I was on the second trimester of my pregnancy when Jeff and I along with the Garces-Jabido family visited Hong Kong Disneyland in 2013. I was still on my first trimester when Jeff and I went to Universal Studios Singapore in 2015. In both trips, I was in a wheelchair. I was traveling on wheels – from airplanes to amusement parks to hotels.
It was fun being pushed around. I didn’t have to walk. We got instant priority access to most attractions (where a pregnant woman was allowed to go) because I am the “woman in a wheelchair”. But… it was awkward at first. I wasn’t the type who gets pushed around, I am the one who does the pushing most of the time. I control things and to some extent, I manipulate them. But being in a wheelchair prevented me from doing that. I had to put my trust and confidence to the person who was pushing me.
I had to be in a wheelchair because long walks when pregnant exhaust me. I get cramps and sometimes, I bleed. Not healthy signs of a healthy pregnancy. Several times, I have been in a wheelchair in airports. I’ve met airport personnel who were helpful and accommodating to a pregnant woman, while there were others who questioned why I am requesting for a wheelchair when I am not cripple or old. I was also told by one personnel that I OUGHT to give him 500 pesos because I was heavy. In another incident, an airline personnel told me that I need to pay extra amount for a wheelchair. I won’t bother telling you here what transpired in those three separate incidents. Suffice to say, I reprimanded them and showered them with lashings courtesy of my very pregnant hormones. I filed complaints too. That’s normal for me even when I am not pregnant, but the need to report inconsiderate and abusive individuals becomes more urgent when another creature(s) is(are) growing inside me. I’m a difficult enemy when pregnant.
In April 2013, I was five months pregnant with Nicholas and Antoinette. I continued to travel during my pregnancy for work and pleasure. I was still based in Cebu and Jeff in Guangzhou and that long-distance relationship required meeting halfway in Hong Kong, which was only 2.5 hours away from Cebu by plane and three hours away from Guangzhou by train.
We were annual pass holders of Hong Kong Disneyland even before our children were born. We are loyalists. Hong Kong Disneyland is wheelchair-friendly and we never had any problem in navigating the entire park. We had special seats in shows and often times, the first to board in rides. The downside though is giving up Space Mountain.
I was in a wheelchair in January 2015 when Antoinette and I traveled from Guangzhou to Manila to Cebu. Remembering that trip makes me cringe. I was four weeks pregnant, dragging an 18-month-old toddler, who was screaming and crying because she misses her twin brother. Jeff had work so he couldn’t leave with us. I couldn’t manage two children in two flights and during that time, they were still considered “infants” as per airline policy because they haven’t reached the age of two. The Chinese airport staff was very helpful in “wheeling” me from the pre-departure area to the boarding gate. The Cebu Pacific guy who was in-charge of me and my wheelchair wasn’t. He even lingered for some time waiting for a tip. I give tips to deserving people but not you, Mister! Sorry not sorry!
In February of this year, Jeff and I went on our annual couple trip on a cruise ship with Singapore as the port of call. We decided to arrive in Singapore two days before the ship left the harbor so we can explore the city. Universal Studios was in our itinerary.
I wasn’t impress with Universal Studios, maybe because I was used to the Disney vibe. You can call me biased, I won’t mind. But there was a certain gloominess in Universal Studios Singapore and to think we were there on the days leadings to Chinese New Year. I considered it a miracle if I see a staff member smile. However, since I was in wheelchair, I was a good girl, sat on my chair, and tried to relax. I was bored. So I told Jeff to tell the woman dressed as Betty Boop that I want a picture with her.
Let me sum up this post with the following points to remember when you’re traveling while pregnant in a wheelchair:
(1) Upon check-in, make sure to inform the airline personnel that you need a wheelchair. They’ll have your wheels ready and will take you from the counter to the boarding gate. Do not forget to sign the form declaring that you’re pregnant. Make sure to check your airlines’ regulations in terms of having a pregnant woman as a passenger.
(2) Before landing, remind the flight attendants that you need a wheelchair. They’ll have a wheelchair and staff ready to meet you the moment you exit the plane. The staff will take you all the way to the baggage claim area and then to the taxi stand, if you don’t have a ride waiting for you.
(3) People in wheelchairs have special spots in the shows in amusement parks. Those in wheelchairs are often times redirected to a special entrance to where you don’t join the maddening crowd in entering the theatre or the ride. For example, in the Lion King Show in Hong Kong Disneyland, those in wheelchairs get “first class spots” and that is the first row so you can interact with the cast members. Sweet and convenient!
(4) Be pleasant but… keep your fierceness on standby mode. I usually approach everyone with a light, friendly voice. I try to be sweet and approachable. I think that’s the reason why some people think they can fool me. But when the foolish ones try to pull their stunt on you, be fierce. Express your opinion and your rights. Don’t ever let anyone bully you especially those who tell you that you’re heavy. File complaints when you’re mistreated and verbally abused. No pregnant woman deserves to be treated like crap.
(5) It’s tempting to just stay seated when you’re in a wheelchair. How often does it happen that someone is “walking” on your behalf, right? However, since you’re pregnant, being seated the entire time is not healthy. Leg cramps are major vacation killers so steer clear from them by standing up, walking a little, and stretching your legs. Hydrate yourself too. Water is still the best!
Happy wheeling! 🙂
