Cruising with Preggos....!

[wcw57]

Just how does DCL determine how far along you are if you're pregnant?

I assume you have to have some sort of documentation from the Dr. but their site is worded in a strange manner...

where does this documentation go? when do they need it? how do they get it?

the good news is that it isn't my wife who is with child

the bad news is that it will be ever-so-close to the cut-off date for our DD (maybe)

THANX!

 

[mijohnson]

We were supposed to go with my family on the September 18th cruise and Disney said NOPE because I start my 24 week on Tuesday, and we leave on that Following Satruday. (4 days off!!!!) The restrictions are that the pregnant woman can not have entered into her 24th week upon the day of embarkation. we had to switch cruises 2 weeks ago and are now leaving on the August 7th...(had to pay a lot more for airfare, but really didint have a choice.)

THere is a dr's note that has to be filled out and faxed in 2 weeks prior to the date the cruise leaves and it states due date and how many weeks the guest will be as of the date of embarkation.

GOOD Luck!

 

[wcw57]

this will sound as if I am trying to be nefarious but...

I am really just curious...(we shouldn't have a time problem...I hope)

IF you fill out the form with your Dr.'s name, etc yourself does Disney actually call each Dr's office and verify the info? THAT would really be some attention to detail....

if not, what's to stop people from making up all sorts of stuff??????????/

 

[Cruise]

this will sound as if I am trying to be nefarious but...

I am really just curious...(we shouldn't have a time problem...I hope)

IF you fill out the form with your Dr.'s name, etc yourself does Disney actually call each Dr's office and verify the info? THAT would really be some attention to detail....

if not, what's to stop people from making up all sorts of stuff??????????/

Uhm.. fraud?

Honestly, this is an insurance issue for Disney and it is done in the best interest of the passenger. Knowing how the lawyers work, I wouldn't be surprised if they actually do call and verify the information... they want to make sure they're covered.

Also, if DCL suspects that everything is not on the up-and-up, they can easily deny boarding without any compensation if they find something fishy with your paperwork.

 

[XMom]

I wasn't on Disney, but have been on Princess and Royal while pregnant. I did have a Dr. note with me and I believe the cutoff was 26 weeks back then. I just had her write it so that I wouldn't turn 26 weeks until 2 days after we got back. I was not high risk and she wasn't worried either time.

I decided to play dumb and not fax anything to anyone. I wound't have known unless I read all the small print to do so. I did look prego both times being almost 26 weeks. The thing is that nobody asked me if I was prego at all. I had the note, but it was never used.

See what her OB thinks and go from there.

 

[Karlzmom]

this will sound as if I am trying to be nefarious but...

I am really just curious...(we shouldn't have a time problem...I hope)

IF you fill out the form with your Dr.'s name, etc yourself does Disney actually call each Dr's office and verify the info? THAT would really be some attention to detail....

if not, what's to stop people from making up all sorts of stuff??????????/

Let's see....forgery instantly comes to mind [a felony]....I'm certain there are other criminal possibilities that come along with basically impersonating your medical profession in an attestation as to the date of pregnancy, but I'm tired and don't want to think about it for long....

Its not like its a big deal to plan the cruise before the date cut off...then its not an issue.

 

[mickey7879]

Last year we planned on going with our friends on a cruise but a few days after, found out I was preggo. They were happy for us til they realized I couldn't go on the cruise....would be too far along.

Now we are booked for another cruise with just me, dh and 2 kiddos. But may need to sail earlier than expected......I'll find out in a few days!

 

[TNShellBelle]

Just how does DCL determine how far along you are if you're pregnant?

I assume you have to have some sort of documentation from the Dr. but their site is worded in a strange manner...

where does this documentation go? when do they need it? how do they get it?

the good news is that it isn't my wife who is with child

the bad news is that it will be ever-so-close to the cut-off date for our DD (maybe)

THANX!

On our 2nd cruise I was 23 weeks pregnant when we boarded. There is a document online that you print out that your dr fills out stating how far along you are and that there are no complications with the pregnancy.They sign it and you fax it in. I think it states that they need it 2 weeks prior but I honestly don't remember 100%. Again, she just needs to be 23 when she boards. Hope she can cruise, I had an awesome time cruising while pregnant!

 

[gatzsd]

Has anyone ever had their doctor "fudge" the numbers a little? I just found out I'm pregnant, cruising the end of February with friends and will be 24 1/2 weeks at embarkation. My last pregnancy I stayed on the small side and could hide it pretty well, but who knows with this one. I'm very early on so anything could still happen but now bummed about potentially not being able to do this cruise. My doctor is pretty cool, so would probably write down that I was a week earlier than I really am if she felt there was no risk at all.

BTW - The baby was just conceived on our Sept 8 Med cruise we just took!!! Its a Disney Baby!

 

[ppiew]

How about being concerned about the DOCTORS liability if he 'fudges' the numbers at your request?
In these sue crazy days, I am not so sure that they are willing to take the chance anymore.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

I imagine the cruise lines don't have equipment to sustain a premies life. A baby born before 24 weeks probably wouldn't be viable. Would the babie's life be worth the pleasure of taking a cruise? I'm writing this because my water broke with my 2nd son early in my 24th week, causing me to be hospitalized for the remaining of my pregnancy (which was only 32 weeks, my son was born 8 weeks premature) German hospital, they probably wouldn't have let me go that long in the U.S. Incidently, I didn't have a "high-risk" pregancy either......at least not until that moment.

So what would keep someone from "fudging" their pregnancy due date? Hopefully, concern and safety for their unborn child.

