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Original poster

Were children ever allowed in scans?

163 replies

Chocoqueen · 28/02/2021 15:57

I'm currently expecting my first baby, and all the appointment letters I've had say no children in scan. Obviously this isn't a problem, and I get the reasons but I was wondering if that's always been the case? I distinctly remember going to one of my mum's scans when she was pregnant with my youngest sibling in the mid-90's, I'd have been about 6 or 7, and my other sibling a year younger. Childcare wouldn't have been an issue as my dad was in the scan as well and my grandparents all lived close by and babysat a lot so we could have gone to theirs if needed. Does anyone else remember doing this?

OP posts:
justanotherneighinparadise · 28/02/2021 17:13

*scans

TMIspecimenneeded · 28/02/2021 17:15

My oldest is 14yr old and we took him to younger dc scan because we simply had to. Sonographer was pissed off and very short with us and made DH sit outside and only let in for the explanation of results. Remember it clearly lol

TMIspecimenneeded · 28/02/2021 17:16

Should add that DS was good as gold and gave sonographer no reason to throw us out, she just wouldn't have it though.

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Families
Equimum · 28/02/2021 17:17

We took our eldest to the scans for our second child. We had no child care and DH wouldn’t have been able to attend otherwise. The sonographer just briefly mentioned that if it was bad news, she would ask someone to watch him while she explained it to us. That was in 2015.

Sillybeagle · 28/02/2021 17:19

@Herja

My DS came to scans for DD in 2014. I had no childcare; it can'thave been that uncommon because I can remember the play area provided.
Yes I had totally forgotten this but our hospital had a little play area at the end of the waiting room. I remember loads of kids being there. My eldest was born in 2014 and youngest 2016. I did bring my eldest to a couple of scans but DH had him on his lap but definitely no mention of no children allowed at that point.
Blyatiful · 28/02/2021 17:23

Yes, DD1 came to my scans snd was asleep in her buggy. I had no-one to look after her.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 28/02/2021 17:23

@SoupDragon

Sorry, I should have been clearer. If they say no children allowed and people bring them with their DH too because ‘they have no childcare’. If they have a play area, the chances are they won’t say no children.

freesolo · 28/02/2021 17:25

My dd 4 at the time came to mine in 2013, she wasn't allowed in until they'd done all their main checks and then she came in and saw the baby on the ultrasound . It was a lovely moment.

m0therofdragons · 28/02/2021 17:25

Some are stricter than others pre covid but I know it’s really not something the sonography team are happy about. Telling you your baby has no heartbeat in front of a small dc is not comfortable for anyone.

Spanglebangle · 28/02/2021 17:25

2019 there was a whole family in front of me in the waiting room. Mum Dad 3 kids around 7,5 and 3. They all went in for the 12 week scan.

Maybemay123 · 28/02/2021 17:30

Will be dependent on trust our main scanning department had banned them by 2003. However the fertility clinic allowed dc1 in in 2008.

minniemoocher · 28/02/2021 17:37

We had to find childcare (2000) because elder siblings weren't allowed

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 28/02/2021 17:46

When I was pregnant with DD2, I was reassured by the midwives that I would never be turned away if I had to bring DD1 (then a year old) to any appointments, scans etc if I had no one else with me. DH was in Afghanistan at the time. They would turn away the child if there was another adult though. They gave me free scan pics to send as well (normally you would pay).

Lostinspace23 · 28/02/2021 17:52

I had DD in 2018 and the sheer number of kids and especially multiple-child families hanging around was insane and I found it really challenging.

Obviously DH being unable to come to scans isn’t ideal (and I’ve had bad news alone) but the peace and quiet in the hospital is really quite pleasant in comparison to pre-Covid.

smudgedpaint · 28/02/2021 18:00

My toddler was welcome to the 20 week scan, 6 years ago. My DH offered to wait outside as we had no one who could look after her but they wouldn’t hear of it and they were lovely with her too.

chocolateorangeinhaler · 28/02/2021 18:14

Well they were but not because there was any specific rule to say they were allowed in.
It's a medical procedure at the end of the day not a fun day out for a toddler. Some scans may request of a trans vaginal ultrasound probe. Do you want your toddler or older child there for that? If some devastatingly bad news is confirmed and delivered, again do you want your kids there for that or walk back out seeing a room full of other people's children?
The people doing the scan are looking for tiny abnormalities and their professional abilities will be quite rightly be questioned if they miss or make a mistake. The rule to ban children from scans has sound reasons behind it. It hasn't been done purely to spoil the 'experience' that you want to post on Facebook about later. Oh and don't even think of asking a person doing the scan to write the gender of the baby down for you to open at a gender reveal, this request pisses them off the most.

SatsumasOrClementines · 28/02/2021 18:19

I was thinking that if you’re there and receive bad news, or are waiting to potentially hear bad news, then sitting in a waiting room full of other people’s happy families, babies and toddlers would probably be pretty shit.

SuperCaliFragalistic · 28/02/2021 18:28

My DD age 3 came with me to scans in 2015 more than once. There was always loads of kids in the waiting room.

DayB1Day · 28/02/2021 18:29

My twins were allowed in when I was pregnant in 2003.

Level32 · 28/02/2021 18:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bluebelltulip · 28/02/2021 18:39

One hospital scan letter said no children in the scan room but could wait in the waiting room with another adult and there was a small soft play area set up.

Another hospital (same trust) no children allowed in the normal clinic but in the specialist sections fetal medicine, fetal cardiology they were. The logic they used was that it was better for a mum to receive bad news with their partner than on their own even if that meant a child was present.

Nellythemouse · 28/02/2021 18:42

2015 - children weren’t quite banned but “very strongly discouraged and if you bring a partner they will be asked to look after the child in the waiting area rather than both coming into the scanning room”. They also requested only one family member or partner to accompany you.

Frankly I fully support them being strongly discouraged, it’s a medical exam, in a small room with lots of stuff in it (and mine had both the person doing a scan and a student as well) and with a waiting room of people with potentially very emotionally charged situations going on. It’s not a fun day out and not somewhere I’d have taken my toddler. Show child a picture or get a private scan if you want to involve your child.

THATbasicSNOWFLAKE · 28/02/2021 18:45

We definitley took dc1 to dc2s scan in 2008/2009, however he (and dp) had to wait outside until it was confirmed all was ok

Turnedouttoes · 28/02/2021 18:47

I definitely attended one with my mum and dad in 1999. I’d have been 8

IndecentFeminist · 28/02/2021 18:47

I took my toddler along to one when pregnant with #2, likewise a couple of antenatal appointments. That would have been 2011, 2012 time.

I also took two children with me to a lot of scans with #3, in 2017. They were 7 and 5 then. No issues.