help! 8 weeks pregnant for Disney trip!

[HMGray]

Hi everyone! My family and I have had plans to go to Disney for this Christmas for over a year now, and I found out this past week that my husband and I are pregnant with our first child! We are quite excited, but as avid Disney lovers, we are concerned about our upcoming trip. When we are there, I will be about 8 weeks along in my pregnany. Are there specific rides that I should avoid at this point? What kinds of rides are not recommended for first trimester women?

 

[lulu71]

Rides are marked with warnings for expectant mothers. I would obey the warnings unless your doctor tells you otherwise, which at 8 weeks you probably won't even have seen your doctor. Allearsnet.com has a section for expectant mothers, you might check it out...http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/pregnant.htm

Good luck!

 

[allie5]

Hi and CONGRATULATIONS on your pregnancy!

I have been to WDW twice whilst pregnant (though at a later stage than you) I was around 20 weeks both times. As you probably know, the first trimester is the most "at risk" part of your pregnancy, however this doesnt mean there arent TONS of things you can do and have a fantastic time.

As far as rides go, Disney list each attraction in the Park Guide / Map and its suitability for certain persons. Obvious rides to avoid are coasters, TOT and anything with a drop like Splash Mountain or jerky movement like Dinosaur or Test Track. There are a few which, even though Disney recommend a pregnant lady shouldnt ride, I did so. These were Kilimanjaro Safari and Kali River Rapids. The reason I rode these, was I am familiar with both and didnt feel they posed a threat to my health. Had I have been in the first Trimester though, I probably wouldnt have ridden even those.

Things you can enjoy are the parades, the shows (like Philharmagic and The Muppets 3D), gentle attractions like Peter Pan, Dumbo etc, plus all the usual character meets and shopping

I never felt I was missing out visiting WDW whilst pregnant, there was plenty to keep me amused! I would recommend frequent stops and to drink plenty of water, as you will feel much more tired than usual. If you are driving to the park, tell the attendant you are pregnant and they will often let you park nearer the gate. Make a mental note of where the First Aid center is in each park in case you feel unwell. Here in the UK, our obstetricians recommend carrying our maternity notes on us whilst away from home, so it maybe worth taking them with you (not nessacarily into the parks, but left at your resort).

Have a fantastic trip and once again, CONGRATS!!

Allie

 

[DisneyMom5]

This was me last year. (Only it was our #6!)
Only thing I rode that had a caution was Kilmanjaro Safaris. I had never been on it before, so didn't know what to expect. Asked for front row seat to minimize bumpiness. It was fine. Eat often, drink plenty of water (bring your own bottled water if possible --cheaper!) and rest a lot! VERY good excuse for your dh to wait on you hand and foot.
Congrats!

 

[alloyd1170]

Congrats!!! Im in a similar situation-Ill be 11 weeks along when we go after a New Years cruise. This is my 2nd and I hardly feel pregnant at all. When I went back in Feb I didnt think Id be thirsty since it was cool, but boy was I wrong! The water is nasty too. I would suggest to pick up a Brita water bottle (has a filter built in and you can buy replacements) so that you wont be spending a fortune on little bottled waters. You can fill it up anywhere and it should taste ok. Also, Crystal Light came out with one serving powder mix (Lemonade and Rasberry). Both items can be found at Walmart (the Brita thing was in the hardware area with the water filters). Im taking mine this trip and plan on drinking lots of water! I would avoid any rides that go bump, drop, shake, spin fast (tea cups), and have warnings. Since we are taking our almost 3 yr old (one last free trip for him) the entire trip is geared towards him so I dont have to worry too much about the rough rides. Dont forget sunscreen as you dont want that nasty mask of pregnancy on your face! Be sure to rest often and brings some snacks to munch on in case you feel nauseous (I feel it when Im hungry). If the lines are long, you might be able to sit and then join your hubby later on. Smells might also be a problem for you too. Also be sure to note where all the bathrooms are! Congrats again and have a good trip!

alison

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Congratulations!

I think you will be fine to ride everything. The main concern when you are that early in the pregnancy is to avoid things like hot tubs because they can elevate your body temperature too much. My first prenatal exam was at 6 weeks, so I am sure your OB can answer all of your questions.

I will say when I was pregnant with DS that I was violently ill for weeks 6-14. I found that sour things (candy, lemonade, etc.) helped a little. My books said that sickness usually peaks around week 9. Just know that you may feel quite queasy around that point, so plan loosely! I think there are some new medications for nausea, so check with your doctor. I also couldn't stand anything tight at my waist - I wore elastic waist leggings and rolled them down around my hips, then covered them with a big shirt! I thought the first trimester was the worst, but many of my friends weren't sick at all!

Good luck to you!

 

[lovethattink]

Congratulations!!! How exciting! We had AP's and I went to WDW many times throughout my pregnancy. I obeyed the signs, but there were 2 rides where I was very uncomfortable. On both the Haunted mansion and Spaceship earth the seats rotate backwards to go downhill. I felt ALOT of pulling on the ligaments of my stomach when this happened. Particularly on HM because it kind of dips when it turns to backwards. Had no trouble on anything else. Of course I avoided the obvious rides, and checked out the signs on the others. If you are experiencing any nausea, you might want to consider taking Sea Bands wristbands and a snack to munch on. With the extra lines involved with the holiday crowds, be sure you have a snack on hand before you would need it. Same with the bathrooms. I remember last Christmas Day thinking I wasn't going to make it in time to the restroom. The restroom lines were incredible! Do research ahead of time and hit the bathrooms that are large. I waited just over 20 minutes in line at the restroom between Casey's corner and 1st aid.

 

[HMGray]

Wow, thanks so much for the kind thoughts and words of wisdom! This is our first, so I have no idea what to expect as far as symptoms or anything like that, but I will be sure to heed everyones advice. It stinks that lots of the rides are going to be off limits. I am going with a few young kids are finally tall enough to ride on the "big kid rides" and it looks like I will be waving from the sidelines. It is well worth it though. Thank you all so much!