Pregnant in WDW...help!!

[rileysmommy]

Just found out that I am pregnant again! Wahoo!!! We've been trying for over a year so we are very excited. But...we are going to WDW in August and I will be about 8 months along. Any tips, ideas, suggestions? I could really use some help on this. Thanks so much!!!

 

[JPN4265]

Just found out that I am pregnant again! Wahoo!!! We've been trying for over a year so we are very excited. But...we are going to WDW in August and I will be about 8 months along. Any tips, ideas, suggestions? I could really use some help on this. Thanks so much!!!

Change your trip to an earlier arrival date or pospone your trip for a year or two.

 

[ahutton]

At your doctor's appoinyment you should ask how many weeks you'll be at that point. There is a no more travel point, I believe at 34 weeks but your doctor may have a different recommendation. Take care of yourself to make sure you avoid as many complications as you can as well.

The allearsnet.com site has a huge compliation of tips from many of us who have made the trip while expecting. It can be a relaxing, great way to prepare for a new arrival! Congratulations, we have 3 now. Our first DS was born on New Years Day.

 

[loveswdw]

We went to the F&W Fest in Oct. 2003 when I was around 7 mos. or so (my DS was born 12-10-03). My doctor had absolutely no problems with me travelling that far along. She encouraged it actually. We had a great time (just my DH & me for one last trip by ourselves for a while). We did hang around the resort a lot (we stayed in a studio at BCV). And made a point to go back to the room every day in the afternoon. Some days I would nap, some days just lying on the bed watching TV was all the refresher I needed. I didn't push myself a lot and since we had been to WDW several times before there was no need to commando anyway.

I found that carrying the backpack also seemed to help me "balance" out my belly! My DH felt bad about me carrying it but I insisted!

Of course I didn't get to ride Mission: Space. My DH rode and LOVED it while I sat on a bench outside and mapped out our next eating adventure at the F&W Fest!

Also, we always took a dip in the quiet pool just about each day. That was great. We only did SAB once that week. Just didn't particularly like being around a ton of people when I was that large. The quiet pool did get pretty full too. I would also stick my feet in the spa. That helped keep my "dogs" from barking so much. I'd just sit on the steps with my feet in.

We were usually back in the room by 9:30 or 10:00. I just didn't have any desire to stay out really late on this trip.

Hope this helps! Good luck with your pregnancy!!

loveswdw

 

[lclark0621]

Just found out that I am pregnant again! Wahoo!!! We've been trying for over a year so we are very excited. But...we are going to WDW in August and I will be about 8 months along. Any tips, ideas, suggestions? I could really use some help on this. Thanks so much!!!

Congrats!!

First I HIGHLY suggest you change your dates to an earlier time. When I was 8 months along, I was SO uncomfortable, swollen & EXHAUSTED all the time. Plus I had medical complications, so my son was born about 2 & 1/2 weeks early.

The last thing I wanted to do at 8 months pregnant, was walk around Disney World. All I wanted to do was sleep with my feet up & get ready for my baby.

Not saying you will have any complications, but you never know what will happen when you are pregnant.

You need to take care of you & that little baby.

Plus that far along, a lot of doctors dont like you traveling to far from home. You could go into labor early, need your doctor, etc.

Try and go earlier or wait a year or so & take your little one with you. That is what we did. :jumping4:

 

[Bird-Mom]

Congratulations!

I have been to WDW twice while pregnant-once at 22 weeks and once at 33 weeks in the same pregnancy. (we joke that dd2 has been there twice already) Drink lots of water, take it easy touring, and spend lots of time in the pool and at the waterparks! Both trips were great!

Ask your care provider, but don't stress too much.

 

[JennsBabySky]

I love Disney and went to Disneyland throughout my pregnancy (including at 39 weeks). However, I only live 1 hour from Disneyland (without traffic). I think it will make a definite difference if you need to fly at 32 weeks vs 36 weeks. At 32 weeks, I'd still go, but at 36 weeks, I might not want to make the flight (some airlines won't even let you fly during the last 4 weeks -- I think, but I'm not sure).

Here are some of the things I can think of:

Wear super comfortable shoes! You may even need to buy a new (bigger pair). My feet have grown a half size with each pregnancy (permanently unfortunately)

Wear comfy and breathable clothes. It is hot and muggy in Florida in summer. Dress lightly.

Drink lots and lots of water. (And go to the bathroom lots and lots, by now you no longer have a bladder and you're drinking extra water. For me, this was the only real nuisance of being pregnant at the park. But, I would have been visiting my own bathroom all the time anyhow)

Make sure you have been active and walking a lot your entire pregnancy. It is fine to walk around the park all day when you are used to it. Your 8th month of pregnancy is not the time to try increasing your exercise routine, your body will make you pay for it and it could be distressing for your baby. In my (non-medical) opinion, suddenly increasing your walking/exercise to a few long days in a row is way to risky. I walk all day long at work and I have always been partial to ridiculously long walks (and I frequent Disneyland all the time), so I was very comfortable walking around for long days.

Don't plan too much in the day. You'll be walking slower and may want more frequent breaks.

