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Original poster

taking other children into the scan

35 replies

lighteningmcmama · 13/05/2014 14:58

Hi

20 week scan this week, just wondering if anyone knows how many people can come with me, I have 2yo dd, 4yo ds and dh and would be great if they could all come in

Tia

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meditrina · 13/05/2014 15:01

Unless you have absolutely no option of anywhere to leave them, do not take your DC. I hope your scan is entirely normal, but if for any reason it is not to really do not want them there.

Some units do not allow children in at all (for that reason, as much as logistic reasons).

spottydolphin · 13/05/2014 15:05

our unit doesn't allow children in at all.

if they're disruptive your dh would need to take them out and would miss the scan.
and obv if you had bad news I think you would probably rather not have them there.

personally i would not take children to a scan

Armadale · 13/05/2014 15:06

Many hospitals would not allow children in the scanning room and so your DH would have to wait outside the room with your other children if you took them in this case.

Even if they are allowed it is a very bad idea, please don't do it.

If you want them to see the baby, take them to one of those high street scanning places instead after you have had the all clear at the anomaly scan.

There is unlikely to be a problem, but if there is you would not want children in that situation. I unfortunately speak from experience.

dreamingofwineandcheese · 13/05/2014 15:38

The letter for my 20 week scan explicitly said not to take children to the scan.

The sonographer has a lot of things to check for and needs to concentrate plus the scan is likely to take 20-30 mins (depending on how cooperative the baby is) and children are likely to get bored.

We left DS with a friend and I have to admit I enjoyed having the time just DH and I to fully concentrate on this baby. I have found with this second pregnancy that I get a lot less time to just sit and think about this baby as DS keeps me so busy!

Hope your scan goes well Smile

Gen35 · 13/05/2014 15:43

A other one who definitely would not take the other dc. I did see one other dc with the other parent, but you may end up with dh and the other dc waiting outside.

Gileswithachainsaw · 13/05/2014 15:48

Phone up.

All the letters state that. I called and asked because I had so many scans that dp couldnt attend them all. I was told that of dd was disrupted I'd have to leave with her. But she was fine. An you take a friend to wait outside with them (or seen just the 2 yr old) and have dh in with you and older one

janinlondon · 13/05/2014 16:04

Seriously - if you were the person who has to impart bad news to women at the anomaly scan, you would understand why this is a very bad idea. Its not a photography session. Its a medical procedure. Hope all is well, but please dont take your children.....

SouthDerbyshireMamma · 13/05/2014 16:14

I hope everything goes well for your scan I really do.

Just want to echo what other users have posted though. My sister took her DD to her recent scan when she was told the news her baby had stopped growing 5 weeks earlier. As you can imagine she was heartbroken which upset my 5yo niece.

Pregnantagain7 · 13/05/2014 16:18

Another one agreeing with the other posters I'm afraid. I know my hospital doesn't allow children in and I think it's for the best, god forbid anything was wrong would you really want your children to witness it?
I hope everything goes well for you, if finances permit maybe look at booking a private scan a after your 20 week scan?

AlwaysDancing1234 · 13/05/2014 16:19

I'm afraid I have to echo what others have said, don't take the children to the anomaly scan if you can help it.
We had about 5 scans at hospital then booked a private well being and bonding scan which we took DS to but only after we had the all clear if you see what I mean

Original poster
lighteningmcmama · 13/05/2014 16:25

Thanks all. Ds came in for my scans last time when I was pregnant, I was just worried about whether 2 children were allowed. And this is a different hospital so I don't know the policy there. I will have a think about what you have all said, and decide, maybe we'll just take ds again bc dd is a handful at the best of times!

OP posts:
nc060 · 13/05/2014 16:31

I received some bad news at my 20 week scan, it was awful, I NEEDED my husband to be able to focus on just me and him and the baby, I was a wreck, my husband was very upset too, it would have been too much to have another child in the room to have to put on a brave face too. I would agree with those saying it is a bad idea I'm afraid. xx

ICantFindAFreeNickName · 13/05/2014 16:32

My 6 year old DS came to one of my scans with DP & I. He had to wait outside until they had checked everything looked OK. Then they let him come in while they did the measuring etc. TBH he looked at the scan for a couple of minutes then went back to his Ds or book. Scans are probably not quite as magical for young children as they are for adults.

alita7 · 13/05/2014 17:10

I agree, you never know what news you'll get so it's best to not take them.

