In my first trimester, when I was sick all the time, I also was blessed by the Metro gods: No matter how full the train was, I almost always managed to get a seat. The few times I did not get a seat, I pretty much had no shame in any event. There was one day that I just plopped down on the floor and sat there the entire ride in, as that was the only way I could keep from puking. Another time, I recall standing in a sardine-like situation, with the guy next to me looking at me funny. "Are you OK?" he said, looking at me like I had two heads. Well, I was a litlte green, and trying to cope with relaxation and breathing techniques that must have made me look and sound funny. I told him honestly, "I am just trying not to throw up on you." Luckily for us both, I didn't.
Now, in my second trimester, I have for some reason had less luck with seats. Thankfully, standing isn't quite as bad as it used to be, but it is still one of the few things that can reliably induce nausea. Two days ago, I was standing on a crowded train home and just coveting, coveting a seat. Two stops later, someone stood up. I was about to snag it when the woman next to me said "Would you offer her this seat?" The woman she was referring to was (unlike me) quite visibly pregnant, and standing behind me. I felt a little ashamed about my eagerness to scarf up the seat, and immediately offered it to Ms. Eight Months. She plopped into the seat with relief and started the same kind of breathing I usually end up doing. I was glad we gave her that seat, and mad as heck at the able bodied men around who hadn't bothered to notice Ms. Eight Months and offer her a seat earlier. Very bad. I've always tried to be good about offering my seat to older folks and pregnant women, and it floors me when others don't do the same.
Today, that good deed was revisited back on me. This morning the train was crowded, and when I got on there were no seats. I found myself having to do some breathing (my balance already seems to be a little off, even though there's no visible tummy, and I also stumbled a bit). The twenty something in the seat immediately in front of me offered me her seat after about one stop. "Are you sure?" I said incredulously. "Yes, I only have a few more stops." (Turns out she got off only one stop before me, by the way). "Thank you, so much." I replied. ""Even though I don't look it, I'm pregnant, and having to stand sometimes makes me sick." I plopped into the chair and started breathing. And said a little prayer of thanks for that nice girl.