Cruising at 23.5 Weeks Pregnant?

[LillyBellesMommy]

Exactly. Sorry this is one of *those* subjects (like taking kids out of school, etc). Happy sailing!

Ha thank you!!! I should have known but had to ask

 

[Raenstoirm]

While I think it is a very prudent rule, having been and L&D nurse for 8 years, really who is going to dare ask a woman with a paunch "how pregnant are you?" and how on earth would they prove it?

A) they do ask. I just got off dream.

Prior to sailing I was discussing the cruise with my doc. Even though I was still in my teens (week wise) of my pregnancy, I am having twins, so measuring much larger than a single pregnancy. My doc wrote me a permission slip sating my due date. She mentioned that she had just fudged another patients due date for the cruise cut off requirement. She wrote the permission slip with a due date of one week later so there was no issue. Perhaps her doc could do something like that? Honestly due dates are so fluid (especially with twins as I have discovered) a few days either direction doesn't mean much. Some hospitals won't even consider medical intervention for a fetus less than 25 weeks if something were to go wrong.

 

[storknurse13]

As an L&D nurse and WHNP, the rules state 24 weeks. She will NOT have entered her 24th week until 24+0....I suggest she take documentation to support that. She will have a blast!

 

[bumbershoot]

My doc wrote me a permission slip sating my due date. She mentioned that she had just fudged another patients due date for the cruise cut off requirement. She wrote the permission slip with a due date of one week later so there was no issue. Perhaps her doc could do something like that?

No note is going to help.

What's going to help is if the mom says "I'm 22 weeks" instead of "I'm 23 weeks". Boom, legal.

Thanks for all the replies! I am going to give DCL a call today to see what they say.

I see now that I didn't cite my quote. That was directly from the DCL website. That is their rule.

If the rule is you can't be in your 24th week at the time of embarkation then according to the breakdown provided by the OP she is totally legit to sail. She enters her 24th week halfway thru the cruise. By DCL rules she's good to go.

I disagree.

The rule states "or who will enter their 24th week of pregnancy during the cruise will be refused passage".

She will be 23 weeks and *something* DURING the cruise. That's entering the 24th week. She's not good to go.

Unless she tells them 22 weeks.



I don't care what she does. I am not judging either way. There's so much weird and wrong with the way things are counted and what American malpractice companies allow and don't allow, that I truly do not care if the OP's relative stays behind or says "22 weeks".

But it's good to know the rules, and to know how pregnancy dates are counted. [Gosh, it's the changeover to the new millenium all over again, isn't it? some people just do not understand that we started this calendar with 0, not 1, so the first year of the calendar was from 0 year to 0 year and 364 days, and that's just how time and pregnancy counting works! (of course Year Zero didn't involve counting from 2 weeks before the calendar existed, unlike pregnancy math).] Good to know so that she knows what to say, if she chooses to say something other than the exact truth. And just because knowing the rules is good.

 

[storknurse13]

With all due respect, being scared to "offend" someone by asking how far along they are is just ridiculous and has gotten out of hand IMHO! With someone so close to, or right at, the cutoff time for cruising, cannot understand for the life of me why they would even consider putting the baby in any danger should the unexpected happen. Disney ships are not equipped with a maternity ward. That cutoff time is there for a good reason - pay attention and follow it!

I do think it is necessary to ask and PROVE that she is not violating the rules. However; the 24 week rule is such that preemies born before that time have a slim slim slim chance of survival. Can't say it hasn't happened but you say putting a baby in danger is a little far fetched. That is why the cutoff is 24 weeks!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I disagree. The rule states "or who will enter their 24th week of pregnancy during the cruise will be refused passage". She will be 23 weeks and *something* DURING the cruise. That's entering the 24th week. She's not good to go. Unless she tells them 22 weeks. I don't care what she does. I am not judging either way.

I have no clue what the rule is or isn't. I've not studied the verbiage. Someone earlier in the thread stated "24 weeks at embarkation". If that was it she's good to go.

I was just thinking about these perspectives on the timeline. I get where 23 weeks + would mean the 24th week is entered. But, back that up. A woman at conception isn't a week pregnant, right? So wouldn't it be 23 weeks + __ days = exactly that count? I think some of this is subject to perception and/or opinion on the counting. I know when I was pregnant the doctor wouldn't consider inducing me until I had completed the 36th week, not a day before because I had to be 37 weeks. I won't even mention 40 weeks. By the time I got there I was beyond the numbers in my misery. LOL!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have no clue what the rule is or isn't. I've not studied the verbiage. Someone earlier in the thread stated "24 weeks at embarkation". If that was it she's good to go.

