pregnancy" spots aren't just the store's idea. If they are actually separately marked as "baby" and "expecting mothers", they are probably not "the law" and just a store courtesy to the customers they serve.

[Beelzebud]

68. What about those with serious disabilities? Pregnancy is not a disability

I'm all for placing spaces just for expectant mothers, but to ignore people who have serious physical disabilities, in favor of pregnant women just seems wrong to me.

[Midlodemocrat]

69. I have no problem with pregnant moms using these spaces

I never did, but I had pretty uncomplicated pregnancies. Some women have terrible trouble with sciatica, but they still need to shop for the rest of their family.

I have a handicapped hanging tag that I got when my dad was alive. He was wheelchair bound, and the regular spots were too small for me to get him into the chair. I am, thankfully, healthy, but when I had him with me, I had no problem using the handicapped spots. Once or twice, I took my husband's car without the tag, still parked there and told the restaurant manager. They were really nice about it.