Is it inappropriate to take a child to cervical screening?

[BambooTwo]

I am due my smear test. It's tomorrow. My childcare has cancelled on me. Is it wrong if I take my three year old to the appointment?

The nurse wouldn’t allow me to have my smear test with my 3 year old there, even if he was occupied with an iPad. Apparently she would have done it if I’d had a push chair to strap him into. I was made to re-book so I would double check before you go!

I was told not to take my 3 yr old too. They have lots of stuff out that kids shouldn’t touch and you aren’t in a position to intervene if they start messing around with things.

I've taken my DD before but she was older, around 7 I think the last time I had one. She stayed behind the curtain and didn't see anything, the nurse wasn't bothered that she was there.

I’ve taken mine. She just sat there. I also took the baby who sat on my chest whilst it was done...

I've had smears with small children there. No one has ever commented. They were always in prams or pushchairs when little as I don't drive and a sling seemed a bit impractical for that particular activity. For quite a while I was on recalls so my practice nurse knew both my cervix and my dc fairly well anyway.

I had to take mine. He was 4 at the time and he sat in the chair on the other side of the curtain next to me. No biggie. Was either that or no smear as I had nobody to watch him

I took my 18 month old: she was in a buggy and the nurse positioned me and the curtain so that she could see my head but not what the nurse was doing at my bottom half.
I’d call in the morning to check what the nurse says.

Thank you, everyone. I will call in the morning to double check.

I went to a hospital gynae appointment with my child when he was four, had no choice really.

He sat on a chair by the desk while I was being examined, very good and not interested. He didn't look up my jacksy if that is what is worrying the op - mind you, they already know it as they came out of it.....

Could you take your three year old in a pushchair if you still have one?

I had 2 children with me at my last smear. One in the infant carrier car seat, and a toddler. The baby was on the floor next to me and the toddler (2) sat on a chair by my head. I'm astounded that people are refused a smear test because they have children with them and think I'd be complaining if it happened to me! It takes seconds.

There are honestly some things you should do alone and go for a smear is one of them . but if you have no childcare I suppose you can't cancel , so if the nurse doesn't mind and child is oblivious then fine .

Any where that makes having a smear more difficult needs to rethink their policies. Yes, it's not ideal, but if taking your preschooler to a smear means not delaying it, then I don't see the harm. It's easy enough to position the pushchair/pull the curtain etc.

I had to have many medical procedures, and lots of physio all with my then 2 yo in tow. He was all good and it meant I got the treatment I needed.

I had one with my child sitting on my stomach facing me. The nurse was happy to go ahead and I had no other childcare.

I had to take my then 11 month old with me, who shouted mumumumumum the whole time 😂 needs must.

Mine is due and I'll be taking DD. If they're of an age/temperament that they can sit for five mins while it's done, either in their pram or on a seat, then I don't see the issue.

I took my 18 month old twins and they climbed on top of me while I had the smear done (couldn’t lift the double buggy upstairs). The nurse laughed and said it was fine. If I had to wait for childcare I wouldn’t have a smear till they started school. I think a three year old with peppa pig on a phone and a packet of raisins would be no trouble.

I had to take mine ... otherwise no smear .

I took 2 preschoolers to my last but one appointment...the nurse sang songs with them...

"I'm just going to pop the speculum in..." then she burst into a verse of Incy Wincy Spider with a 3 and 4 year old 🙄

The women is a legend 😂

3 yr old won't even know what's happening, I took my 15 year old because I wanted her to know it's normal...... Unfortunately on that occasion I had a really inexperienced nurse, that A sat my daughter on a chair at the end of the bed & B couldn't find my cervix for what felt like 10 hours 😂😂😂😂 We laugh now but my daughter was mortified at the time. However she is now pro smear 😀

I’ve done lots of smears with children there. Little ones are best in buggies, positioned so they can see Mum but not the business end, older ones the other side of the curtain for the couple of minutes to do the actual smear. Much better that women go for the smear than delay having it done.

It is only abnormal if you make it abnormal. Just tell your child that this is an important medical appointment that you need to go to and that it is also very important that they sit quietly and let the nurse do what she needs to do.

If your DC asks any further questions, answer factually but age appropriately.

I took one of mine once
All was fine-laud there cursing the fact I’m female
Dd was in the pushchair at the other side of the curtain which looking back I’d put a bit too close to the curtain
Nurse starts rooting up there when the curtain gets pushed back and a small voice shouts
‘And what do you think your doing to MY mummy?’
Thankfully she was at school the next time I went...

How ever you juggle the situation you must get it done. If you can occupy your little one it shouldn't take long. Also consider that they have to find a chaperone if you request one so maybe a "chaperone" could baby sit for 5 mins.

I took my 4 year old to mine recently & the nurse said it was lovely to see her there and it being normalised for her. She had a lot of questions afterwards providing they can sit still & quietly for all of 5 minutes I don't see why it should be a problem.

I've always took dd to mine. No childcare. She's 12 now and can stay at home but most children are capable of sitting on a chair the other side of the curtain for the couple of minutes it takes.