Handicap parking pass for third trimester?

AlexPuppy

My DH and I did some shopping this past weekend.  He dropped me off at the door of the stores while he went to find parking.  Since I hope to not be on bed-rest and maybe still going out on my own in the coming weeks, I was thinking it would be good to have a handi-cap parking pass. 

Has anyone gotten one?  And is it worth the trouble?  Did you use it a lot?  Did you need a doctors note, and if so, did your doc readily write you one?

kimarino13

I was thinking about this today as well.  I am off work and on modified bed rest, but can still go out and run errands for a short period of time every now and then.  When I do, though, I am in a good deal of pain.  I dread going out shopping for groceries when the lot is full and I have to park waaaaaay in the back.  Or when I go to the Peri's office and have to park two buildings away.  Ouch.  And I assume I will only get more uncomfortable as time passes.

But, I would hate to take a handicap spot from some who really needs it, like someone in a wheelchair or an elderly person.  So because of this, I am not sure if I am going to ask about it.   I don't know what to do.

raisingarizona2008

I was on bed rest most of my pregnancy and did not get one. I would have my dh go to the store if I needed something. I would have felt guilty using a parking spot that is supposed to be used for someone that was disabled. I also figured that there are tens of thousands of women out there right now that are also pregnant with twins and they weren't doing it. Now, if I was carrying trips or quads then it might be a different story.

kimarino13

raisingarizona2008:

I would have felt guilty using a parking spot that is supposed to be used for someone that was disabled. I also figured that there are tens of thousands of women out there right now that are also pregnant with twins and they weren't doing it. Now, if I was carrying trips or quads then it might be a different story.

Exactly.  You said it better than I did. 

Temp159135562506975

my doc gave me one b/c my job has me parking all day long- i started using it at 20w.  Other than that- i can't imagine really needing one... if you need one for regular outings now and then- then i'd say maybe you shouldn't be going out... but your doc will decide what he thinks.

i only used mine when there were no other decent spots.

ImRonBurgundy?

I'm not sure a twin pregnancy would qualify you for a parking pass.  But, I will say that I did take advantage of the "expectant mother parking" spots at a few places around town (Babies R Us, our grocery store, etc).  By the 3rd trimester, there was certainly no denying that I was very, very pregnant - most people stared at me in amazement of the size of my huge belly, so no one questioned my parking in those spots.  But despite being very big, it was never really hard to walk from the parking lot to a store.  

Temp159135562506975

ImRonBurgundy?:

I'm not sure a twin pregnancy would qualify you for a parking pass.  But, I will say that I did take advantage of the "expectant mother parking" spots at a few places around town (Babies R Us, our grocery store, etc).  By the 3rd trimester, there was certainly no denying that I was very, very pregnant - most people stared at me in amazement of the size of my huge belly, so no one questioned my parking in those spots.  But despite being very big, it was never really hard to walk from the parking lot to a store.  

in my case, because my job required me to park and walk in/out of buildings all day long (i'm a drug rep) my doc wanted me to have it so i would have less activity, less chance of slipping on ice (since it was winter) and lower my chance of PTL.  It wasn't that I was unable to walk- but doing it over and over all day long was a stressor on my body.

ImRonBurgundy?

Goldie_Locks_5:

ImRonBurgundy?:

I'm not sure a twin pregnancy would qualify you for a parking pass.  But, I will say that I did take advantage of the "expectant mother parking" spots at a few places around town (Babies R Us, our grocery store, etc).  By the 3rd trimester, there was certainly no denying that I was very, very pregnant - most people stared at me in amazement of the size of my huge belly, so no one questioned my parking in those spots.  But despite being very big, it was never really hard to walk from the parking lot to a store.  

in my case, because my job required me to park and walk in/out of buildings all day long (i'm a drug rep) my doc wanted me to have it so i would have less activity, less chance of slipping on ice (since it was winter) and lower my chance of PTL.  It wasn't that I was unable to walk- but doing it over and over all day long was a stressor on my body.

