Susanne Remic is a primary school teacher, freelance writer and parenting blogger. She writes at Ghostwritermummy and Maternity Matters and in between all of that she regularly wins mummy of the year awards for running around after her two children, aged six and 19 months. This is her pregnancy blog: an online diary of her third pregnancy as she strives to overcome two difficult births, one angel child and one awkward toddler. Join Susanne as she shares every step of her journey from bump to baby!
Where’s the nearest policeman’s helmet?
By Susanne Remic on 15 Sep 2011
I don’t know if it’s a myth or really true, but apparently a pregnant woman can go to the toilet anywhere and a policeman is obliged to offer up his helmet if the situation becomes desperate. Can you imagine?!
Jokes aside though, sometimes it’s really difficult to find a public loo and when the baby gets bigger it can feel like they’re tap-dancing on your bladder! It can be embarrassing and a waste of a good day out if you spend most of it searching for public conveniences. Which leads me on to my latest rant: why can’t I go more than one hour without needing the loo?!
Now that I am back at work (I’m a teacher) I am noticing it more and more. It isn’t acceptable to frequent the ladies more than three times before morning play and even more undesirable to leave 30 kids to their own devices whilst doing so. But needs must and all that, so there has to be a solution, right? Oh, yes. There is.
During my pregnancy related risk assessment at work this week, it was noted that my new classroom is comfortably close to the school’s nursery. Said renovated nursery has new staff and child toilets. The staff toilet is next to the child’ toilets and in the same room as the rest of the nursery staff and children. The entire class can hear you going about your business. That makes me uncomfortable.
Now, I really only have two options here. Firstly, I can drastically cut down on fluid intake and visit the grown-up toilets during designated break times. Alternatively, I can grit my teeth and allow all and sundry to become privy to my pregnancy bladder. Which would you choose?
I was brought to mind of an unfortunate incident that happened whilst I was working in a different school. We had a disabled staff/ visitor toilet in a room of its own, located next to the infant toilets along the same corridor. Staff and visitors were welcome to use this toilet and visitors were often directed there, rather than asked to walk all the way around to the front of the school to use the main facilities. One day a visitor asked me where the nearest Ladies was and I indicated towards the door, which was clearly marked with a disabled sign.
Obviously feeling unsure about using a disabled toilet, the visitor entered the infant’s toilets, without my realising of course. Imagine my horror when I looked up and saw the top of her head over the infant toilet stall divider! The toilets had no external door, the bell rang and what happened next was absolutely mortifying. All the staff and all the children stared in amazement and sympathy as a seemingly oversized woman went about her business in more or less full view of the school. We not only heard, but we saw.
I will not be that woman. I will just have to sneak my way past the management team’s offices and use the respectable, grown-up toilets. After all, I am pregnant. I’m allowed to go anywhere apparently. I just wish that it didn’t have to be so often!
See also:
2 comments 
Comments