A pregnant woman was left shocked when a fellow Tube passenger demanded, “Where is the baby?”, even though she wore a “baby on board” badge. The passenger demanded that she proved that she was pregnant in order to sit in a priority seat.
Raayan Zafar (32), felt “really, really embarrassed” after being confronted on the Victoria line Tube, in Stockwell.
She explained, “It's early days so that's why I don't show. But that doesn't mean I'm not pregnant or tired or sick all the time. It was a long commute and I suffer from severe morning sickness- I'm on medication already.”
Zafar was confronted by a man in his 40s, after another man got up from the priority seat to let her sit down.
She said, “I got the Victoria line from Stockwell and requested the priority seat. The man sitting there was a gentleman and gave me his seat, but then a lady who was already standing in front of him tried to take the seat, so I made her notice me by saying 'excuse me'. That lady realised I was going for the seat, but the person sitting beside it started arguing with me, saying the lady wanted to sit there and asking, 'Why are you taking the seat?' I showed him my 'baby on board' badge and he then rudely asked me, 'Where is the baby?' I was shocked- is that way to speak to a pregnant lady? Do I have to carry my maternity notes with me all the time?”