Most important -- have fun!

 

[ceburto2]

Just my two bits from personal experience and my knowledge as a nurse and CRNA. From my personal life, both of my sister's children were 2 weeks early. I would be sure that your insurance is accepted at local Orlando Hospitals in case you go into labor. Bring contact information for your OB at home. If you are driving sown from New Jersey, I would pick out a few of the major cities along the way and find out if your insurance is accepted there as well. No matter if you fly or drive, please, please get up and move around at least every two hours. As a pregnant woman you are more prone to blood clots that when you were not pregnant. Standing an stretching your legs every so often will help to decrease the chances of a blood clot forming.

I don't mean to be a spoil sport or frighten you, but better safe than sorry. You have been preparing for this baby for 8 months, a little more preparation to ensure a happy outcome will put your mind at ease.

-ceburto2

 

[grlpwrd]

I took a trip to Hawaii when I was almost 8 months pregnant and I agree with the previous poster... be careful of blood clots. I wore support stockings and made sure to get up a lot in the airplane plus I walked and stretched. If you're going to drive down same thing - try to walk and stretch and take breaks.

Once I also drove from Oklahoma to Virginia when I was 8.5 months pregnant because my dh took the first job after along layoff. I brought a CB radio and cell phones with me and I mapped out the hospitals along the way.

Try to elevate your legs when you sit and rest. That helps with circulation. Also, try to stay clear of hot tubs because sitting in too long will affect your internal body temp and therefore your baby. It will help a lot to go swimming or just stand in a pool because it will help with circulation and swelling, too.

I never went to WDW pregnant, though - I did bring my 3rd dd along when she was 6mo old. Still, I hope any of what I posted helps.

 

[crazymomof4]

No matter if you fly or drive, please, please get up and move around at least every two hours. As a pregnant woman you are more prone to blood clots that when you were not pregnant. Standing an stretching your legs every so often will help to decrease the chances of a blood clot forming.

I don't mean to be a spoil sport or frighten you, but better safe than sorry. You have been preparing for this baby for 8 months, a little more preparation to ensure a happy outcome will put your mind at ease.

-ceburto2

Another nurse here. I was just going to post the same thing as above. I'd like to add: Since this is your first, you really don't know how your body is going to respond to being pregnant. Personally, I know I could have done WDW at 8 months--I felt great during my pregnancies and was very active. But some women have a more difficult time. You don't want to have the trip a month away and realize that you just can't do it.

Personal experience: We were planning a trip to WDW when I found out I was expecting DS#1. We postponed the trip but set a definite date for when the baby would be 6 mo old. We had a lot of fun planning and anticipating the trip with our baby on the way. In fact, in the birthing room my DH was filming me after delivery and said "[my name] , you just gave birth to a baby! Now what are you gonna do?" I answered like the TV commercials that were popular at the time (1989) and said, "I'm going to Disneyworld!!!"

As it ended up taking our DS when he was 6 mo old was a breeze! We all had a great trip! The pictures are just precious, especially treasured now since he is now a tall 15 yr old! ]

 

[estherhead]

I haven't been to Disney pregnant but I have been to an amusement park and it is really important that the people you take with you will go at your pace. I have a lovely, cooperative family but I constantly had to say, "Slow down!" They were so used to me be in the front rushing about with excitement that it was weird to go so slow. And we were toting around 3 babies/kids! And I was still that much slower.

Plus sitting is a must. At Disney this spring I saw a pregnant woman who had a cane that folded out into a stool. That way she could sit whenever she wanted to and they let her take her cane onto the rides she was allowed to ride. I asked about it and she had bought it at a golf store.

If I got pregnant and went to WDW I would definately buy one of those. But I do have to agree with everyone else that you would be a much happier Disneyer if you went in June. Cooler and 6 months pregnant would be a great time to be at WDW. You'd be glowing, no morning sickness, not much swelling, and you'd have more energy. I HATE being 8 months pregnant. 2 months still to go and I'm already a cow. That is how I feel.

Esther

 

[SueM in MN]

Plus sitting is a must. At Disney this spring I saw a pregnant woman who had a cane that folded out into a stool. That way she could sit whenever she wanted to and they let her take her cane onto the rides she was allowed to ride. I asked about it and she had bought it at a golf store.pregnant. Esther

Someone recently posted on the disABILITIES Board that those canes with seats are no longer allowed into the park (apparently security considered them dangerous). So, if you bring one, it might possibly be confiscated and waiting for you when you leave.
It's too bad if they are not allowed in any more since quite a few people found them helpful.

That said, I agree with the others who suggest either going earlier in the pregnancy or waiting until after the baby is born. If the worst happens and your baby is born in Orlando, that would be very difficult (I saw a news story in the past year where a woman was on vacation when her child was born away from her home city at 8 months. Th baby had some problems that required it to stay in the hospital for a few weeks and the parents were stuck away from home until the baby could travel. An extreme situation for sure, but it does happen to people.

