While many readers tell of a reassuringly humane response to their pregnancy bumps, a worrying number of women encounter an almost scary level of apathy from their fellow travellers - both men and women.

Reader Ann-Marie Wallace recalls on Facebook: "When I was about 8 months pregnant I was asked by one male commuter where my badge was, 'you should be wearing a badge' he said in quite an accusing tone. He then stropped as he gathered his stuff together and stood up to give me his seat.

"All I did was get on the train and have a quick glance round to see if there was an empty seat. Any one would have thought I chose that carriage to inconvenience him. Perhaps I should asked him where his 'dickhead' badge was."

The justifications of pregnancy-deniers who refuse to give up their seats include comparing the condition to a man carrying heavy golf clubs - a sentiment not unfamiliar to one of our readers, who was a month from her due date when she was turfed out of her seat to make way for a cello.

Eleanor Eiserman says that while most of her experiences have been positive, the worst came when she was around eight months pregnant. "A cellist asked me to stand up from the priority seat in a tube carriage so that she could take my seat and hold onto her cello case.

Your extraordinary tales of what it's really like being pregnant on public transport