Heavily pregnant woman criticised for using children’s parking spaces at Tesco

A WOMAN has been left stunned after witnessing a heavily pregnant mum-to-be being shot at for parking in a parent-child car park at Tesco.

Rosie had just gone to the local supermarket to buy some new shoes and was getting into her car when she heard the conflict.

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“When I got back to my car, a young woman got into her car,” she said in a video on her TikTok page.

“I estimate she was about 20, 21 years old and she was visibly heavily, heavily pregnant.

“I mean, getting into the top 38, 39 weeks.”

Rosie then saw a woman of about 45 walk up to the pregnant woman and say, “Don’t you have a baby with you?”

“And this 21-year-old pregnant woman said, ‘Excuse me?’ and she said, ‘These bays are for children only.’”

When the expectant mother replied that she was pregnant and thought she could use the wider parking spaces, the other woman – who had a child of about eight with her – turned around and said, “Well, you can’t.

“You can’t do it until your child is there.”

Rosie admitted she was “completely stunned” and her “blood was boiling”.

She therefore decided to go to the pregnant woman and ask her if she was okay.

“She almost cried,” Rosie said.

“Literally on the verge of tears.

“And I said, ‘You can use these bays as much as you want. I did that when I was pregnant.

‘Because you no longer have to walk a mile from the back of the car park to the front of Tesco.’

When Rosie told the pregnant woman “not to worry about these kinds of people”, using some carefully considered words, her comment was overheard by the other woman, who “ran away in anger”.

“But can we confirm all that?” Rosie asked.

“Can we all confirm as mothers and non-mothers that you can use the children’s ward if you are pregnant?

Can you park in a parent-child parking space if you are pregnant?

Although many pregnant women use the parent and child lockers when shopping, the rules and regulations surrounding this are somewhat unclear.

According to the RAC, it is not illegal to park in one of the car parks if you do not have a child under 12 with you. However, you may receive a parking fine, depending on who is managing the car park.

If the car park is managed by an independent parking company, you are more likely to receive a fine if you park incorrectly.

However, in 2019, Tesco confirmed via a spokesperson: “Our bays can be used by pregnant women who need extra space.”

Sainsbury’s says pregnant women are generally allowed to use the compartments, but that this must be arranged with the stores concerned.

Apparently expectant mothers have to inform the staff and give their registration number, which is then passed on to parking attendants so they don’t get a ticket.

Expectant mothers should report to the store staff. They will note down the registration number and pass it on to the parking attendants, who will then be aware of the situation.

“Because babies are heavy to carry – no matter what week you are.

“You are carrying a child. Whether it is on your hip or in your belly, you are both parent and child.”

“Sorry WATTT?! Can someone please tell me I’m right?” she captioned the video.

Despite Rosie’s strong response to the argument, reactions were divided over who was in the wrong.

“As a mother you should 100% use them when pregnant,” one person wrote.

“The only thing that irritates me is 50-year-old men with no children parking in their Jaguars.”

“Morally I would say yes, but legally probably not,” added another.

“I’m 30 weeks pregnant and I was recently torn about whether or not to use it but I was afraid someone would say something because I didn’t have my toddler with me,” said a third.

“10000000% you can do it!” said someone else.

“How can you get out of the car when you are pregnant, if there is a car parked right next to you with no extra space?!”

“I used them when I was pregnant!”

“Heavy pregnant moms, use those bays!” added another.

“They’re for you too! Don’t squeeze your belly in normal places and don’t struggle.”

“I think they should adapt their signs to pregnant women,” said someone else.

“I was really down at the end and wouldn’t have gotten out with a normal opening!”

“I got a ticket for parking in a parent-child parking space while I was heavily pregnant,” noted another.

While someone else stated: “I’d say the pregnant woman had more rights than Karen!”