I encountered it a lot when I was pregnant. I was lucky that most mornings on the train I could get a seat, but then I would see other pregnant ladies standing. I just learnt to speak very loudly and politely and ask for a seat.

Going home though was harder, people were less likely to give up a seat then. In fact many women would take one look at my belly and push their way in front of me to get a seat first, you could see the glint of competition in their eyes as they did it. Even old ladies would pick up the pace to get infront of me first I just thought that if they could move faster than me, then I deserved the seat more than them.

I think it would help if the signs on public transport were changed to include pregnant women or to at least say "those in need". My local bus's sign shows disabled, elderly and pregnant, my bus is fairly empty though so I could always get a seat.

There are some fools out there that think pregnant women have concession tickets and therefore should stand (yes I have heard that from some young guys) It would be nice if pregnant women did pay less for having to put up with the stress of trying to get a seat.