12 week scan - bringing ds (11 months) with us?

[Alexchallex]

Self explanatory. Planning on carrying him in (husband is). So can leave if he screams. Is this a bad idea. Childcare tricky but not impossible

The being there probably isn't too much of a problem although some hospitals say you can't. But what if you are given bad news and your DS needs to be taken out - wouldn't be great for you having to deal with it on your own.

I would get someone to look after him if possible.

I took 14 month old to 20 weeks scan, but that's because I had no choice. DH couldn't even come due to work commitments.

Personally, if you have the choice, I wouldn't. Especially at a 12 week scan, where you might not get the news that you want. (sorry, but I've been there)

We took our younger one both times (we are on DC3). Didn't have childcare.

You just have to be prepared that your husband might miss part of the scan if he needs to be taken out.

I took DD she was very well behaved (2yo) DH did come too. But the sonographer did say that maybe not to bring her to subsequent scans!
A bit cheeky I thought as she was so well behaved!

Obviously if you have childcare then use it.

We never do, so DH usually misses most if not all scans, but this is DC4. We did bring along younger DC occasionally to my pregnancies with DC2 and DC3. They were usually well-behaved, but it was stressful and I found it difficult to concentrate and ask the questions I needed to because I had half a mind on the children.

Nobody ever said anything, BUT, I did check in advance it was okay. Some places really don't allow children.

I've brought along DC1 (7) to a couple of my scans this time as there was no childcare (the others were at nursery, it was school holidays) and she can be incredibly sensible at times and she's interested too. I would never bring along DC2 (5) until she's over the age of 80 because she will never be sensible

At my 12 week scan dh had to wait outside with ds till the sonographer had done all the important bits, they were then allowed in and sonographer showed them the baby. Same happened at my 20 week scan.

I took my DS (16 months) to my 12 week scan a few weeks ago. Luckily he'd fallen asleep in the car on the way there and slept all the way through it, but the sonographer asked me to make sure that we had someone else to look after him for the 20 week one as many of her colleagues would refuse to do the scan with a child in the room because they were distracting.

Luckily I have childcare available (I did last time too, but my mum and I were going out straight after the scan so we took him with us for speed) but I did wonder what would happen if I'd had no choice but to go alone with him.

Children are not allowed into the scan room at my local hospital. Big notice saying if you turn up with them you'll be asked to make another appointment. Better phone and check.

I don't think it's ideal.

The scan isn't just an opportunity to have a first photo of your baby, it's also to check that everything is ok (as much as they can tell at that stage).

How will you and DH feel if it is bad news and your DC becomes upset because you are upset?

But, if you don't have child care, you don't have a lot if choice. Check if the hospital will even let DC in and then make your mind up.

Mine, Colchester, has a "your own well behaved children" policy.
They were a bit when I turned up with DP and the dcs! they're 17 and 14!
They were with us when we got given bad news and we're amazing.
I'm not sure about smallies though. I suppose like others have said, only if you have to.
From my now immense experience of Sonographers, I will say they do all seem to be different and have different views and opinions. Is there nobody who can babysit for you?

Having had a missed miscarriage diagnosed at my 12 week scan, I can honestly say there's no way I'd take DS to a scan now unless there was literally no one else who could have him! Hopefully not something you would experience, but absolutely awful if it did happen and incredibly traumatic for your child to witness

Thanks everyone x