Good Parking Spaces - Something that really bugs me! Why are there "Expecting Mother " parking spots?

Something that really bugs me! Why are there "Expecting Mother " parking spots?

I don't get it! We have them at our malls and some stores around here! They are going to get out of their vehicle and go walk around a whole mall or the store anyways, why do they need to park closer? Pregnant women are supposed to get their exercise anyways! I think if anyone should get a closer spot it should be mothers who already have very young children and have to take their child, stroller, often a diaper bag or etc, in with them. This really annoys me! Besides if I park in one how are they going to prove I'm not expecting? Are they going to give me a pregnancy test right then and there? Anyone else feel the same? Or if you think these should be there, please help me in understanding why! No need to be RUDE people! If she can walk in the mall and her feet don't hurt or can drive in labor...what's the point...I asked for good reasons! BTW I am in Ohio! Ohhh, I stirred up some s.h.i.t. now, show some respect, it's a simple question...no I haven't been pregnant yet, but that doesn't mean I don't understand what is going on...give me a break! I have hauled several little ones around before and it is tough...women have survived many years without the spots. I know I will not use them when I am just pregnant, because I don't agree with them, I will leave them for handicapped or mothers who are pregnant with complications and could get a temporary handicap spot! Reading some of these answers made me feel even stronger on it! Some people gave good legit answers like the weather or carrying things and I thank those of you who did and those who supported the question!

