Before falling pregnant, I vowed that I'd never be one of those mothers-to-be who'd start wearing a "Baby on Board" badge the minute two lines appeared on a little white stick.
It kinda made me feel like a farm animal that had been branded on my butt! In this case the 'farmer' would've been London Underground and I'm pretty sure there are lots of laws regulating what they can and cannot do to my butt! Apart from providing it a nice comfy seat to accompany me on my daily commute between Southfields and Monument station.
London Underground provide these neat little branded badges to mothers-to-be who are 'with child' which one wears so that, should you have a daily commute, like I do, that lasts around an hour each way, when you enter a busy tube carriage, people magically part like the Red-Sea and you are given a seat by a kindly gentleman or gentlewoman.
I felt very strongly about NOT wearing one of these badges, firstly I didn't want anyone at work knowing I was pregnant until I was at least 3 months gone and secondly I refer to my first paragraph about not wanting to feel like member of Old MacDonalds clan.
I caved by 16 weeks.
I gave in and went to collect my "Baby on Board" badge during one very hot commute through Monument station.
And let me tell you something, London Underground have this nailed because you can't collect a badge from a normal ticket window (i.e. where you're belly is not clearly visible behind the bullet proof glass). No, no, no my dear friends, you have to go to the Stations Masters office. I think this is to deter people who are carrying a couple of extra bon-bons around their waistline rather than an actual baby, by claiming a badge rather than going on a much needed diet.
You have to show proof that you're expecting; they don't ask you outright to lift up your blouse or flash a positive pregnancy test. But I had to answer some very quick fired questioned that were slightly tainted in fake congratulatory "Ah, well done Las! Is this your first then? How far are you? Congratulations! When are you due?".
I'm pretty sure part of the recruitment process for a Station Master involves candidates having to do a quick calculation to see if your current week of pregnancy matches your due date!
Ryan almost cried when I showed him my badge when I got home that evening. And insisted on taking a photo (see 'exhibit A' below). This now meant that I was openly telling the world I was pregnant rather than carrying a couple of pounds of holiday weight. It worked. People parted like the Red-Sea and I was very lucky that by wearing my little badge I got a seat on the hottest of days. There are special seats in each tube carriage that are designated for my sort, which quickly become available if your badge is within sight.
I wore the badge for all of three weeks. I passed the awkward phase and started looking pregnant rather than the Pillsbury Dough boy. I also feel equally comfortable asking for a seat if I actually need one. Which I think every pregnant woman should do, instead of looking around, rubbing their tummies as if people should magically guess that they've been knocked-up rather than suffering a bout of indigestion. I've also been on the receiving end and felt like a complete b**** when a disabled woman asked for my seat and I said "I'm afraid you'll have to ask that gentleman over there to move as I'm 6 months pregnant."
I'm 29 weeks pregnant today, officially 7 months and 1 week. I've also altered my hours at work in the run up to heading off on maternity leave, working a four day week, two days in the office and two days from home. The joys of working for a progressive company!
I can't believe that in a little over 10 weeks Little One will be here...we've upgraded his nickname to Mexican Jumping Bean because that's what he feels like!
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| Exhibit A - Yes I know it's upside down but so is our baby ;-) |
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