As mums, we all know that being pregnant is tough: you're constantly exhausted, your hormones are all over the place and your body is going through lots of changes - some of which can cause a bit of pain, particularly when you're forced to stand for long (or sometimes even short) periods of time.
Carrying and growing a baby can bring on back pain, tired legs and swollen ankles, and sitting down can provide a lot of comfort - but there isn't always a seat on offer.
For instance, what happens when you hop onto a bus or the Luas and there are only standing spaces left?
Other users can feel a little awkward offering a seat to a pregnant lady, mainly because of the fear of insulting a woman by assuming she is expectant only to discover she's not...
Cue awkward side-eyes and red faces.
And mums-to-be themselves can feel a little weird about asking someone for their seat.
So, in a bid to remove this sense of awkwardness, Transport for Ireland have created special Baby on Board badges for all expectant mums.
A small, but visible yellow badge that tells fellow public transport users that you are pregnant and you could really do with a seat.
The idea is to make people more mindful of fellow users, particularly if they are pregnant, and are a subtle way to ask for a seat if you don't feel comfortable asking outright yourself.
Badges are available free of charge and are available from all public transport locations around the country - Luas, Iarnrod Eireann, Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann are all participating.
For more information head over to the Transport for Ireland website.
