Special treatment for pregnant women?

I would like some explanations, not just snide anecdotal evidence. Someone asked earlier why pregnant women were entitled to certain special treatments.

For example, parking spaces. Some malls/shops have close parking spaces for pregnant women. Another example is giving up a chair/seat to a pregnant woman?

The crux of this issue (to me anyway) is the entitlement itself. I was very sick on chemo/radiation for a year. I was so weak and sick I had trouble walking or moving at all. There are no special parking spaces for cancer patients (don't suggest handicap stickers; those are next to impossible to get). Why is a pregnant woman any more entitled to a special parking spot than a cancer patient, or someone with AIDS, or severe asthma?

Please use a modicum of intelligence in your answers; I am not soliciting rants.

I disagree that you can't see other conditions....if someone is pale and bald, they are quite possibly undergoing chemo. And some women (like my sister in law) are nine months pregnant and you can't tell.

I understand where you're coming from and I don't have an answer but maybe you could just park in the spaces for mothers. You don't need a sticker to park there and who cares what other people think. I don't think there will be any extra spaces for ill people coming anytime soon. It's just another one of life's unfairnesses.

I can't really answer your quesiton, but I do some-what agree with you, however if there were a parking spot designated for every type of illness or disease, there would be none left for healthy, normal people.

Just to add-I am 6 months pregnant and I never park in those pregnant woman parking spots-I figure maybe there is another pregnant woman who is 9 months along fixing to pop that may need it more than me-but when I'm that far along and I have a harder time getting around, I may park there.

I can't answer why they are more entitled- pregnancy is a medical condition just as those you describe. My guess as to why it is recognized much more often (and catered to) is that it's much more visible. Rather than catering to pregnant women specifically, my suggestion would be to make it much easier to obtain a temporary handicap sticker (I've never had to, so I don't know how hard they are to get). That way, anyone who can present a reason to have one, can get one. (ie. nine months for pregnancy, six weeks for someone recovering from surgery, and renewable ones for cancer/AIDs patients).

if I were pregnant I probably wouldn't even bother with the special parking, but you are right- why not open it up to those with other medical conditions? I never see the stork parking spots filled anyways.
Did you even notice people get handicapped tags for the most ridiculous things, but those who need them have a hard time? A neighbor has one for her skin condition on her lip. Good thing she can stop right in front of the mini mart to get her cartons of ciggies.

I suppose because her condition is visible and because it's become a social thing...the whole glaring-at-guys who don't give up their seat, etc. If you put an "if you have an ailment, use this" sign on a parking place, everyone's going to go for it.

I get irritated at the parking spots set aside by one store near my home for "SHOPPERS WITH SMALL CHILDREN." I park in it. I have a child and he's smaller than me. For now, anyway.

Probably the best way to handle this one is to make the temp handicap stickers more available and more of those spaces as well. Pregnacy is easy to see, and so you don't feel like your being cheated when you see a very pregnant women park in one. However, something like cancer IS hard to see, and people can say they have it when they don't to park in a special place (horrid people out there) I know how hard it is to get those handicap stickers though. I say, be polite and give up your chair to anyone who may need it more than you and give more of those stickers out. By the way, I am part of a Medival group and we had a wonderful women camp with us one year who was on Chemo..she actually schedualed her chemo around this event so she could go. One day, when she was feeling particularly weak and was upset that she wouldn't be able to see the battle..a bunch of our guys made a litter and carried her like a queen to the side of the battlefield and then went to change into their armor! So there is still amazing kindness and chivalry out there..

A pregnant woman is not necessarily more entitled to good parking, but it is easier to tell by looking at a woman that she is pregnant than it is to tell that someone has cancer by looking at them. and they may not have cancer parking next to the stork parking because of that. It would also be impossible to enforce unless you carried your medical records and therefore would probably get taken advantage of by people without cancer.

I do understand wear your coming from though, I have 2 Aunts that probably would have liked a cancer treatment parking space too. good luck

I think that the main reason is because it is a much more visible than the other health issues you mentioned. I know that some people with cancer, AIDS, or severe asthma might need a closer parking spot than some pregnant women, but how could you know for sure. People lie about crazy things and if you could park right up front if you just said you had cancer or asthma then why wouldn't you? No one in that parking lot could prove you wrong. And it isn't like every dr is going to give out stickers to cancer, asthma and AIDs patients. So I guess the anwer is because you could never really tell who was being honest. Pregnancy you can see. Asthma, AIDS and Cancer you can not. I do have about 3 family members with Cancer right now and they are on chemo. They applied for a handicapped sticker and recieved one, temporary, but they are not impossible to get.

