What, I'm Pregnant!?

[embgrl]

So we have a trip to WDW booked next month and I just found out that I am pregnant. Completely unexpected and while it is a happy occasion, I am still totally bummed about the timing. I am one who loves to ride everything and will have a hard time sitting on the sidelines watching. DH and I are debating whether or not to just cancel our trip, which I totally don't want to do unless I am really sick. I will be about 8 weeks when our trip rolls around and unfortunately our first Dr.'s appt isn't until the week before we are supposed to be leaving. I have been searching the disboards, but all I seem to have come across are those who have gone much later in their pregnancy. I would really appreciate some input from those of you who have gone to WDW very early in your pregnancy and what you have felt comfortable riding or what your doctor's may have told you about riding things. Don't worry, I will still be consulting my doctor and following his advice, I would just like some other opinions since my appt is so far out. Thanks so much!!

 

[luvmy2sams]

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

I found out I was pregnant with DS about a week before our 2002 vacation, so I was 7-8 weeks along during the time we were in WDW. My OBGYN gave me no restrictions for rides, and I ended up doing everything my then-40" tall daughter was able to ride. The baby is very well protected...just follow your OBGYN's recommendations and do whatever within those parameters that you feel comfortable doing.

My biggest problem was riding the boat from WL to MK in the mornings. That was the only MK transportation option at the time, and the waves didn't help my morning sickness one bit.

 

[Colinsmom]

My dr's advice for any point in pregnancy was simple - if it says not to ride it while pregnant, don't. That said, I would personally be comfortable riding Kilimanjaro Safari and Soarin (does it have a pregnancy restriction?? I know that there is a height restriction) while pregnant.

Congratulations!!

 

[tzolkin]

At that stage, I don't know why you would have to "sit on the sidelines" unless you have some complications. I had "morning sickeness" all day and night throughout my pregnancies, so that may not have made for a fun trip. I would not have hesitated to ride anything, but obviously that is up to you.

 

[DVCisME]

You should be able to ride evrything at that point. You could alsojust call the nurse at the office and they should be able to supply you with answers. Congrats on the pregnancy! What a nice Christmas gift!

 

[Disfan3]

Here is a story for ya...

My trip with friends was scheduled for Sept. So I went. The first day of my trip was ok but I felt weird...by the last few days of my short (5 day) trip... I WAS SOOOO INCREDIBLY SICK. DEALTHY SICK. I could not do anything to save my life and have no idea how I made it back on the plane home I was so sick! I got home and DH took me to the ER and low and behold...I was pregnant.

No I will never go to Disney pregnant because I have awful pregnancies...and that first trimester has always been SO HARD FOR ME. But everyone is different and I don't see why you would be bummed about your trip. Disney will ALWAYS be there and you can enjoy it with your baby if you so chose, later!!

If not, then go and have fun but good grief I was sick.

 

[Disfan3]

oh yes...

even though I was sick...I still went to the parks and rode most everything...after I rode I would puke. And don't even get me started on my Cali Grill food...the worst part was not being able to EAT Disney food!!!

 

[ilandrazdsw]

My sis went to WDW last New Years with her family and found out she was pregnant after they got home. She had gone on every ride possible and then freaked out when she found out. Her healthy, beautiful daughter is so smiley...I say it was because she started out life having fun at the World

 

[mjkacmom]

I went to Hershey Park 3 months pregnant with twins, and rode everything. I felt they were so small, and so protected in those big sacks. However, I don't get m/s, and all of my pregnancies have been easy (and all had to be induced, late - I just don't go into labor).

 

[emh1129]

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I went while pg and while I did miss riding some of the bigger rides, it was still a blast and I was able to do a lot of things.

 

[tabrizia]

I went when I was about 7 weeks pregnant with DS. I rode everything I was planning to, though neither DH or I are thrill ride people so I didn't ride any of the roller coasters (wasn't planning to anyways). I did ride the Safari (no worse then some car rides, Soarin and Star Tours without a problem.

The major problems I had were I had a major meat aversion during the pregnancy with DS and I had booked all our ADRs at places I could get a good steak, oops. I was tired, so I wasn't running at normal speed, I seem to get hit with exhaustion in first trimester, so we had a bit more downtime then expected, oh and the Teacups spinning while on them made me a bit nauseous (DH and I didn't think about it till we got on it oops).

I had no problem doing almost everything though and DH and I had a ton of fun while there.

 

[dis75ney]

I was about eight weeks along when I went with DH in 2000, and my doctor had no problem whatsoever with me going on any ride I wanted. He said that the baby is so tiny at that point and so well protected that it was perfectly safe. I took his advice and rode everything I wanted. I guess this explains my now 8 year old DS's love of thrill rides...

 

[Jenny-momof3]

I was told just the opposite by my dr. He said that so many things were forming early on that it was quite dangerous to ride anything that would jar me.

Congrats! There's never a perfect time to be pregnant... but I'm sure it will all work out.

How did you feel your first trimester with your first child? I would maybe gauge on what you should do with the trip by that. I was always soooo sick the first 5-6 months that I know I couldn't have handled it. My best friend on the other hand was fine and would've been fine to travel.