I was just thinking about these perspectives on the timeline. I get where 23 weeks + would mean the 24th week is entered. But, back that up. A woman at conception isn't a week pregnant, right? So wouldn't it be 23 weeks + __ days = exactly that count? I think some of this is subject to perception and/or opinion on the counting. I know when I was pregnant the doctor wouldn't consider inducing me until I had completed the 36th week, not a day before because I had to be 37 weeks. I won't even mention 40 weeks. By the time I got there I was beyond the numbers in my misery. LOL!

No, a woman at conception isn't a week pregnant, but she has entered her 1st week, technically. At the end of that week she will be one week pregnant and entering her second week.

The actual wordage in the cruise contract reads (bolding mine):

Women who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy as of their embarkation date or who will enter their 24th week of pregnancy during the cruise will be refused passage due to safety concerns. Neither a physician's medical statement nor a waiver of liability will be accepted. In addition, Disney Cruise Line cannot be held responsible or liable for any complications relating to pregnancy at any stage.
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/terms-and-conditions/?country=us

Yes, it's a tad ambiguous, due to how it's stated. "I'm 24 weeks pregnant" is the same as saying "I'm in my 25th week", technically. But most of us just go by the first statement and state how far we've completed.

And I sympathize with you, when I was having my first, I was 2 weeks "overdue" according to their figuring. I kept getting phone calls from all the relatives asking "are you still at home?????". 40 weeks? 42? who knows?

 

[sweetpee_1993]

No, a woman at conception isn't a week pregnant, but she has entered her 1st week, technically. At the end of that week she will be one week pregnant and entering her second week. The actual wordage in the cruise contract reads (bolding mine): Women who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy as of their embarkation date or who will enter their 24th week of pregnancy during the cruise will be refused passage due to safety concerns. Neither a physician's medical statement nor a waiver of liability will be accepted. In addition, Disney Cruise Line cannot be held responsible or liable for any complications relating to pregnancy at any stage. http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/terms-and-conditions/?country=us Yes, it's a tad ambiguous, due to how it's stated. "I'm 24 weeks pregnant" is the same as saying "I'm in my 25th week", technically. But most of us just go by the first statement and state how far we've completed. And I sympathize with you, when I was having my first, I was 2 weeks "overdue" according to their figuring. I kept getting phone calls from all the relatives asking "are you still at home?????". 40 weeks? 42? who knows?

So you have to complete the cruise before entering the 24th week. Got it. But then that number can be argued because its not entirely spelled out about 23/24, etc. Further, if a physician's statement or waiver of liability are not accepted or considered they must go on the word of the passenger. Right? So then all it comes down to the verbal answer given by the passengers....I guess not unlike the health questionnaire form, huh?

Interesting.

 

[wilkeliza]

So you have to complete the cruise before entering the 24th week. Got it. But then that number can be argued because its not entirely spelled out about 23/24, etc. Further, if a physician's statement or waiver of liability are not accepted or considered they must go on the word of the passenger. Right? So then all it comes down to the verbal answer given by the passengers....I guess not unlike the health questionnaire form, huh? Interesting.

Yep it is all up to the passenger to tell the truth. If you lie and something happens it is on you for lying. Disney is just covering their butt in case something happens.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So you have to complete the cruise before entering the 24th week. Got it. But then that number can be argued because its not entirely spelled out about 23/24, etc. Further, if a physician's statement or waiver of liability are not accepted or considered they must go on the word of the passenger. Right? So then all it comes down to the verbal answer given by the passengers....I guess not unlike the health questionnaire form, huh?

Interesting.

Exactly. DCL is relying on people to be truthful.

Yep it is all up to the passenger to tell the truth. If you lie and something happens it is on you for lying. Disney is just covering their butt in case something happens.

That's all I'm saying

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Always good to learn something. BTW, cousin's twins were born at 25 wks. They're truly miracle babies...although not babies anymore.

 

[wajones2]

One other thing to check is medical coverage, I know I couldn't travel after I was past a certain point due to insurance coverage. Can't remember specifics but I do remember checking mileage on in state Easter trip.