 

[java]

I am 9 months pregnant right now and I can tell you I can barely walk up the stairs, I can't imagine being at Disney right now. If you still have to go during that time, I would suggest renting a Jazy scooter. You are going to be HOT! It is 2 degrees here today and I am in shorts I am so hot. I suppose you could do it. But How are you getting there? Many airlines won't let you fly at that late time and a long car ride is a disaster at that late date. My back goes out if I am in the car longer than 1 hour. Good luck to you and your trip and best of luck with the baby.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Congratulations!! I have to warn you, though - I have been pregnant 3 times at WDW during Oct, Jan, and March with not too much problem, but we went last August (I wasn't pregnant) and it was just so hot, humid - drippy sweaty hot sometimes you felt like you couldn't get a good breath of air humid - I WOULDN"T do it pregnant. There were times, especially at AK, that I just felt like I couldn't take another step. Just wanted to fall to the ground. I didn't say anything to ruin the day, but later my hubbie said he felt the same way.

August has some good things going for it, but NOT if you are pregnant!!! Augh! Please rethink your dates. I think you'll have a much more enjoyable time during a cooler month. Good luck either way.

 

[Ahrizel]

You probably can do this trip, but... First things first, check with the ob/midwife. Realize that things can change during pregnancy-low risk to high risk-and try not to make nonrefundable plans just in case. Take it easy!! August is hellishly hot and humid, it can swamp anyone, especially you in late pregnancy. Stay on property or very close if offsite. You need a midday break anyway in summer and it will be essential for you. Consider renting an ECV for the trip, less walking will be easier. You can rent from an offsite company in order to have it the whole trip. You're not going to be able to do even half what you normally do, so prepare yourself ahead of time. If you're willing to do a VERY relaxed trip to Disney-lots of downtime, hanging out in the pool, laying with your feet up-you can probably manage. If you've never done Disney before(I can't tell from your post) I'd reconsider your trip. If you have a choice, I'd either move it up a few months, or push it back a few months. It could be much easier to this with an infant than late pregnancy. If you do go, make it a very mellow trip, let dh do the work and you relax. Disney is quite special just to take your time and enjoy it, done that way you should be okay.

 

[all4fun]

That said, I agree with the others who suggest either going earlier in the pregnancy or waiting until after the baby is born. If the worst happens and your baby is born in Orlando, that would be very difficult (I saw a news story in the past year where a woman was on vacation when her child was born away from her home city at 8 months. Th baby had some problems that required it to stay in the hospital for a few weeks and the parents were stuck away from home until the baby could travel. An extreme situation for sure, but it does happen to people.

This is so true - My ds was born early and fortunately this didn't happen to me but I have heard of this type of thing happening to others on my preemie board. The last thing anyone would want is to be stuck far from home, possibly for weeks, if their baby came early for some reason. I would definitely suggest moving your trip up, or preferably postponing until a few months after your due date, if possible. You will be able to rest easy then.

~Cheryl

 

[ms.ojo]

Everyone has given you such good advice, you just don't know what can happen during a pg. I don't believe you said where you're located, but another factor is quite often airlines won't let women fly in the 8th/9th month w/out a Dr's note. And even if your Dr. were OK w/ it now, there's no telling how YOU will be by then and if he would OK it then.

I have been to Disney when I was 8wks pg....and that was ok. Keeping hydrated was key and getting off my feet to rest (don't want swollen ankles!). Of course that was during the time when smells could really set me off and we joked about me knowing the quickest routes to all the bathrooms in the parks!! One time, I barely made it.

So, go w/ what you feel is right, but I'd second (or am I know 3rd or 4th reinforcement) the idea of going earlier, or planning to go after the baby. I traveled w/ a 4yr old and 1yr old and that trip was a breeze!!!!

Good luck.. And congratulations!!!!

 

[DisFam95]

8 mo pregnant at Disney is August!! no no no. No way would I do that! Reschedule for earlier in your pregancy. If saving $ for a sooner time is out then take the baby in the fall or early next year. I would travel to disney w/ a baby anyday over 8mo preggo in August. You must be just blissfully happy right now because I can't imagine anyone in their right mind wanting to do that.

Was that blunt enough?!?!?

Good luck in your decision. I know it's no fun to change plans to Disney.

 

[mommyrom]

Well, I am a RILEY Mommy too! Only my Riley is 14 years old and in high school! (Yowzaah!) Anyway, I was pregnant with my now 16 month old the last time we went in May, 2003. I would highly recommend either an earlier trip (HOT in August!!!) or wait until you have had the baby! When we went last trip, it was tolerable but a bit humid even in May and my feet swelled from the plane ride and stayed that way the whole time! Suggestions I would have if you still go re REST REST REST...See a bench, GRAB it! Drink your water and have Lots of fun! Castmembers were great when I needed a rest room NOW and I even relaxed a bit in the Baby Center next to Crystal Palace just to get a "real" seat. My DH is still amazed that I pulled off the very successful trip planning last time so well and survived so happily while there with the kids aged 12, 5 and 3 (...plus our bambino!!). I still had 3 months left and think I would have thought twice about going any later than I did! Good luck to you and your little one (...And Riley, too!!!)