Is it an urban myth that if your waters break in a shop you get free stuff?

[Waitin4astork]

Blimey, I've never heard of this before. If they have to go in public, it'd be good for it to be somewhere like Boots or M&S!

 

[tweedy]

dad works in M&S and a lady's water broke a few years back, she was taken off the shop floor, given replacement clothing and offered a cuppa while waiting for her mother to come pick her up. when she visited the store a few weeks later, with baby, to offer to pay for the items, she was given vouchers and asked to part-take in some local publicity. cant remember what value they were for, but i am sure it was over £100.

on the flip side, a woman who gave birth in a taxi was landed with a huge fare and a bill for the cleaning of the inside of the car, before the driver would take her on to hospital.

 

[ClaireMuir123]

dad works in M&S and a lady's water broke a few years back, she was taken off the shop floor, given replacement clothing and offered a cuppa while waiting for her mother to come pick her up. when she visited the store a few weeks later, with baby, to offer to pay for the items, she was given vouchers and asked to part-take in some local publicity. cant remember what value they were for, but i am sure it was over £100.

on the flip side, a woman who gave birth in a taxi was landed with a huge fare and a bill for the cleaning of the inside of the car, before the driver would take her on to hospital.

Oh my goodness! That is shocking! xxx

 

[lindsayscoob]

dad works in M&S and a lady's water broke a few years back, she was taken off the shop floor, given replacement clothing and offered a cuppa while waiting for her mother to come pick her up. when she visited the store a few weeks later, with baby, to offer to pay for the items, she was given vouchers and asked to part-take in some local publicity. cant remember what value they were for, but i am sure it was over £100.

on the flip side, a woman who gave birth in a taxi was landed with a huge fare and a bill for the cleaning of the inside of the car, before the driver would take her on to hospital.

Good for M & s, and typical taxi!!

There was a woman local to here who had her baby in the ball pit of a local pub (had family area) Not sure if they gave her anything for it though.

I work in a childrens nursery and the only way we'd get free childcare is to actually have baby there and not just have our waters break. Otherwise I would be sitting my last few days out in the office there!!

 

[Mummytofour]

I was always told that the place to give birth, if you had to in public, was M&S. Not just waters breaking but the whole shabang!

Can't remember the amount given, but it was pretty good!

As for the taxi driver, I'd chuck my placenta at him before I paid him a cent the cheeky sod!!!

 

[Mya209]

Lots of taxi drivers will refuse to drive any woman in labour! If you're planning on getting a taxi to the hospital I'd enquire in advance! Urgh my mortal fear is waters going in public. I wear a big pad every time I leave the house now! I'd rather not have the money to avoid the embarassment.

 

[Sooz]

Lots of taxi drivers will refuse to drive any woman in labour! If you're planning on getting a taxi to the hospital I'd enquire in advance! Urgh my mortal fear is waters going in public. I wear a big pad every time I leave the house now! I'd rather not have the money to avoid the embarassment.

I was just going to say this. I had to get a taxi to the maternity wing in a hurry for monitoring a couple of months back and had to assure the operator I wasn't going to the labour ward because I was actually in labour on the phone!

You have to pay something called a spoilage fee, so if your getting a taxi make sure you have something to sit on during the journey and that the operator knows it when you call them.

 

[abc123x]

It is true... they will clean up the mess for free! Then you don't have to do it before you run out the door lol!

 

[excitedgal]

Yeah its true, I used to work in Asda and this happened once. There's a cynical reason behind it, the store usually gets good PR out of it and will get local newspapers involved. And they're counting on you telling all your friends/family so they will get more business as people will think better of the store. And of course if you're having a baby you will be shopping and spending lots of money so they're counting on your future business too. Think I'll go hang around M&S!

 

[poobump]

Im only 34+5 and i think i'd be mortified if my waters broke in public but if they were to go, I'd want it to be boots or M&S or a supermarket based on this! Maybe I should visit more just incase....

 

[MrsPoodle]

I heard you get free nappies for a year from ASDA. Is it bad I'm considering hanging round in there just on the offchance, lol...

 

[BabyNo1.]

Waitrose are supposed to do this too, although in 4 years working there I never heard of it happening in that store.

 

[CandyApple19]

oohhhhh what about babies R us?...

 

[lm81]

Knowing my bloody luck mine would go somewhere thats useless, like gaming shop or something!

Haha .. I dunno free games for a year could be an option

 

[scuffer]

The lady who runs the toddler group I go to said that if they go when I'm there I'd get a free session, which at £1.50 a go is a pretty good deal I think!

 

[xcharx]

LOL i love this thread.. might hafta go live in Asda x

 

[LoolaBear]

this hasnt been mentioned but a family friend told me her an old friend of hers (he ex was in the forces so she moved around alot and made friends everywhere) waters broke in mothercare and was given £500 worth of vouchers, when she collected them a staff member let it slip to her that 'it was a shame she didnt give birth there as they tend to kit you out with all the essentials you need for your baby if she had done' and started realing off a long list of travel system, cot, clothes, bedding, etc!
its all PR for them so i suppose in a way it makes them look good if they give you something for it! x

 

[SmokyJoe78]

Apparently if they go in Harvey Nichols then you get lots of designer freebies

 

[JFS]

Haha, I've never heard of this. Is it just a UK think or do stores in the US give away stuff too?

 

[sophie22]

i know someone personally whos waters broke in marks and spencers and they got all sorts! free cot, nappies etc!

lol, just go in and chuck a load of water over yourself and pretend!!!