 

[LillyBellesMommy]

We will see what she ends up deciding. Thank you for all the replies!

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I have had a baby as well so am very aware of complications... As I said, this is NOT my baby. Not sure why so many opinions are being thrown out as I simply asked if she would be allowed to cruise. Not if she SHOULD cruise.

It's the Dis, people love to pass judgement on everyone and everything.

 

[wallawallakids]

It's the Dis, people love to pass judgement on everyone and everything.

I didn't see any judgement. Just people saying they wouldn't do it themselves. How is that judging?

I could care less if someone was on my cruise and 9 months pregnant. Just because I say I wouldn't do it, doesn't mean I judge someone else for doing it.

I don't let my kids watch tv. Is saying that offensive to people who do let their children watch TV? Honestly, I don't see the difference. Just because one person voices their opinion, doesn't mean other's choices are wrong. I didn't see one person say "She shouldn't go". I did see people pointing out the risks which isn't judging, it is just facts. Read into that how you want. Respect for people's choices and opinions goes both ways.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

There were several posts which were very judgemental. I'm not going to quote them here because I'm not trying to cause problems. The OP asked if Disney would allow someone to travel. I respect anyones opinion but when it becomes judgemental, that's just wrong.

I didn't see any judgement. Just people saying they wouldn't do it themselves. How is that judging?

I could care less if someone was on my cruise and 9 months pregnant. Just because I say I wouldn't do it, doesn't mean I judge someone else for doing it.

I don't let my kids watch tv. Is saying that offensive to people who do let their children watch TV? Honestly, I don't see the difference. Just because one person voices their opinion, doesn't mean other's choices are wrong. I didn't see one person say "She shouldn't go". I did see people pointing out the risks which isn't judging, it is just facts. Read into that how you want. Respect for people's choices and opinions goes both ways.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I do think it is necessary to ask and PROVE that she is not violating the rules. However; the 24 week rule is such that preemies born before that time have a slim slim slim chance of survival. Can't say it hasn't happened but you say putting a baby in danger is a little far fetched. That is why the cutoff is 24 weeks!

Exactly. Before 24 it's considered a stillborn. At 24 weeks they are expected to provide medical care to the newborn.

No, a woman at conception isn't a week pregnant, but she has entered her 1st week, technically. At the end of that week she will be one week pregnant and entering her second week.

Actually a pregnancy is dated by start of the last period. The first day of your period is day 1 in your cycle. So assuming the average cycle is 28 days and one ovulates around day 14, we're all 2 weeks pregnant at the time of conception. So when you miss your period on day 28 and get a positive pregnancy test, you're considered 4 weeks pregnant even though conception occurred roughly 2 weeks ago.

 

[Raenstoirm]

No note is going to help.

What's going to help is if the mom says "I'm 22 weeks" instead of "I'm 23 weeks". Boom, legal.

Actually all you need is the doctor note. if Disney won't let you on the boat after 24 weeks and your doctor signs a note saying you are less than 24 weeks (even if you are 39 weeks) Disney has covered their butt. The lawsuit now falls on the doctor. Disney just cares about being sued and if you "proved" to them via the note that you were within their requirement, they are not at fault if something happens.

 

[wilkeliza]

Actually all you need is the doctor note. if Disney won't let you on the boat after 24 weeks and your doctor signs a note saying you are less than 24 weeks (even if you are 39 weeks) Disney has covered their butt. The lawsuit now falls on the doctor. Disney just cares about being sued and if you "proved" to them via the note that you were within their requirement, they are not at fault if something happens.

If your doctor is willing to make a false statement and say you are less far along then you actually are then I would find a new doctor. Signing paperwork that would clear you for travel is one thing but signing paperwork saying you aren't as far a long is something a doctor shouldn't do and would make me question their moral ability to make decisions.

 

[anna08]

If your doctor is willing to make a false statement and say you are less far along then you actually are then I would find a new doctor. Signing paperwork that would clear you for travel is one thing but signing paperwork saying you aren't as far a long is something a doctor shouldn't do and would make me question their moral ability to make decisions.

Agree. Any doctor willing to lose their medical license lying for a patient to take a vacation is not a doctor who can be counted on to do the right thing when you really need them to.

Ships do not have the facilities or training to handle pregnancy complications - fact plain and simple. You have to be willing to accept the consequences of that choice. It's that simple.