My son needs an MRI and I am so scared to take him to hospital

[worriedpleasereassureme]

Please someone reassure me that it is safe in hospitals. I have been keeping away from everything ever since covid first appeared. And now the thought of taking my 18 month old DS to a hospital in a children's ward for a whole day is terrifying me.

I know I have to go, as something may be seriously wrong, which is enough stress on its own.

Hospital transmission isn't as common as the media makes out. He will go to a covid free zone for sure. They're very careful now. I would be a bit nervous too but I wouldn't hesitate to take him. I was in hospital for 3 days with my baby and we didn't catch Covid.

I approach hospitals at the moment the same way as I do getting on a flight. The doctors and nurses want to get home safe to their families as much as a pilot does. They're going to do everything they can to keep you and them safe, you just need to do everything you can as well to keep them and you safe. Wear your mask (medical if possible rather than homemade, wash your hands, keep your distance if possible) and trust that they and the housekeeping staff are doing their best as well. Hope your little one is OK and that the day passes quickly without problems

I'm in hospital currently in the green zone, for something other than covid. Feels very safe. You'll be fine I'm sure.

Had to go twice with ds in December for overnight stays and it was fine. Masks worn all the time by parents and staff, lots of cleaning. Just make sure you wash your hands and it will be fine.

Ofcourse your worries but as above plan your trip. Take good masks, hand gel and own toys and books for your DS.
For your anxiety if you have time I recommend a quick free You Tube Video from Adrianne Yoga for anxiety. She shows you some breathing exercises to calm your mind and body down and it's not a long video. Well worth it.

Meant to say good luck too x

Thank you all so much. I am so stressed, your kind reassuring messages have made me cry!

I took my 3 year old daughter into hospital in November for a brain MRI under a mild general anaesthetic and felt exactly the same as you. It was honestly fine but I am a HCP with over 20 years of cross infection experience so took all my own PPE and medical grade cleaning products which made me feel more comfortable. You’ll probably find the children’s ward a lot quieter than normal (she was only one of 3 children in that day as opposed to 40 children) which helped. It was a long day (we were there for about 7 hours) and took my own food and drink for both of us.

The positive was that the children’s ward was like one big quiet soft play and my daughter absolutely loved it! There was loads of stuff to entertain her and the staff were brilliant.

Best of luck and let me know if you have any other questions.

Hope the MRI goes well

Dd and i have visted the local hospital 3 times in a month...once to A and E and twice to a hospital department and it seems really safe

They even have gel dispensers ON THE DOOR HANDLES!

Appointments are really spaced out, social distancing is good, masks, one way to get in and out of the main reception and security are on the ball

@Nonconformist34 thank you so much

You'll be OK OP. We went to A and E recently. They take your temperature before you go in. Wash your hands and wear a mask. Honestly it's fine.

You'll be alright, OP. Believe me.
I have a heart condition and I've had to have cardiac MRIs, bloodwork, and a cardiac CT throughout the pandemic. I felt very safe in hospital. It's all very well managed and well-coordinated so that you're really not near other people. And you won't be in a waiting room packed with patients.
Of all the places, ironically, a hospital is one of the safest because of the extreme levels of caution.

I had to go to the nurses' station on a covid ward earlier this month. Now that had me bricking myself. That was so different than going in for my scans and things. You really will be far removed from where the covid action is happening, OP.

Oh thank you all so much

My DD has had about 10 hospital appointments since last year, we haven't had a single symptom of covid yet. It's all well planned out and extremely clean, especially in pediatrics.
I hope everything goes okay

I’m in hospital for a day every 6 weeks. They are totally on top of hygiene measures and it’s probably one of safest places you can be.
They have masks at main door and hand gel at every door.
You’ll both be fine

My 2 year old was ambulanced in a week ago. One of my questions to the paramedic as we waited for a crew to get through the snow was "is it safe for her to go to hospital?". his reply was "yes, absolutely, they know more about covid-19 now and are doing everything they can to keep them safe" [plus some stuff specific to the layout of our hospital]. My mum is also now in hospital (yeah!) in a covid free ward. She also feels safe and that staff are taking this seriously. There are also no patient visitors, so there is less footfall. Your boy will be fine, best of luck with his MRI.

I had an MRI in December and I've never felt more safe. It was very clean, they were even cleaning around the radiographer while I was in the machine! All wearing masks and socially distanced unless they needed to adjust me.

Your LO will be absolutely fine. Try to focus on the MRI and what he'll experience in it rather than the rest of the hospital. They might even use a seperate entrance to the MRI department so you don't have to traipse through the hospital. You will both be okay. You're probably safer in their than you are your local supermarket!

There are considerably less people in hospitals for routine appts/visiting at the moment so it will be much quieter than usual. Will he really be in for the whole day? Usually an MRI takes around an hour?

Hi I had a procedure last week . Staff were amazing , they had everything running like clockwise . Masks space hands .
I took hand gel and wipes with me just in case . Didn't need them .

Like other people have said hospital have segregated parts of the hospital.

Good luck

@HappygoesLucy because he is only 18 months and the MRI is of his head, he will need to be sedated (or put to sleep ) so he has to stay in after until they decide he can leave. Apparently it can make babies quite sick. They told me to prepare to stay overnight just Incase

I've done this several times. It's absolutely fine.

[quote worriedpleasereassureme]@HappygoesLucy because he is only 18 months and the MRI is of his head, he will need to be sedated (or put to sleep ) so he has to stay in after until they decide he can leave. Apparently it can make babies quite sick. They told me to prepare to stay overnight just Incase [/quote]
Oh of course, yes sorry I didn't even think!

In that case you'll likely be kept in your own room (it'll be set up for you to sleep in there so likely not on a ward) and you'll have access to a sink and your LO will be able to play with his own toys and keep away from others. You can always contact the MRI department and ask what will happen on the day and where you'll be, they'll be able to give you a rough idea of what you'll be doing and where you'll be staying so you can plan ahead.

Also be prepared if they put them to sleep. I freaked out when they did this to my son because I genuinely thought something had gone wrong and he was dead and I couldn’t understand why the nurses were being so calm. Of course, he wasn’t, but “putting him to sleep” doesn’t look anything like a child going to sleep. They go floppy and it looks scary but is totally normal so don’t be frightened.

I gave birth a couple of months ago, and DD has needed to go in for outpatient appointments twice. Particularly on a children's ward I think it's very low risk.

I hope the MRI goes well.

@MrsMcGarry thank you so much for that, I would of freaked out!!

Thanks everyone, I feel so reassured! Thank you also for the well wishes for my son 😊

Please don't worry.

I've had to take my baby twice in the last six weeks.

Last year when I was pregnant I was at the hospital every week from 16 weeks until 32 weeks and then every three days from 33 weeks until birth.

I never felt unsafe once.
And it was at a huge hospital that sadly lost maternity staff to covid.