Public Comments

now imagine them going into labor while at the mall.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!???? That's dumb! If the expecting mother is going to walk around a mall, she can sure as hell walk a few extra parking spaces!!!
OMG!!! I wish they had that kind of stuff any of the times I was pregnant! That's a wonderful idea!
just in case they go in labor there closer 2 the door 4 help
Get pregnant and you will appreciate those spots when your feet hurt like crazy.
Because what if the lady starts going into contractions while she's heading for the exit? hehe Then wouldn't it be better if her car was closer at that point? It's just a backup conveinience. Pregnant women should have the option. Hell I'm not even a woman and I feel that way. DUH! What's wrong with you?? lol
I just think it's the stores way of being nice to it's preggo mommies. A lot of times women who are pregnant have a hard time getting around and it's just a nicety to ahve those spots. I don't think it's the law.
when u do something in the parking lot u can expect to be a mother soon
i totally agree with you. they are pretty stupid
It's ludicrous, they must implement an equal number of expecting father parking spaces immediately. Apparently Kansas is largely a parking space so they don't have them there.
Didn't know they had Expection Mother parking spots. They don't have them here in Kansas that I'm aware of. My Wal-Mart does have a Sick Kid parking spot.
I park in them all the time . . . These women' dont deserve anything special just because they got knocked up. Listen to Tom Leykis to find out more.
Here is a scenario for you....she goes into labor!!! Duh, she will need to get to the car, FAST.
So far we don't have those around here. All we have is handicapped and parent with child signs. If someone is pregnant with problems then ask your doctor to help you get a temporary handicapped sign.
i doubt women in their last months of pregnancy are going to trapse around the mall. have you ever been pregnant? Do you know what it feels like to carry a bowling ball in your abdomen? uggh!
Maybe it's so pregnant women don't have to carry stuff as far to their cars.
Because it makes things easier for them. And pregnent women DO NOT need stress.
i feel the same way and i am pregnant. those spots are pointless! cause people that are not pregnant park in them. i know i was when i wasnt pregnant then me and my friends would select who was goin to be pregnant today, just in case there was a pregnant parking spot police ou there! lol
LOL I thought the same thing! I can understand for a woman who's in her 3rd trimester or who has an infant. I know for some pregnant women, they get sciatica and other pregnancy related issues that makes it more difficult to get up and move around. I can see your point but really, there is a reason those parking places are there!
where are you from?....I've never heard of those kinds of parking spots....either way it seems ridiculous to me...
I havent seen any of those signs. But have you considered weather conditions? many people can slip and fall because of rain or ice on the ground . A fall like that could be very dangerous (if not fatal) for a pregnant woman. Just a thought.
Most of those spots are because, expecting mothers are instructed not to carry over 20 lbs and if they have to go get groceries or stuff it may be too heavy.. when I was expecting the last time, I had a one year and it was nice not have to walk forever carrying my one year old and stuff and be expecting... you can't prove your not carrying a baby.. it's the honor system
There are spots at stores I go to for expecting mothers or mothers with children. I don't have kids, but I have never ever used those spots whenI take my two nephews anywhere. They're 4 1/2 and 1 1/2. People managed just fine for the last 100 years we've had cars without those spots- I refuse to use them. Even if I had 10 kids. I like the exercise.
It's just a nice thing to do for expectant mothers. No I doubt you will get a pregnancy test on the spot. But if you have any manners you will not park in them. They aren't handicap spots so you won't get a ticket. Why does this bother you?
i think it is a good idea they dont have to be in danger while walkin through a parking lot have a great day
I've often wondered how they were going to tell the difference between a pregnant woman and one who wasn't.
They're not for women who are just a few days pregnant -- they're for women who are HUGE. It's the same thing as giving up your seat on the train for a pregnant woman. I think it's a nice thing to do.
I agree with you about the spot for mothers with young children.
What about the expectant mother with more than one child with them? That is most often the case and you know what, I dont have a problem with the expectant mother places. In the 9th month of pregnancy (even 8th), let me tell you, it is absolute HELL. You are hot all the time, sweaty, tired, heavy, and have a 7 pound kid inside you kicking you all over the place, you barely get any sleep, you cant breathe properly, and having another kid or toddler to deal with? Its hard. im all for expectant mother parking spaces!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i see the point you're making...very valid one as well. i always get irritated when i see someone who will congest a parking lane so they can get a spot closer to the door. so not only have they wasted the 2 mins it would have taken to park further away and walked to the door of the mall/store/etc in that same amount of time, but now they're going to walk 6 miles around a mall/store/etc but they couldn't walk an extra 50 ft in a parking lot. no wonder this country has an obesity problem
Yeah I don't like those parking spots either. It reminds those who can't have children that...they are not able to have kids. It's insensitive. Also, if a pregnant lady is at the store, don't you think she is feeling well enough to go through the rigors of shopping. What is this world coming to???
Because, the same reasonb why they invented the handicapped spaces- they will walk around anyway, but we will try to make them walk as little as possible. My mom tells me that I used to be a HUGE ROCK in her stomach, so saving a few spaces would have been great if thaty was around back in those days.
Never heard of them before... I agree with your point about mothers with young children. It is a major hassle dealing with three little ones trying to walk through a huge parking lot. On the other hand, I would have loved to have a closer parking space while I was pregnant. So my answer is both should have them! But then people with older kids or no kids would bitch about it.
Seriously. B1tches should walk far from their cars like the rest of us and then get home fast to make dinner before they get smacked.
what is wrong with you??? you have never been pregnant have you? yes, mothers with small children should have a spot, and pregnant women also. its hard to be pregnant especially during the last trimester. they need wider parking spaces, and a little more help in standing sitting and they are uncomfortable. so be patient and one day it could be you in those shoes. think about it.
I've never heard of such a thing but I think it's a silly idea. What's next?.... smoking and non-smoking parking spaces.
In Indianapolis we have parking for Handicap, Expectant Mother and for Parents with Toddlers. You get a special sticker to park there.
Only women who need them use them. If I were 8 months along, I'd be glad to see one. But I suppose I respect other people and their limitations.
LMAOR! I love your question! Preg. women do need exercise but not when they are almost full term. I have never seen a parking spot like that, but I can say my mothers water broke in Bel Air. P.S: Dirty D...Ignorance is not hot! I think your mama's calling.
well in some of what your saying i do understand and agree with you, but first there are car parks for mothers with stollers, 2nd if u notice the walk of a pregnant woman in her later stages of the pregnancy she can't walk very fast so if she was to be crossing the road like some with a disabilty or an old person she has more of a chance of being hit because she can't move fast enough out of the way. i have never actully seen a expecting mothers car park i don't think we have them here in australia
i use to feel the same way, until i was an expectant father. knowing that they were there made me feel better that my wife would not be inconvenienced as she waddled to the store. the spots around here in VA are marked for expectant mothers and parents with infants, which now also works for me with two small children. try hauling a car seat with a 20lb 6 month old and a 2 year old to the store, adn you will see the need for this convenience, or seeming inconvenience as the case may be.
In my area they do have an expectant mother/mother with small children spot. It is for both. With this being a large military community many time there is no one to go to the store for them and they have to do things themselves, it can be dangerous for them to carry/lift/and push heavy things. This is for the safety of their unborn child as well as the mother. I can undertand what you mean about Mommies which is whay I added the part in the beginning that some stores do have spaces for them also.
As a once-pregnant woman, I was very grateful for "expectant mother" parking, especially where I live, in the desert. Carrying a baby inside you is awfully tough on your ligaments, muscles, skeleton, feet. The less walking you have to do, the easier it is on you and sometimes, it can be an issue of safety as well. It is not uncommon for pregnant women to have contractions throughout their pregnancy and for those who tend to contract more (as I did), being able to get in and out of a mall fast was extremely helpful to my baby and to me. Believe me, I wasn't "shopping around" at the time. I went in, got what I needed, and got out. It's a kindess to those who need a small break.
That's interesting. Not around here. Ok-When I was 9 months preg-that would have been nice-on second thought,walking is great to help labor along... I don't know why in the world they have them either. But if they ever want to pass a law about the mom with kids thing-I'll lobby for it!
I have never heard of those before. It seems to be utterly ridiculous to me. Do the E. M. parking spots take priority of handicap parking? It just shows what can be accomplished when when somebody in power has way too much time on thier hands.
Who Knows..............it is especially important that they get exercise............they should be for mothers with more then one small child,because some times 3 and 4 year olds will dart across the parking lot and can get hurt,if mothers are preoccupied with siblings.
I have never seen these but you have made some good points. If we get our own though, then the dads will want their own. And what about Grandparents, and pet owners. It's gonna get completely out of control if someone doesn't put a stop to this madness!!
I think it is a good idea but as with handicapped parking, people are going to abuse it. The only real reason I can think of to justify it at a mall is that they are trying to reduce the distance the pregnant women have to walk while possibly carrying heavy packages. My wife is pregnant, however she's not showing yet, and pulled into one of these spots at the supermarket. I said something to her about it because she was not nearly at the point that she needs to use these spots. I have seen a select few of these spots marked for expecting mothers as well as parent's with young children in my area.
Lets say.... A expecting mother is hungry. So,she wants to have close parking because,Arby's is right next to the food court entrance,oh darn,no close parking. The mother has a baby before she gets to the food court. The parking lot is full. The ambulance can't find the mother that is going though pregnacy. Eventually the baby dies. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> If this happens,or for some other reason something else happens. Expectant mother parking helps the mother walk less,to get to a simple destination. If,not something bad could happen. How would you feel,if u had to walk far a way to an entrance with a 20 pound baby,expecting anytime now. Wouldn't you rather be not lazy and walk all the way to the entrance,and give the expectant mother respect,and less of a hard time to get somewhere quickly? I think expectant mother parking SHOULD be there.
Even if there were parking spaces for this situation some idiot would pak in it anyway the same way nonhandicapped people get away with parking inthe handicap spaces