It finally happened today, in a fast-food restaurant of all places.
I was forced to use the handicapped stall in the restroom because my belly was too big to let me close the door in the regular stall.
I generally prefer the roominess of the handicapped stall anyway – is it bad to use it if no one is waiting? I like to be able to get far enough from the toilet that my bare legs don’t get splashed when I flush (ugh!). But this was the first time I actually walked into the standard stall, tried to close the door, and found there simply wasn’t enough clearance between me, the toilet paper holder, and the door.
And I’ll say it once more: in a fast-food restaurant, of all places. Am I the only one who sees the irony there?
It’s okay Kim I understand…I always have this problem when pregnant.
I get the irony! It is amusing. (The irony- not the not fitting in the stall part.)
Thankfully the handicapped potty was available! Why they make the doors swing in toward the toilet I’ll never understand….
Oh, I see it, sister!
Kim,
If this is the first time that you have experienced this humiliation, then you are doing really well! Can I use as my excuse that my children were all 8 or 9 pounds?
Bethany W in mid-MO
This made me laugh!
Haha! the irony.
I use the handicap stalls because I am pregnant and have a small child in tow. We don’t fit in the regular stalls comfortably. I think that qualifies me as being handicapped. 
As long as you get in and get out.
That sounded and looks harsh. I meant it with a smile.
Oh! The first time I whacked my tummy into a restroom door was at my gym of all places.
Handicap stall thereon.
Most people find there’s nothing wrong with using the handicap stall, but I did one time have a lady barge into the bathroom (there was a line) and she yelled, “The person in that handicap stall had better — well be handicap!!) I thought her extremely rude. I myself am handicap but see no reason others can’t use that stall. It’s just more convient for those who need it and yes that to me includes expected mothers.
Oh, my! It is good to hear that others are/have experienced this space problem. I am only a week behind you in the maternity calendar and started using the large stalls quite awhile ago. My next adventure (closing in quickly) is that we have only a stand up shower stall in our bathroom…I may have to leave the door open soon! ;o)
Okay, THAT was funny!!!
“It finally happened today, in a fast-food restaurant of all places.”
My mom’s water broke on her due date while she was eating in a restaurant. She came back a couple months later to show the employee and manager (both women) the baby that came a few hours later.
I’m 35 weeks today and had the same thing happen to me this week at a Ruby Tuesday’s–just couldn’t get in the door! It would have been fine if the door opened out (as the handicapped stall did) but nooo, they have to open in, so you just can’t fit a belly in the space between.
Oh no!
I’ve never had any qualms about using the handicapped stall. I guess I should look around to see if anyone really needs it, but… they should make all bathroom stalls that big.
Denise,
I don’t usually worry about using the handicapped stall either, though I usually use a smaller one if it’s available and I don’t have a toddler in tow. My understanding is that it’s there so that those who cannot use a regular stall can still use the restroom, not so that they don’t have to wait in line like the rest of us.
However, last week was the first time in this pregnancy that I’ve had to use the big stall, and it caught me by surprise. I just couldn’t believe that an establishment that wants people to order 1/2 lb burgers with large fries and 32 oz. of soft drink wouldn’t make their facilities more accommodating to larger people.
I suffered ignominy when I didn’t know the meaning of the word “ignominy,” but at least I earned 14 Swagbucks when I looked it up!
Melissa,
Way to go!
There is one restaurant I won’t go back to, despite liking their food, because the entire bathroom is so small there was no place to change a baby/toddler anywhere!
Ha! I didn’t get the irony until you repeated it. (I’ll blame it on pregnancy at 38)
Oh yeah…I actually got STUCK in a regular stall when I was 8 months pregnant with my daughter. Soooo embarassing!!! Can you just picture a big, pregnant lady in a stall opening and closing the door but never coming out because she CAN”T??? Haa!!! That was me!
One of the nearby WalMart Supercenters here has restroom stalls the size of my kitchen island. The toilet paper holder hangs over the toilet because the walls are almost touching it, and the door leaves no room for your legs when you try to close it with a human in it. I am a charter member of the Too-Clumsy-To-Live club. So me balancing precariously on one leg with the other leg hovering over the toilet while trying to close the door is a very bad idea. When I’m preggo I’m ten times clumsier. And having that big belly means that not only do I have to stand on one leg but I also have to lean backward so the door does not get stuck on the belly. Needless to say I find it safer to wait for the handicapped stall with the rest of the above the size of a 13 year old population.
too funny! I’ve had that problem before in pregnancies. And yes, I see the irony. I usually use the handicapped stall bc I usually have at least 1 child with me or the stroller. I also havent been able to fit in booths at FF places while pregnant. And Im not a big person, just usually have a HUGE belly. I always find it really odd that a small person like me cant fit in a booth at a FF place……kinda like not fitting in a FF bathroom stall. Just doesnt make a lot of sense….
What kills me though is when I go to a clothing store and have all 4 kids with me and NEED the handicapped dressing room but its taken. Then out walks 1 single women who had been occupying the big dressing room for 20 mins while I had waited with all 4 children. Now thats just not right!