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updated 30 Aug 2009, 12:44
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Sun, Aug 30, 2009
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Pregnancy passes for mums-to-be

I DON’T mind giving up my seat in an MRT train, but I want to give it up to someone who really needs it.

Sometimes, a woman standing in front of me might look a bit round in the belly, but I cannot tell if she’s pregnant or obese.

Hence, it would be good if hospitals could issue a “pass” to pregnant women.

The card should carry her particulars, a serial number and other medical details. An expecting mother should wear the card around her neck with a colour strap that has a hospital name printed on it.

She can return the card once she’s more than five months pregnant, when her pregnancy is obvious to everyone. -Ms Wong Siok Ling

 


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readers' comments
I think it's a brilliant idea. I'm reaching full-term pregnancy and as I think back of what is my first antenatal experience - it is precisely the mother-to-be who doesn't look pregnant, i.e. in the earlier stages of pregnancy - who needs the seats most!

Months 2-5 are often plagued by morning sickness, lethargy, hormonal fluctuations and so on plus the risks of miscarriage is very real. That the pregnancy is yet to be well-established and hence, not visible, does not make it any easier for the expectant mother. Having an ID card for that matter (maybe ID cards can be issued to anyone with a known medical condition, the elderly- since many dye their hair, and so on) and making it a rule that only those with such cards issued by their respective hospitals can seat on these privileged seats would solve the quandry once and .....
Posted by dolceviv on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 at 03:47 AM
Ms Wong Siok Ling must be joking when she suggested that pregnant women wear a pass around their necks. No one likes to be "labelled" and draw such attention to themselves even if they are pregnant. If Ms Wong doesn't feel inclined to give up her seat, nobody is forcing her to do it. Even if she "mistakenly" gives up her seat to someone who does not need it, I'm sure that person, in most cases, would politely decline. Therefore I doubt her sincerity in wanting to give up her seat only to someone whom she deems in need of it.
Posted by shenyi on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 at 22:51 PM

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