I guess for the obvious reason, when you look at a woman you can tell that she's pregnant (sometimes).You cannot look at a person and tell whether or not they have an illness like Aids,cancer or if they are a severe asthmatic.that person may look like they are sick or runned down but you cannot pinpoint a specific illness.therefore I don't think a pregnant woman is more entitled its just that her "handicap" is more visible.I hope this makes sense.

I think that the special treatment for pregnant women is a great thing... the less a pregnant woman does as far as standing or walking too far, the better her chances of giving birth to a healthy baby and keeping good health herself... and I definately see your point.

People who are in the same situation you were in should be given parking stickers and such... and so should people with severe asthma. I was on crutches and it was really hard to do things BUT I could still manage. No one ever held the door open for me and no one helped me carry things or put groceries in my car. I would have told them I didn't need help of course, I rather do things on my own. BUT Some people do need special privilages tho and I totally agree.

I guess I never thought of that. I am assuming because one, although diseases are much more known about today, they still are kept somewhat quiet, something people seem to try not to discuss, probably out of fear. My second guess is because there are alot more pregnant women that are known customers. I do think that it is right to give up a seat for a pregnant woman as I so far have a had difficult pregnancy and the parking is a good idea, but if I saw someone obviously undergoing chemo or I could tell that they had a serious illness, I would give my seat for them.

Also probably because with pregnant women, you know they are pregnant, I fear that if they did that for all the right purposes that some idiots would take advantage of that, and take that parking spot because of a sniffle. There is no denying a pregnant woman, but people can pretend to be alot of things (it is a sick world).

I would give you my spot though!

I am glad that you have recovered and will keep you in my thoughts!

for one there are more pregnant women than cancer patients.. and technically, pregnancy is considered a disability.. that's why there are parking spots for them, and if you have ever been pregnant.. you would understand everything you just asked...

when i was pregnant with my daughter.. i had to waddle when i walked cause of the pressure for the baby, there was no way to walk normal cause my stomach got really big, and if i stood for longer than 20 minutes i would ache and become numb from my stomach down to my legs.. i had to wear a maternity belt to help with the weight of my stomach.. i had two blue bumps in my labia cause of swollen veins.. i couldn't breath properly cause the baby was sitting on my lungs.. my legs, ankles and feet were the size of balloons..and i only put on 25 pounds.. there are so many more things, that you'll never know until your pregnant.. plus... most people with cancer aren't really out shopping.. so i guess they don't need to make parking spaces for people who are dying.. I'm so so so so sorry that you were sick.. but i would imagine that if you were that sick you wouldn't need to be out at a store or a train/bus where people need to get up and let you sit..

well probably because of the risk of losing the baby from walking to much in mid pregnancy but i don't know for sure it really isn't fair to the other people with medical conditions but perhaps you should start a petition for handicap parking for the severely ill. i'd sign it! the only thing i do not want to see is the morbidly obese with those tags because that's silly.

I have always wondered that too, especially since walking can be very healthy for a pregnant woman (of course my statement does not apply to pregnant women who have specific health restrictions and should not be walking).

I've seen these parking spaces only at supermarket's (unless you have seen them somewhere else) and at baby/maternity stores such as Babies R Us - but no where else, so I would bet that it is a "marketing ploy" to get pregnant mothers to visit these particular stores on a regular basis. When I was pregnant with twins, I took major advantage of those parking spaces, when they were available, because there were usually on one, two or three set aside for that purpose.

I guess, the owners of these establishments feel or believe (I am just guessing here, not sure what they are thinking) that a women carrying a "unborn baby" poses a special meaning - she is carrying fragile cargo, so care must be taken in protecting that child and taking care of the mother and giving the mother a break by providing her with a safe, short walk into the store. (?? - who knows- just guessing here).

As far as having special spaces for individual's with specific illnesses, if there is a parking space with a sign that read "Parking for People with serious medical conditions", I wonder if that space would be constantly occupied since anyone can say they have AIDS, cancer, ashtma, etc, so what would be the point in having one in the first place.

These are just my thoughts.