 Oh I completely understand that!!  I'm so sorry, I wasn't implying in any way that there aren't special cases in which a parking pass is needed - in your case, with a rigorous physical job and lots of parking and walking, that definitely would necessitate a parking pass! I don't know you how you did that - sounds exhausting (and I've seen how much stuff pharm. sales reps tote in and out of doctors' offices!).  My little once a day walk from the parking lot to my office (all of 50 feet) felt like a mile walk at the very end of my pregnancy!

eileenm21

my husband is disabled, so I know first hand what it is like if someone takes one of those spots when they aren't needed.  I think if your dr. says you need one, you have a job that requires a ton of driving like above etc, then go for it, but I see no reason for one otherwise.  Right now I just walk from my spot.  If I get put on modified bedrest, I will just have DH drop me at the front door. 

preheatedoven

I got one about two weeks ago. I work on a large university campus and often have to park about 4 blocks away and with the WI winter coming up my doctor was concerned about me falling and I was having a lot of pain and contractions after walking to and from my car. 

That being said, I haven't really used it while out and about, I just figure if I can walk from the nearest spot that is open I am not going to take a handicapped spot from someone who may not be able to. 

lnle

I would like to have one for "emergencies" but wouldn't use it regularly - esp. if I'm on bedrest and not supposed to go out anyway. If I get to work longer than planned I might use it on work days so I have a shorter walk to my building. But if I'm going to be out in a few weeks anyway I may not bother.

The crazy thing is that at my hospital (where the OB/MFM is located), the handicapped spots are still in the parking garage, which is a decent walk from the building - the special spots are just closer to the stairs/elevator. So having a pass for dr. appts wouldn't really help me much.

ppants

I got one per DH's insistance and dr filling out paperwork.  It was the middle of winter here and very icy.  I was very thankful to have it.

ethansbride2b

I'm on complete bedrest now, so I only go out for doctors appointments.  Usually when I go to the OB, I have DH drop me off at the front door.  When I go to the peri, there is never any close parking spots and its a far walk, so we borrowed a wheelchair from his Mom and I use that.  There is no way I could walk all that way, but since that is the only place that I go, then to me its not worth getting the parking pass or even trying.  I don't know what it entails to get it, but it probably requires a doctors not of some kind. 

lulugirl

I have one. I use it when I cannot find a close spot to the door. I am on modified bedrest and allowed outings but my doc does not want me walking much. I also rented a wheelchair so I can go out without walking.

The big Minnesota winter is coming and I feel a bit better knowing I will not have far to walk if I have to go out.

franciscaz

Honestly if I were you I would not be going out like that during the third tri... that is just my opinion but after having two premies I can't say enough TAKE IT EASY!!!!  You don't want this.

blairsgirl

My dr was insistent that I have it during my pg.  I didn't want it because I didn't feel like I really needed it.  And I can honestly say I never used it once.  I was one bedrest for a lot of my pg and if I needed something from the store asked someone to get it for me.  When I wasn't on bedrest, I would see how I felt before going out.  If I was tired or just not feeling right, I wouldn't go and ask someone to pick up what I needed.  

LoveTravel

I never even thought about it while I was pregnant- I was on bed rest for about a month so the only time I went out of the house was for appointment and at that someone would drop me off at the door and go park the car, in regards to errands my husband and/or MIL were the ones who took care of it- my Dr. never mentioned it and it never crossed my mind. 

As some posters have mentioned their situation, I can see that the Dr. would recommend getting one.

susanc07

i was debating getting one b/c i have to walk from EBF into work and i slipped and fell no less than 4 times on the ice last year.

same with walking into class at night.

but still haven't decided on getting one or not.

CheekyLilMoo

I never got one but my family did rent a wheelchair for me when I was on bedrest.  The end of my pregnancy was over the summer so it was extremely useful for family parties, etc.  I would also have my bf push me around stores to run errands.  If he wasn't around my friends and family would get anything I needed.