Were going to take my DSDs to a private scan sometime after the 20 week one if we can afford it :)

squizita · 13/05/2014 17:30

I've had bad news at scans in the past.

I would guess a DC seeing their mum in the state I was in would be highly distressing.

It is called the 'anomaly' scan and the NHS/Mumsnet say it is a serious diagnostic scan for a reason: in a small % of cases, it can be incredibly distressing.

MildDrPepperAddiction · 13/05/2014 17:37

I think most hospitals/maternity units don't allow children. I can completely understand this. If for some reason something is wrong you wouldn't want your DC's there to see/hear.

Shakshuka · 13/05/2014 17:53

My kids are older (7 and 10) and I took them to the scan. They waited outside while the sonographer did the important stuff (we wanted first to make sure all was OK and also allow the sonographer to concentrate properly) and then we called them in when she was just taking measurements. We got lucky because they asked if a trainee sonographer could practice on me afterwards so she talked the kids through everything.

Could you get someone to sit with the kids in the waiting room and then bring them in at the end (if the hospital allows it)?

PenguinsHatchedAnEgg · 13/05/2014 18:03

We are allowed to take children to scans at my hospital (but you have to take them out if they disturb things).

I think it is worth bearing in mind that taking a 2 year old last time is very different to taking a four year old. We ended up having to take our 2 year old to the 12 week scan and she didn't really understand what was going on. We didn't mention a baby as such and she just watched whilst they checked mummy's tummy.

Thankfully we found someone to look after them both for the 20 week scan and went alone. But I'd have been really worried about taking the four year old to the 20 week scan. They have much greater comprehension and capacity to become very upset.

If we had had to take them, it was in the full knowledge that DH would have had to take them out if there was bad news, meaning I'd have been dealing with it alone. Not ideal.

Secondsop · 13/05/2014 19:13

Another one here saying please don't take them unless you have absolutely no option of leaving them with someone and are prepared in case of difficult news at the scan. Also: I have a nearly 18 month old and am due any day now with my second so I had quite a young baby/toddler for most of my antenatal care and we made arrangements not to take him to any of the appointments not just because he would have been a distraction to the medical professionals if he cried or needed attention but also because I know from experience from my first pregnancy that sadly did not continue that if you are in the waiting room at a pregnancy scanning unit sometimes the very last thing you want to see is someone else's toddler. I really hope your scan goes well for you.

SoonToBeSix · 13/05/2014 19:15

I was allowed to take all my own children and one adult. I really don't see the problem taking children .

SoonToBeSix · 13/05/2014 19:17

I don't think you should not take a toddler because of other people who may have bad news and I say that as someone who has had many visits to the epu for bleeding and two miscarriages.

elliejjtiny · 13/05/2014 19:22

I've taken mine to scans and it was fine but we didn't have much choice. Not sure whether we would have taken them if we'd had childcare. We've had a dating scan when we found out the baby had died and also an anomaly scan where they picked up a minor problem (cleft lip). DS1 was 5 when we had the dating scan where the baby had died and the other dc's were younger. DS1 is the only one who remembers it and he says he's glad he was there. We took the younger DC's to that baby's funeral too.

SauvignonBlanche · 13/05/2014 19:23

I really don't see the problem taking children

I didn't either until I was told at a scan at 22 weeks that DS2 had died. I was so glad that DH was with me and DS1 wasn't.

I found all scans with DD very stressful but she was fine.

All the best for you OP, it's most likely to be fine but it's always easier if you've planned for the worst.

deepinthewoods · 13/05/2014 19:31

I wouldn't simply because these scans are not recreational events.

They are not family days out they exist as part of the NHS to assist with diagnosis and evaluation. The fact that it may ( or may not) be a pleasant experiance for the parents(s) is very much secondary.

I was told I would be allowed one adult with me- although I went alone.
Even then the staff were very busy, they ran late, the waiting room was crowded and one or two of the women in the waiting room looked upset.

I would say not a place for children.

Petal26 · 13/05/2014 19:36

We took my 2.4 yr old DD to the 12 week scan last week as we had no other options for childcare. She was well behaved and quiet throughout and my DH was aware that if needed he would have to take her outside. It said on the letter children could be brought along if necessary.
We will try and find arrangements for the 20 week scan as it is more in depth and a longer examination.

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