Will my toddler be allowed in my scan?

[laurenann]

Hello,
My 12 week scan will be coming up soon and both my mum and mil would like to come with me.. However I already have a two year old, so I am wondering if he will be allowed to come in too? Otherwise one of them will have to stay behind to watch my son- I know there is a two person limit but not sure if toddlers were included in that!
Thank you :)

Not here. 1 accompanying adult. No under 16s...no exceptions.

Which did make me wonder what they do if the mum is 16.

If people want to view the scan book a private one. The nhs ones are too check the health of your baby.

My hospital allowed children in for a scan as long as it's your own children. I once had no choice but to take two children in with me. There were also others with children going in for theirs.

Sounds like things have got much more bureaucratic since my day! Mind you, I was a doctor, attending my own hospital, so they may have been less strict. Although I recall many mums having to bring babies with them for day case surgery or clinic visits, esp if they were breast feeding them or had no childcare. The nurses used to fight to have a cuddle of them!

My h was in hospital at my 20wk scan, was wheeled along by a porter and my dm and 14mo also came in, no one batted an eyelid. It obviously depends on the hospital

Please imagine how you would have to react in front of toddler if worst happened and something went wrong (I had bad experience at my 12 w with severe limb abnormality being found at 12w scan) I would not have wanted to have to try and adjust my reaction in front of another child in that situation . It hopefully wont happen but you should consider this

(Oh an I had a normal private scan pre this by about 2 weeks but that was too early to pick up the problems)

My trust have notices up everywhere saying strictly only one person to accompany you and no children allowed in scan room.
Also notes saying that the staff won't be responsible for your children whilst you have your scan. Apparently people try that on more than you'd think!

Yes my mum works on the reception in the ultrasound department where people go for their 20 week scan. She's very often left looking after the children who's parents have to be taken to the bereavement room. Not nice for anyone involved.
A lot of patients also turn up with all their family members and then complain that they're not all allowed in the room, let their kids run riot etc. Some people just don't seem to realise that a scan is a serious medical procedure and not a fun day out to find out if you're having a boy or girl.
As someone who had bad news at the 12 week scan I would advise not taking a child along I was devastated and would have hated my daughter to see the state I was in. In my next pregnancy I booked a private scan when I was 37 weeks and my daughter came to that she didn't give a shit and had the baby the next day anyway so was a waste of time.

As someone who had experienced a difficult pregnancy and was incredibly anxious at the numerous scans I had to have i would advise not taking a toddler. I found it quite distressing seeing little ones. Also some women will be there for additional tests and in the waiting room for some time and having a nice peaceful child free atmosphere as far as is possible is welcomed .

It's a medical test, not a family outing.

Lots of branches of Mothercare do cheap scans now if you want to take everybody.

Yes onedaylikethis I totally agree , after my bad scan I had to wait to see fetal medicine consultant and was finding seeing toddlers in the waiting room quite heartbreaking

(I am still pregnant but baby has been since diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called TAR syndrome )

(And I was waiting there four hours in the end)

We didn't take dd but there are posters in the waiting room saying 1 adult only but you can take as many of your children as you wish.

Yes sorry but I’m going to add my 10 cents here, too.

Firstly, I had a bad experience at a 12 weeks scan, so take someone with you. If it’s bad or even just suboptimal, which I sincerely hope it isn’t, it’s not a place you want to be on your own.

However, I really don’t think that it’s appropriate to bring a child along unless you have truly no other option; and you have. I’ve also been in the position of sitting in a waiting room with a threatened miscarriage whilst other people’s children run around and large family groups gathered as though it was a day at the funfair. Incredibly distressing.

Please have consideration for other patients.

We had a couple of private early scans so took our 19mo ds to our 12 week scan as we were confident all was fine (thankfully it was).
We only took him because the scan was booked for my non working day but is the only day we have no childcare options.
He was a total nightmare. Didn't give a shit what was going on and just totally distracted all of us to be honest! He was bored and found it tedious.
We've made sure all subsequent apts have been booked on nursery days, despite the fact it impacts work :-)

I don't understand why you'd need your mum and mil there. One person for puppet, sure, but surely (as grown women) they can understand that maybe they won't get to see the live picture, and someone should look after the toddler.

Thanks for comments, but I really was not asking what people opinions were on who/how many people I should take to my scan, especially when I am entitled to take two adults with me anyway... seems like it depends on the hospital so I will be calling the hospital beforehand to check if children are allowed in :)

Our hospital allows 2 adults and children. Im pregnant with my first so not had too but seen plenty of other women with other children and scan rooms I've been in seem plenty big enough to accommodate so hopefully yours let you too. Don't see the issue with you taking in two adults if your hospital policy allows :)

No wonder antenatal waiting rooms are packed when women bring their whole family with them

No children allowed at ours either. We got very bad news at our 20 week scan. I wouldn't have wanted my one year old there, it would have been far too distracting.

Ours is ONE other adult and NO under 16s.
Just ring them. X

Thanks for comments, but I really was not asking what people opinions were on who/how many people I should take to my scan, especially when I am entitled to take two adults with me anyway... seems like it depends on the hospital so I will be calling the hospital beforehand to check if children are allowed in

Fine, but if you take nothing else from the thread please note the comments from women who have found it deeply distressing to see older children after receiving bad news at scans.

Everyone understands that sometimes there is no choice but you seemingly have childcare options.

JigglyTuff my mum often has to ask the various family members to get up and give the pregnant patients a seat and is met with much sighing and tutting. She was also called a moaning cow for asking the father who had multiple children running around screaming to keep the noise down. Both grandmothers were also there it's ridiculous the way some people treat the waiting area and it's staff. Only last week a woman went for a scan at 36 weeks and was told her baby had died. Can you imagine having to come out to a waiting room full of children . My mum never told me this last bit of info btw I saw her post on Facebook crowd funding and thanking all the staff in the ultrasound department.

@laurenann was there any point in asking if your going to ignore advice anyway?? Have some bloody consideration for other patients if they find something wrong and your toddler is hurtling round the waiting area!! Also what if there's something wrong in your scan? How will you react? Think about what your doing,let someone look after him. I would so pissed if someone had the toddler with them! Thankfully ours won't allow it.

Yes you’d child would likely be allowed (some day no but most do), but you’re asking for 3 people to attend... 3 is the cut off for most private scans never mind NHS ones. They usually say 2 at absolute most.
Will your child be quiet? If not I wouldn’t even ask and one will have to wait outside.

I’d book a private scan if they want to be there

I brought both my young kids by the way, and my mum. They would have also allowed OH in but he was working. Just most don’t and it’s pushing it. My kids were silent the whole time and didn’t move. If your kids won’t act appropriately then it isn’t the place for them - a private scan is the best route. They’re relatively cheap too