 

[gatzsd]

My question was not to get your opinions on whether or not I should travel while being pregnant nor what my doctor does or doesn't do - I was asking if anyone had traveled in their 24th week of pregnancy with their doctor's permission.
There is certainly no reason to attack me or make me feel like I am not putting my baby first. I travel extensively for work and did so with my first pregnancy as well, up until my last month of pregnancy - all with my doctor's blessing. I am only short 3 DAYS for the cruise requirements -and in fact fall below the requirement of most cruise lines. So to cancel our family vacation over 3 fricken days, I think is ridiculous - especially since we probably won't get to do another one.
Of course ANYTHING can happen at ANY time ANY where- so if that was my thought process, I wouldnt' leave the house.

 

[jilljill]

This is DCL's rule on cruising pregnant:

Question
Can I sail if I am pregnant?

Answer
Women who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy as of their embarkation date 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/faqs/health-safety/pregnancy/


Looking at these rules it doesn't matter if your doctor says it's ok for you to cruise at 24 weeks or later, DCL says you will not be allowed to cruise.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

My question was not to get your opinions on whether or not I should travel while being pregnant nor what my doctor does or doesn't do - I was asking if anyone had traveled in their 24th week of pregnancy with their doctor's permission.

Actually, you didn't ask a thing about whether anyone had traveled in their 24th week. Your question was :

Has anyone ever had their doctor "fudge" the numbers a little?

That is the only question you asked. The rest of your initial post to this topic talked about how you would be just over the deadline, small enough to hide it based on a previous pregnancy and how cool your doctor was and that he would probably fudge the form for you.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

I travel extensively for work and did so with my first pregnancy as well, up until my last month of pregnancy - all with my doctor's blessing.

The difference being, in the U.S., you were probably never more than a couple hours away from a neonatal ICU. If you were to have an issue with your pregancy on-board, you may have to be medivaced to the nearest neonatal ICU location. I didn't have a high-risk pregnancy either, and didn't haven't any problems with my first born.....life has a way of screwing with you when you least expect it.

My doctor is pretty cool, so would probably write down that I was a week earlier than I really am if she felt there was no risk at all.

I wouldn't call that "cool"......any doctor who would fudge the dates would be irresponsible, unethical, and taking a liability upon him or herself that could be a potential lawsuit. Also, unless your doctor has a crystal ball, she has no way of knowing if you could have a future risk. I had a checkup two days before my issues, with no indications that anything was out of the ordinary.

 

[msmayor]

My question was not to get your opinions on whether or not I should travel while being pregnant nor what my doctor does or doesn't do - I was asking if anyone had traveled in their 24th week of pregnancy with their doctor's permission.
There is certainly no reason to attack me or make me feel like I am not putting my baby first. I travel extensively for work and did so with my first pregnancy as well, up until my last month of pregnancy - all with my doctor's blessing. I am only short 3 DAYS for the cruise requirements -and in fact fall below the requirement of most cruise lines. So to cancel our family vacation over 3 fricken days, I think is ridiculous - especially since we probably won't get to do another one.
Of course ANYTHING can happen at ANY time ANY where- so if that was my thought process, I wouldnt' leave the house.

There may very well be folks who have traveled with their doctor's permission at that time in a pregnancy. But it makes absolutely NO difference what your doctor says in this case: DCL makes the call. Their ship, their rules, and if they say you cannot be in your 24th week it won't matter one whit what your doctor says.

I highly doubt any doctor (especially an OB/GYN who pays astronomical malpractice insurance rates) will make any adjustments in the official medical record to permit this vacation. The risk to his or her practice is too great.

 

[clawmachine]

Pregnancy threads here tend to get heated. I'm a rule follower personality so no fudging for me, but I also can relate to those who feel the cut-off is unfair for healthy low-risk pregnancies. Lots of people travel with much higher health risks. I sailed on RCI at 24 weeks when 27 was the cut-off and though I was huge, no one said one word to me about documentation (I did bring it).
I did however get way more seasick than normal and spent a lot of time in the room and so wouldn't personally cruise at that week of pregnancy again. I'm just very prone to it though.

 

[SuzPasq]

Has anyone ever had their doctor "fudge" the numbers a little? I just found out I'm pregnant, cruising the end of February with friends and will be 24 1/2 weeks at embarkation. My last pregnancy I stayed on the small side and could hide it pretty well, but who knows with this one. I'm very early on so anything could still happen but now bummed about potentially not being able to do this cruise. My doctor is pretty cool, so would probably write down that I was a week earlier than I really am if she felt there was no risk at all.

BTW - The baby was just conceived on our Sept 8 Med cruise we just took!!! Its a Disney Baby!

Why take a chance and lie about it? If there were a problem with the pregnancy, it would be important that the medical personnel on board have the proper information to assist you.

 

[ericalynn1979]

Having first-hand experience of this (as we are leaving October 16th and I will be 22w3d at the time of sailing), there is no fudging. At least with my doctor.

She's fine with me sailing, but will not lie on a form to get me on a ship even though I REALLY wanted to do the Halloween cruise instead of the October 16th cruise.

That being said, I CANNOT find where she needs to fill out a form and send it in. I've found and filled out and faxed in my Special Services Information Form. And I will see the doctor on Wednesday of next week to get my final approval for travel on the cruise.

 

[gatzsd]

Thank you for all your wonderful advice -

Clearly I am a horrible mother and shouldn't even think of cruising. I'm glad I can feel safe in asking a question on this board without feeling like I'm going to be attacked.

For those of you who shared your personal experiences - I truly appreciate what you shared and what you did without being critical of my question.