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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Baby at a coil fitting appointment

86 replies

Greendino90 · 25/04/2024 21:47

Hi all

Is it unreasonable to take my baby to a coil fitting appointment tomorrow?

He’s 11 months old. I ordinarily have great support but for a multitude of (very last minute) unfortunate reasons I don’t have childcare for the appointment.

I’ve been waiting ages for it and really don’t want to cancel but of course will if it’s not appropriate.

I’d just plan to keep him in his buggy but have no idea how long the appointment is likely take.

Please could I have your thoughts?

Thank you

OP posts:
Answersunknown · 25/04/2024 22:18

Onekidnoclue · 25/04/2024 22:04

I took mine (no other option). Was totally fine. Interesting that clinics view this as an event so painful it might bring on fainting but not painful enough to offer painkillers!

It’s not pain that makes you faint.
the risk is cervical shock from the procedure - it’s rare but can happen!

Original poster
Greendino90 · 25/04/2024 22:17

Hotgirlwinter · 25/04/2024 22:15

and what would a woman with zero other options do? Just go without healthcare? Another barrier in the way for women to access healthcare and just basically exist day to day.

Call on social services to watch a child for a 15 minute procedure?

Despair at the dismissal of barriers for some women and girls.

This is such a valid point that you make

OP posts:
mitogoshi · 25/04/2024 22:15

You need to ask as they have rules but mine was quick and painless. Seems to vary a bit

Hotgirlwinter · 25/04/2024 22:15

and what would a woman with zero other options do? Just go without healthcare? Another barrier in the way for women to access healthcare and just basically exist day to day.

Call on social services to watch a child for a 15 minute procedure?

Despair at the dismissal of barriers for some women and girls.

BrendaSmall · 25/04/2024 22:14

pearlevu · 25/04/2024 22:05

Absolutely not. It could be really straightforward or you could be in there ages recovering from a traumatic procedure

Traumatic??
have you had a coil fitted??
I’ve had them for 40+ years, never had it been traumatic!!
can’t really feel much whilst having it done!

Original poster
Greendino90 · 25/04/2024 22:14

Such mixed replies! Thank you for all of them though

OP posts:
Sunshineclouds11 · 25/04/2024 22:14

I've done it for a smear before, chaperone was over the moon he was there tbh 😂

awayandaway · 25/04/2024 22:13

I dont think you should. It can be really upsetting and disturbing for a young child to see their mum in such a vulnerable situation, uncomfortable and out of control.

letsgoskiing · 25/04/2024 22:13

I fit coils. It's not ideal but happens quite often as women have no childcare.

Original poster
Greendino90 · 25/04/2024 22:12

I’ve had two unmediated vaginal births so assumed I’d be ok but hadn’t heard about the involuntary fainting response fro
drop in blood pressure, though imagine it to be rare…

OP posts:
Mummydoctor · 25/04/2024 22:12

The procedure is likely to be fine, but rarely passing the equipment through the cervix can cause the heart rate and BP to drop dramatically. Usually recovery is quick but having had one case of cervical shock recently I wouldn’t have wanted to have had a baby or child in the room as well…

MineFlag · 25/04/2024 22:11

TwattyMcFuckFace · 25/04/2024 21:49

It doesn't matter what Mumsnet thinks, you'll have to phone ahead in the morning and ask.

This poster is on the money, I took mine to smears before, they’re in buggy, they see my face from behind curtain, all sorted!

pearlevu · 25/04/2024 22:11

amindatwork · 25/04/2024 21:58

I did, was years ago now so don't remember the details but it was fine. So long as they are small enough to be strapped in a buggy in the room with you i don't see the issue. A toddler would be more problematic. I think I just turned them to face away briefly during the actual on the bed fitting part. At 11 months take a fave distracting toy? Worst case prop up a cartoon on an iPad for 5 min. Surely many people getting a coil are likely to have a small child already since they are the recommended contraceptive after childbirth. Unless there are any rare complications or you are anxious about the procedure, it takes barely any time.

I've had 3. Even the most painless one I wasnt anxious about took 20 minutes

mindutopia · 25/04/2024 22:10

And it was totally not a bit deal, OP. It was like 5 seconds of period like cramping and over and done.

Onekidnoclue · 25/04/2024 22:10

pearlevu · 25/04/2024 22:07

They should be offering numbing. Sometimes it isn't the pain it's the insertion triggering a response and it can cause blood pressure to plummet

Show quote history

i didn’t know this. I’ve had four. Never been offered anything. Have been told to expect it to be painful each time though, once followed by a cheery “perks of being a woman eh?!”.

mindutopia · 25/04/2024 22:09

I took mine. What else was I going to do with him? I wasn't going to lose a day of pay for dh so I could go to a 10 minute appointment. It was a non-event. He sat in the pushchair just next to me the whole time. And then we went to the library.

Original poster
Greendino90 · 25/04/2024 22:08

Oh gosh now I’m beginning to worry about the actual procedure…!

OP posts:
elliejjtiny · 25/04/2024 22:08

I brought babies/toddlers to midwife appointments, smears, counselling sessions and monitoring on the antenatal ward. I didn't have childcare so I didn't have a choice. Mil looked after the older ones when I was giving birth but she made it clear that it would be for Labour only and dh would have to pick them up within a couple of hours after the baby was born.

pearlevu · 25/04/2024 22:07

Onekidnoclue · 25/04/2024 22:04

I took mine (no other option). Was totally fine. Interesting that clinics view this as an event so painful it might bring on fainting but not painful enough to offer painkillers!

They should be offering numbing. Sometimes it isn't the pain it's the insertion triggering a response and it can cause blood pressure to plummet

pearlevu · 25/04/2024 22:05

Absolutely not. It could be really straightforward or you could be in there ages recovering from a traumatic procedure

Onekidnoclue · 25/04/2024 22:04

I took mine (no other option). Was totally fine. Interesting that clinics view this as an event so painful it might bring on fainting but not painful enough to offer painkillers!

Poursomesugaronme88 · 25/04/2024 22:04

Had mine fitted in october and also had smear test done same time. Took my baby with me and absolutely fine. Staff loved her

Original poster
Greendino90 · 25/04/2024 22:03

Thanks so much all for the replies so far. It looks as though policies differ between surgeries so I’m going to have to ring them in the morning

OP posts:
greenmarsupial · 25/04/2024 22:01

My appointment letter specified no children.

Antihistamine62 · 25/04/2024 22:00

I booked an appt for a coil last week and was told no children