Normally the expectant mother parking is meant for high risk pregnancys. and if you park their you can get fine'd for it if you arnt pregnant. myself am 28 weeks pregnant. and have been high risk pregnancy. my first 2 pregnancies almost killed me in less then 12 hours of time .. there are not as many cancer/aids patients who go to the store/ doctors/ hospital or such all at once as compared to someone who is pregnant. i do not have much knowledge with aids patients but with cancer patients normally go to cancer clinics. and usually if going through chemo shouldnt be out in public anyways beings their immune system is lower they are setting themselves up for gettin sicker. also.. with the expectant mothers parking there is usually only like maybe 5 for a mall.. (malls are big) along with hospitals. and not all hospitals have them. nor malls. its not like we get as many as handicap patients (and all the expectant mothers parking is always taken anyways) personally their is alot of people out there that ahve handicap stickers that should WAY TOO MANY that have it and they get way to many parking places too. im sorry but if they can drive themselves and walk they dont need a sticker... and you can get handicap stickers for severe asthma just to tell you.. im sorry but i have no sympathy.. big woop its one parking spot or 3... out of hundreds.. just drive aroudn until you get a closer spot... and i NEVER ask anyone to stand up for me to sit down.. people offer me i say no... because i dont want to be lazy i will walk that extra little bit to get to the doctors office... even tho my doctor tells me not to because if high risk pregnancy... because i dont want to deal with people like you who think that pregnant woman get it better. ill risk my life so i dont have to listen to your bitchin...

***why do i keep having kids for one ilove kids and this is only my THIRD pregnancy/child... not sixth get it right.. and no this is my last child thank you.. and my medical problems dont concern you and how or why i am high risk... ive only noticed that you are extremely upset with pregnant woman and anyone who has posted on your question. for two to disect what i was saying smart.. but actually read what i wrote.. they SHOULDNT go out in public (meaning malls and such where those signs would be ) BEINGS their immune systems are low. cancer runs in my family . i have had cancer already when i was 14 years old... also had a life threatning disease when i was only a year old.. BUT i still live on with life and dont ***** because OMG things arnt the way i want them all the time.. its life.. be happy your living...

1) i've known several people who easily got handicapped stickers when they had cancer.

2) parking spaces though i agree with. pregnant women certainly CAN walk. but i've actually never seen special parking spaces for pregnant women. i've only seen them for old people.

3) giving up a chair or seat, while i would never expect it, would be quite appreciated. due to the relaxin hormone (makes connective tissues like skin & tendons & such loose & stretchy) and the extra weight of pregnancy, my feet are always killing me (my arches have fallen--ouch!). not to mention my back always hurts.

4) basically it is a medical condition. i think anyone with a medical condition that impedes their daily lives should be treated with more consideration.

edit: well, maybe it differs from state to state. where i live people get them relatively easy.

btw, why so angry?

I understand where you are coming from but I believe that some women can use those pregnant women parking spaces..

I'm sure that one of the reasons that people with things such as cancer, aids.. etc. don't get their own parking spaces is because its much more tabu than being pregnant. I'm sure most people who have aids don't want every person in the mall knowing they are have it because they get to park in the 'special spot.' Same thing with cancer: not everyone wants people to know that they are ill or recovering. Pregnant women don't have to apply for a handicapped license while others do because well- how the hell are you going to lie about being pregnant? It's completely visual.

If you have the right doctor then he/she will make sure that you get a handicap marker. My mother has RA and she got one. I know of several people who have broken their legs and gotten one.

If you really are still bitter than try living in Plano Texas. Many times the handicap parking is a bit farther than the regular parking. It is so frustrating for my mother who can hardly walk at all.

BTW- when I was pregnant I had morning sickness for the entire 9 months. Also I had a DVT in the 26 week. I needed all the help I could get and I gladly took it.

That being said, I hope you are better now and I hope that you have continued good health.

I am pg but i dont ask for certiain special treatments. but as for transit i agree with giving up a seat, for disable, pregnant,elderly pregnant women because we lose our balance very easily due to the extra weight we carry due to our child. i am 9 months pg and i found myself losing my balance all the time. it is hard to stand on a bus with hardly anything hold onto. but as for the parking spots they should be only for people for disable. when i am in my dad's car he parked the car in spots for expectant mothers but i tell him that he doesnt have to park there.