Which Rides...

[*Wish*Upon*A*Star*]

Hi all -

Just a quick question...

DH and I are going to US/IOA in January with another couple and both she and I are hoping to be pregnant at that time... Obviously, not very far along - only about 5 or 6 weeks - but, I do have a question.

Which rides should we avoid if we are pregnant?

Thanks for your help!

Marsha

 

[phamton]

Hi all -


Which rides should we avoid if we are pregnant?

Will your husband be pregnant also? I gotta see that. Oh you mean the other lady.....

The rides have warnings posted but you will not be forbidden to ride them if you choose. I rode everything when I was pregnant with twins and even rode my horses up until the day of delivery all with the blessing of my obstetrician. Check with your doctor and see what you can and cannot do.

 

[Figment22]

Marsha,
Well, for a number of DISers, this may be too much information but here goes anyway.
I was pregnant with my second child (now 11 y/o) and Splash Mountain had just opened at the Magic Kingdom. I was in my first trimester, having a completely normal pregnancy and had had no complications in my first pregnancy three years before. I desperately wanted to ride SM on our trip to WDW, so I talked to my obstetrician and told her that overall the ride was calm, there was just that one big drop. She told me that the one big drop could cause placenta previa, literally having the placenta break away from the uterine wall. So, I waited until our next visit to FL to ride Splash.

If you use the "drop" criteria, you'd want to avoid the Hulk coaster, Dueling Dragons, Ripsaw Falls, Flying Unicorn Coaster, Jurassic Park River Adventure and possibly Bilge Rat Barges (river rapids ride). Spiderman has a simulated drop and considerable spinning, so you may want to check with your OB on that one. The Cat in the Hat has lots of spinning but you can have the spin turned off if you tell the ride attendant. Storm Force Accelatron is basically a teacups spinning ride. These are all at IOA.

At Universal Studios, the Mummy is a no-no and Back to the Future is VERY jerky. Jimmy Neutron and Shrek have stationary seating available.

Speak with your obstetrician and see what types of motion may be restricted for you.

Have a good trip.

 

[phamton]

It should be your doctor who decides. I know women who jog all during pregnancy, some snow ski, others horseback ride, etc. Some doctors are more conservative. I had 3 miscarriages before my twins and I had the miscarriages during complete bedrest after spotting. I did absolutely no heavy lifting or strenuous activities. My doctor was convinced that there was something not formed right with those babies and no matter what I did, I would miscarry and I did.

With my twins, everything was great. I was very active and never spotted. I went to Disneyland and Knotts Berry farm when I was only a few weeks along with them. In fact, I didn't even know I was pregnant. (This was in the old days when PG tests weren't accurate until you were a month late.) When I realized I was PG, I went to the doctor in a panic as I had ridden some very rough coasters at Knotts. He reassured me that if it was that easy to miscarry, then abortions would be unneccessary as women could just hit the amusement parks.

I owned horses and rode everyday. My twins were both 7 lbs. a piece and not early. I have given birth to 5 healthy children and was physically active with all the pregnancies. The only miscarriages I had was when I was bedridden.

Now I know this isn't a popular opinion but I did want you to see both sides. Ultimately the decision is between you and your doctor.

 

[*Wish*Upon*A*Star*]

Thank you both for your replies. Like Lisa said, this may be too much information, but here goes...

DH and I were five weeks pregnant on our last trip to WDW - last March (04). We had been undergoing major fertility treatments (as we are now) and we had finally gotten the good news that we'd conceived. I stayed away from *most* of the "no-no" rides, but I did go on Splash Mtn. Everything was fine when we got home, baby was doing great. So, no worries here. We ran into some problems when I was 24 weeks (low amniotic fluid, placental/umbilical profusion = 'blood clot'). Anyway, our son passed away in utero at 26 weeks. He was born on August 27th, 2004, and our due date was just this past week - December 5th, 2004.

The other couple we're going with is a couple we met in a support group for parents of stillborn children. So, obviously, both she and I will probably be *very overprotective* of our bodies and our unborn children if we are, indeed, pregnant. It's funny, too, because if we both *are* pregnant, we'll have the exact same due date! LOL

But, at any rate, thank you for both of your opinions. I really appreciate it. I know some of the rides are "covered", if you will, so I didn't want to get in line and then realize I shouldn't be riding it.

Thanks again and Happy Holidays.

 

[JuniperJen]

Marsha,
I just returned from US/IOA a few days ago. I am 5 weeks pregnant. I was extremely cautious (maybe overly cautious). My DH and I have been undergoing infertility treatments (IVF), so there was no way I was going to risk doing anything to damage this baby after we had spent so much time and money to finally be pregnant. To me, it was totally worth it not to be able to ride any rides - I am so thrilled to be pregnant.
Luckily, we were at US/IOA in March, so I had already ridden everything except the Mummy. During this visit, I did not ride anything that had a warning for expectant mothers. I did see Shrek and Jimmy Neutron (they have special stationary seats for expectant mothers). The maps that you receive when you walk into the park tell you which rides are not recommended for pregnant women.
Have fun on your trip and good luck with your infertility treatments.

Jennifer