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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:
PaleFox · 28/02/2021 18:48

DC1 came to DC2's scan in 2007. He could not have been less interested.

fluffedupferretonsteroids · 28/02/2021 18:50

2019 my 18 month old was allowed in one of my scans, as had no other option. He was also in pretty much all of my midwife appointments

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 28/02/2021 18:51

I don't think its been allowed for quite a long time. There's usually no one available to watch them and if they need to tell you the baby has died or has a serious problem, would anyone really want their child there while receiving that news?

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Families
Youvegotafriendinme · 28/02/2021 18:56

DS came with me and DH to our 12 week scan in 2018. We had no child care. I called before to ask and they said it was fine but not for the 20 week

HexWitch · 28/02/2021 19:01

Eldest DD came in to see my scan when I had DS in 2000, she was 2.

Cloudbeeb · 28/02/2021 19:04

When I was pregnant a few years back the letter said not to bring children, and to speak to your midwife if you really couldn't find childcare, so you could in that case. It's a bit shit to if you receive bad news to have to walk back through a waiting room with children in it though, so I think it's good that the norm has shifted to saying no.

Dallerup · 28/02/2021 19:06

Loads of kids going into scans with parents at the end of 2019/Jan 2020 when I had a few scans (had to have one to check that baby wasn't too big because of one condition and a separate scan the following week to check that he wasn't too small because of a different condition. No one could explain why the one scan wouldn't be enough to check for baby's general size)

GreenHairThingy · 28/02/2021 19:09

2013, 9 to DD came to my 20 wk scan

3babylady · 28/02/2021 19:11

My 2yo came in with me in 2015-16 and sonographer was absolutely fine with it he was very quiet and cheered when he found out he was having a baby brother.

Rockbird · 28/02/2021 19:18

DD1 came to my scan with DD2 in 2011. She was 3 and a half at the time and just sat on DH's knee.

Mo819 · 28/02/2021 19:23

I wasnt aloud to take mine in 2019

Fluffycloudland77 · 28/02/2021 19:24

Not everyone’s children are well behaved, some are feral whose parents make no attempt to stop them trying to empty the sharps bin.

They can’t work and keep those kids safe.

confusedbeyond · 28/02/2021 19:32

My kids came in with us on our 20 week scan 2008.

user2021 · 28/02/2021 19:32

Took DD1 in 2019. She was less than 12 months old though so I wonder if that made a difference.

poorbuthappy · 28/02/2021 19:34

DD1 came to a couple of scans. Scanned every 2 weeks as it was twins. So yes.

ConorMasonsWife · 28/02/2021 19:35

My daughter came to my scan in 2016

Original poster
Chocoqueen · 28/02/2021 19:38

This is really interesting - sounds like it's more recent than I thought. Can definitely see the disadvantages, but as a kid it was lovely to see. Wonder if some trusts will go back to allowing it post-Covid.

OP posts:
Spottybluepyjamas · 28/02/2021 19:58

My son came to a scan in 2020 (pre-lockdown)

Everydaydragon · 28/02/2021 20:00

My 2nd was born in 2018, my 3yo came to the scans

IndecentFeminist · 28/02/2021 21:02

With #3 I was scanned every couple of weeks, so they were well drilled.

Wineoclockinwales · 28/02/2021 21:17

I took my eldest to my 12 week scan for 3rd pregnancy. It was bad news and I really felt awful for my daughter and the sonographer who asked if I had anyone in the waiting room that could come in with me.

Evenstar · 28/02/2021 21:23

I was able to take 4 year old DD with me in 1997 for the first scan for DS2 My husband came too, but we didn’t want him to sit in the waiting room and miss out. They were fine with it. DD was so thrilled as baby had his hand up and looked as if he was waving to us.

NeedSomeInfoAgain · 01/03/2021 04:18

Our hospital had a small playroom opening off the waiting area. Staffed by volunteers and you could book to leave your pre-school child there for a few mins while you had your check-up or scan.

strawbmilk · 01/03/2021 04:34

My DD came with us to a scan in 2019. She would have been 18m old. Wasn't a peep out of her as we put peppa on the iPad for her which was a rare occurrence. The hospital were fine with her being there but my DH would have taken her out if she was a PITA.

The hospital called me the next day as they'd reviewed pictures after I'd left and didn't have a clear enough one of the baby's face and asked me to come back that day to be scanned. I said I'd no one to look after DD and DH couldn't get out of work and they were fine. I was nervous though as if she kicked off it was just me there but peppa to the rescue again.

Graciebobcat · 01/03/2021 04:39

DD1 (then aged 3) came to 23 week scan with DH in 2008, so they were definitely allowed then.