To take my toddler to my growth scan? No childcare.

I had an appointment where I had similar. I had no other option but to take baby with me. I rang in advance and explained the situation and they told me ok. I got there for the appointment and they turned me away, despite having driven 45 mins to get there. So they do sometimes just say no. It wasn't a scan so hopefully they will be more accommodating to you, especially as those kind of scans should be fairly quick. I think you should be fine. If they say it is necessary they need to get ot done.

Another time perhaps worth trying nursery staff, they can sometimes help though of course they may well be working at nursery already during the day. Some of ours work part time though so some flexibility.

I feel your pain! I have been in similar situations and it is so hard. I am a doctor too. I would phone the consultant’s secretary and explain the situation. You are in an impossible situation here and I think the priority is for the consultant to consider how safe it is for you to move the appointment and take things from there. Hopefully they can suggest a solution.

I can honestly say I have never, and none if my family or friends have ever used a babysitter from an app. My dsis used a neighbours daughter as a babysitter 30yrs ago but I've not heard of anyone doing this now. Safeguarding is too high profile for frie ds /teenagers nowaday and there is NO way on earth I'd leave my child with literally a stranger regardless of checks and certificates they may have.

Maybe in certain parts of the country this is more commonplace but not where we live.

OP don't worry I understand how you feel. I wouldn't find a random babysitter I'd never met for my almost 2 year old and even if I did she would screech the place down as she does not like strangers and wouldn't be left with one. I'm sorry to hear they can't re arrange but hopefully there's been a cancellation etc and they can do if you call tomorrow. I recently went for a growth scan (Monday jusy gone) and I saw a 4 ish year old go in with mum and also a toddler so maybe all hospitals are different. Good luck :) some of these replies are so rude lol

The hospital have told you firmly and clearly it's a no and you're going to ring them and ask again?!

Well if they are vetted/DBS checked, what is the difference between them and a childminder?

If you don’t want to book a baby sitter have you seriously no friends that could come with you and sit in the waiting room with the older child .

Sorry @alba146 it's childcare.co.uk

There's a website called Childcare Choices I think, you put your postcode in and what kind you need, so babysitter in this instance and it gives you a list of all registered ones in your area. All DBS checked and you can look at their profiles and stuff. Don't know if you're comfortable with that but it's an option to consider at least

Well I imagine a lot of them are all at work. I wouldn’t just be able to find someone.

I’d agree that surely there must be a demand I’d pay £££s too. I’m rural and have on occasion had to trek 90minutes to hospital for an appointment. It’d be much easier to bring kids, go for a run at park/ snack. Then pop them into ikea style crèche go to appointment and come back an hour later. Otherwise you need to find 4 hours childcare.

Sitters agency provides vetted babysitters who have first aid qualifications and most work in childcare or are retired teachers/nurses. Otherwise I'd ask a retired neighbour or another mum if they could look after the toddler for a couple of hours.

I was discussing with friends last night how absurd it is that having no childcare can be a barrier to accessing antenatal care.
I'd take the toddler, bring screens and snack and hope for the best!

I have had to cancel a growth scan twice recently due to lack of childcare. Our hospital had nothing else available when I cancelled and said they'd just have to put me on a waiting list for another one and it would be sent out when they had one. It was the third time lucky - finally that slot I could do. It was fine. I would never take either of my children (6 and 3) to a scan. Too much potential for a very difficult situation if something unexpected had been found.

Most properly it wouldn't be profitable for a small fee/hour.
And how is it different from hiring an agency babysitter to sit in the waiting room or the hospital café with a child?

Great use of Mariana Trench in a comment!

Hello darling !! I was in the exact same position as you with my last ! Even ended up birthing and going into hemorrhage and theatre alone !! For the scan we used childcare.com ! Lovely lady who worked at a nursery only charged I think £20 🤗

Imagine the bug spreading in that crèche though

Makes you wonder why they don't have a crèche at all hospitals.

Ikea can do it and the kids love it.

Why can't hospitals (for a small fee per child per hour)? Good business opportunity if it could be arranged in a way thats profitable.

Not necessarily - some people may do half-days, some people may not work at the nursery every day, some places do early/late shifts to cover early drop-off and late collection, etc. It's worth asking, and it's worked for us in the past.

I was just giving an explanation that’s all… I agree it isn’t ideal but I know someone who was told devastating news and it was a very tricky situation to navigate as they also needed to be admitted for further tests etc.

@alba146 i haven’t read the whole thread but at my trust I saw on several occasions women being turned away due to having another child with them- it was especially challenging as often it was due to English not being a language the women were fluent in so they were struggling to understand the rule or arrange appropriate alternatives.
i think you may need to contact the consultant and explain your situation- is it possible to delay your scan based on their opinion.

I once took my toddler and a four year old when I was suddenly stuck. I was having scans every two weeks from 12 weeks so felt like I was perpetually cluttering up the clinic. I didn’t ask and no one said anything, although I’m very sure it was not allowed. Sometimes easier just to forge ahead and see how it all goes.

Wont the nursery workers be at work during the day?

Am so glad I didn't have this when expecting dd2. Her dad couldn't possibly have taken time off work to come as he was deployed in the middle east.

I feel for the OP as it's not a great situation

Nightmare! It’s hard trying to do everything right as a Mom.

I think some pp, simply don’t understand that some of us don’t have family support or some kind of magical village that helps us raise our children.

Agree with pp answer call the consultant secretary and ask the question. They might be more helpful.

If you are comfortable with it, look to local babysitters and pay them for an hour to come sit in the hospital with you in the waiting room. You would be away from your child for 10 minutes probably at most with a growth scan.

Good luck and hope all goes well.