Ante-natal appointments and toddlers

[ahopskipandafurryone]

Hi, I have an appointment with the community midwife tomorrow afternoon and don't have any childcare available so was thinking I could just take DS (15 months) with me. Do you think this would be a problem? I'm 35 weeks and really don't want to miss the appointment.

Of course you can! I bet most people on their 2nd will take their other kids if they are not in childcare. Some people even recommend it to get the 1st child used to the idea of a baby coming, although 15 months is maybe a bit young for this. Just take the buggy in with a few toys...

I took DS to lots of mine. He either played with the toys in the ante-natal clinic or listened to the Doppler and the midwife was really good at telling him what was going on.

Hope it all goes well.

I take my 25 month old DD with me. The Mw said they like having Los there.

DD1 came once when I had no childcare. (it was a routine appointment, later on in the pregnancy, so no real concern that there would be something difficult to have to deal with iyswim) It was with our family GP who she knew well. She let her listen to the heartbeat, explained little things to her. DD loved it!

I would probably have tried to avoid having her at some of the appointments though. Those early on, which are a bit tense and nervewracking, or those where there are internal examinations to be done. There are just 2 years between DDs 1 and 2 though, so she was less than two at this time and a bit of a curious madam, liable to start fiddling with equipment or whatever...

I take my 3yr old DS with me. MW lets him turn on the doppler and help her listen to the baby. She's great with him and fine about him being there. I'm sure lots of people on their 2nd pregnancy do it.

My DS is a bit older though, with a toddler I'd take a pushchair and toys/snacks to keep them amused - I took DS to my smear tests like this too when he was younger. Probably wouldn't take him now though - too many questions!

Phew, I was hoping that would be the case, will keep him strapped in the buggy he's generally very good in situations like this, and will just enjoy being nosey (although now I've said that out loud he is obviously going to have a tantrum ).

It's the same midwife I had with DS, and she also did the post-natal home visits so I suppose she might enjoy seeing him again.