Flying Between 35 and 36 Weeks

Yup. I went to Disney at 37 weeks pregnant - in June (so very hot). It was fine. So, I'd have no problem doing it. There are hospitals in Orlando if there are issues anyway.

I wouldn't fly at that late stage, but more importantly, I wouldn't plan on walking Disney unless I had an OB in Orlando lined up!

I had easy pregnancies. Even home-birthed the last two. And I did international trips while pregnant with all three.

I would not fly at 35 or 36 weeks. Oh my! Your back! Your legs! I can't even go see a movie after week 20. I couldn't imagine a 3 hour flight...unless it's first class with international beds so you can kick back and relax. But even then, I remember taking my kids to the zoo when I was around 34 weeks. I had to pee every 20 minutes. The weight while walking was just too much. If you do go, you probably will have to just stay at the hotel. It will be a lot of stress on your body.

BTW, My first came 5 days early, the second on his due date. The third? The midwife swore she wouldn't come before the due date. She didn't seem big, just right on the money. She came 2 weeks early. You never know. And my third was an 8 lb girl! What if the due date is just wrong?

with all that said, if you absolutely cannot change anything, wait and see how the pregnancy is going. Why not cancel two weeks ahead instead of now? Who knows how this pregnancy will go. They all are different. But if you go, plan on staying by the pool. let hubby take the kids everywhere, while you relax and keep your feet up ;-)

And please do take care of yourself. Get support hose! Spend some money on a quality pair of shoes (danskos or something). I keep seeing women pregnant with number 3 or 4 running around with black ankles and swollen feet. It makes my stomach hurt! And rest everyday! You are cooking a baby. You and baby come first!

Congrats!

How far up the ladder of responsibility did you go when you requested a change? I'd ask for the superviser at each level. I would include a letter from your doctor stating that he recommends that you not have the stress of flying and Disneyland. "The squeaky wheel does get oiled." Be polite and firm.

I'd be less concerned with the flight than with the stress of a Disney vacation that close to your due date.
All the extra walking, moving, early mornings and late nights, everything might speed things along, make you dialate, stress the baby, anything.
I'd put it up for sale or offer it to friends now or send the family without you.
-Mom due with #4, spent an amazing, exhausting week in Disney last Feb.

That is cutting it very close imho. What does your husband think? Is he willing to do most of the sight-seeing with the kids? Are you willing to stay in the room and rest if you need to?

I would be nervous to be so far from my OB/hospital that close to my delivery date.

I'd probably eat the cost (ugh). As some other moms mentioned maybe go up the ladder and see if you can get someone to do the cancellation.

I would not do it.

For starters... My priority would be the health of my newborn and myself

Next, do you really think you'll enjoy a Disney vacation with all the walking and activities at that point of pregnancy. Plus a flight?

I had 1 child and by week 30 I was ready to get her out of me.

I think your risks outweigh the costs, most especially flying at time of your pregnancy term.

Maybe a friend or family member can use the rental if you have one and most hotels will cancel with no issues.

Biggest issue is airline tickets already purchased and they can be credited back to your airline account BUT you have to use the same destination within 1 yr. Southwest will give you a blanket credit toward future purchase if you notify them ahead if time.

You can get out of this without an unreasonable amount of money. I wouldn't risk the health of my newborn just to satisfy a plane ticket, hotel and park reservations.

There's no way in God's green earth you could PAY me to travel in the last 10 weeks of a pregnancy.

You need to go up the ladder and talk to someone else and get the vacation changed or cancelled. I can't believe that Disney is THAT strict on the rules that they would run the risk of having a baby being delivered in their park because they refused to allow a change in dates...

Congrats on the baby!!

Call and talk to the manager... if they say no, talk to THEIR manager... if they say NO... talk to THEIR manager... and if that person says no? Tell them you are contacting the local news and get them involved.... don't think they'd want that bad publicity.... unwilling to change a date for a vacation due to pregnancy??? Yeah... not good advertising.

Good luck!

If your doctor is ok with it and you feel ok, it should be fine. Things to consider: will you be able to do everything you want when you're that pregnant? Will your insurance pay for hospitals down there if you unexpectedly go into labor? Where is the closest hospital if you unexpectedly go into labor? Make sure you have contingency plans and if you and your doctor think it's ok, I would go.

I would not do it. We all take for granted that our deliveries will be perfect. Unfortunately, things happen. Rarely but they happen. Could you live with yourself if labor started on the plane and a problem ensued. I delivered at 36 weeks with two of my pregnancies. Too risky IMO

I would go. You will be flying in an airplane, not a rocket to the moon. LOL If there is a problem they can radio ahead and land at any airport along the way. But I seriously don't see why there would be a problem. Even your doctor is okay with it.

There is no way in hell I would do this. When I was pregnant with my first one of my grad students was also pregnant. She traveled around the 30 week mark to a conference on the other side of the country. She went into labor and ended up delivering very early. She had to live in a Ronald McDonald house for over a month while her premie was in the hospital. She was away from her whole family.

For me, my first was born at 37 weeks, my second at 36. As you get older and have more babies, they come earlier and earlier. I think you are making a very risky decision.

I flew with my first at 36 weeks. My doctor gave me an okay and it was totally fine. I also did a Disney vacation when I was pregnant with my 3rd. (I was in my second trimester, which I know is much less tiring than third). Disney was great because there are a lot of places to sit down, and if you're staying in a Disney hotel, the shuttle buses are very easy and convenient getting to and from the parks.
I would say if your doctor is okay with it, then go for it!

I would do it too. That would be an amazing fun trip that would make those long weeks go by faster.

Not sure if you can get trip insurance while pregnant, but it might be worth it if you need to cancel everything else last minute.

Did you rent this directly from DVC (Disney Vacation Club) or from somewhere else? DVC will let its members change reservations very easily so I don't quite understand. If it was through a third party like Interval, Disney properties go quickly and are in big demand so I am surprised they won't just let you re-list it. Could you sell the week to someone else privately and get the names changed on the reservation? There is always a lot of walking at Disney and you might not enjoy it quite as much if you are 35 weeks pregnant and can't enjoy most of the rides. Good luck!

I would never do this. I had my daughter (my first and only) at 38 weeks after only 9 hours of labor from start to finish. I know they say disney is the happiest place on earth but I wouldn't want to have my child there! All kidding aside, think about doing all that walking around theme parks that big and pregnant...would not get me doing that on a dare. Just sayin! Good luck whatever u decide!!

I wouldn't go, but that's because I can't imagine enjoying a vacation at full term. That was always the worst time for me. No sleep, peeing all the time, extra 'fluffy' and waddling.

But congratulations! Because as we all know, they are worth it. :)

Back to the trip, have you tried calling the vacation club and crying on their shoulder about the situation? Even if they have a written policy, a manager might make an exception to move the date for medical reasons.

I had dream pregnancies. I was very active right up until each birth. Exercised, worked, played hard, I was on the beach celebrating the Fourth only a few hours before giving birth to my second girl. I was up around the house almost immediately after and we went on a little family cabin trip only two weeks after her birth.

Even with my easy and somewhat casual approach to child birth I would not fly to Disneyland in my last few weeks of pregnancy. Disney is not a relaxing vacation. How you feel and treat your body in those last few weeks may have an effect on your birth experience. It's just common sense.

I'd sell or give away the trip. Don't mess with mother nature!

If your doctor is ok with it then it should be ok.