 

[sailors_wfe]

First off... CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I was in the exact same situation as you in Aug of this year.... DH and I had been planning on running in a Disney race at the end of Sept and had our whole vacation planned (along with another trip down with family in Jan ) Mid Aug I found out I was 6 weeks preggo (when I wasn't even supposed to be able to get preggo ) so I was 9 weeks when our trip came along. My Dr just told me to take it easy... you'll hear tons of differing opinions here on the boards (I know I did) from ride everything "your baby is completely protected" to "don't ride anything... it's too dangerous". Considering it took us 6 yrs to get pregnant and I knew a bunch of people that had miscariages in their first trimester I wasn't taking any chances.. the wildest ride I rode was the Matterhorn (is that the right name?) with it's 2 bitty drops in EPCOT. DH went on everything else solo (and could have a fastpass for 2 rides at a time at most parks)... I must say, it was totally different from any of our previous trips, but you know what... I had the best time not rushing to get to the next big ride before the lines got long (go figure ) ... I did have the worst Morning Sickness right up until our trip... but Disney magic held out for me and I only got sick twice during our trip... My new food aversions were a bigger concern for our dinning plans (I cried in Bomas when I discovered my "new" preggo tastebuds doesn't like Babootie )

Moral of the story (sorry so long) is to go with your feelings.... I missed the rides (and I'll be missing them again in Jan) but it will always be one of my best trips just for the different feel it had. If you have any questions please feel free to PM me.. i'd be happy to answer!

Congrats again!!!

 

[TexasBee]

Congratulations!! When I was pg my dr's advice was that I could do anything I liked in moderation, except kickboxing or bungee jumping. LOL. I think the best thing to do is just listen to your body. Definitely don't cancel your trip!! But if you are extra tired, cut your day short and spend some time by the pool or napping. If a meal doesn't agree with you, skip it or change it.

 

[SueM in MN]

You can look at the park maps for the attractions with warnings - they are marked with a red triangle on the map and also on a sign at the entrance to the queue.
For Epcot here are the attractions with warnings:

• Mission Space the sign outside the attraction says that pregnant women are advised not the ride both the more tame (green side) and the more wild (orange side)
• Test Track

For Magic Kingdom:

• Splash Mountain
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
• Space Mountain
• Goofy's Barnstormer (this doesn't have a triangle warning sign on the map, but does say at the ride that pregnant women should not ride)

For Disney Studio

• Star Tours
• Rock N Roller Coaster
• Tower of Terror

For Animal Kingdom:

• Kilimanjaro Safari
• Kali River Rapids
• Expedition Everest
• Primeval Whirl
• Dinosaur

Soarin' doesn't have any warnings that would affect pregnancy; just heights and possibly motion sickness.

The Safari and Kali River Rapids are listed because you can get unexpected hard bumps and drops during the course of the ride. Many people suggest that the Safari is less bumpy closer to the front, but it is still bumpy. We sit in the front seat because youngest DD needs to stay in her wheelchair; we still get bounced around a lot. It all depends on which ruts your ride car hits. I have also ridden it without DD, and have found the farther back seats are also bumpy and not considerably more bumpy than the front.

G forces are the reason for not riding Splash Mountain. The big drop takes you down at a very extreme angle at a high rate of speed (I think you get to 40 mph). At the bottom, your ride car stops abruptly. That sort of combination of fast speed drop at an extreme angle and then abrupt stop can theoretically cause placental abruption - where the placenta actually peels away from the wall of the uterus. That's the main reason for warnings at Splash Mountain.
For rides like Dinosaur, Star Tours, Test Track, Big Thunder Mountain you are not moving that fast, but experience sudden changes of direction that jerk you around a lot.

 

[candielips]

I went to WDW for my 1st time when I was 10 wks pregnant. Let me just say that almost every ride has a warning for pregnant women. I ignored most with a little common sense. No coasters, no Tower of Terror etc...
Yes I went on almost everything else and really enjoyed the water park.
My biggest suggestion is to take time to rest. I kept going and going for 4 days and by the time day 5 rolled around I was beat. Try to head back to your room a little early before dinner to have a cat nap, it'll make a world of difference.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

We go all the time since we live a little over an hour driving distance. I went when newly pregnant with both girls. With DD3, I even went to a waterpark when about 4 months along. Obviously I wasn't going to go down the Summit Plumment, but I did have fun while there anyways. I did the DVC preview of "Soarin'" while about 7 months pregnant with DD3. It was a gentle ride and was just fine while pregnant. Just be judicious about what you ride and don't take any chances. You can still have plenty of fun as long as you're feeling well!

With my second pregnancy I was pretty sick but I still enjoyed going to WDW pretty much throughout the pregnancy. I definitely recall being there while about 5 or 6 weeks pregnant, and it was fine. I didn't ride anything because I had bad morning sickness, though.

 

[sueh]

When I went with my sister back in 1995 she had just found out that she was pregnant and she went on all the rides. We rode big thunder railroad & splash mountain.

 

[eatright]

I was 15 weeks pregnant with DD and about 17 weeks pregnant with DS on two separate trips. I guess I am very conservative, I sit everything out. Better safe than sorry.