Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

taking DC along to scan?

26 replies

BagLady75 · 13/06/2007 16:30

Would love some input on this - has anyone taken their DC to a scan? I have my 20 wk scan tomorrow, my regular babysitter had to cancel and I so far have not been able to find someone else. So I am thinking I may have to bring DD along. She is 4 and I am not so much worried that she will misbehave as I am concerned she might find the scan scary. Any thoughts? DH will be there too.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Scanner · 13/06/2007 16:33

We took dd1 to my scan with ds, she was 2 1/2 - she wasn't frightened a bit bored really. Then all of a sudden two members of staff came flying into the room, dd has pressed the panic button

mckenzie · 13/06/2007 16:36

Siblings are not allowed at scans in our local hospital apparently.

honeyapple · 13/06/2007 16:37

Hiya- I'm taking my 4 yr old DD to my 20 wk scan too, next week... can't see it being a problem, so long as you explain it all before you get there. I think she will be excited!

honeyapple · 13/06/2007 16:37

mckenzie- really? oh, I'd better ring the hospital then...

juuule · 13/06/2007 16:38

I had to take my preschool children to the scans as there was no-one to look after them. I didn't inform the hospital. I just took them with me. The hospital staff were always okay with it.

marathonmum · 13/06/2007 16:40

I took all three of mine plus someone elses child who i was baby sitting into my scan and they were fine about it.
I can't see them being funny about it if you have no child care they can't do much about it can they?

Jbck · 13/06/2007 16:54

I can't wait to take DD who's 5. I think it will make it seem more real when they can see a moving image on screen.

Original poster

BagLady75 · 13/06/2007 17:01

Thanks for that everyone. The scan is at the Fetal Medicine centre in London - I'm pretty sure I saw some kids in the waiting room when I was there for my nuchal scan so hopefully they will be ok with it ...

OP posts:

mckenzie · 13/06/2007 18:14

probably just our stuffy old falling down NHS hospital's rules. Lack of spcae or somehting similar. I seem to remember it being a squash just DH, the scanner and me

abgirl · 13/06/2007 19:55

Took my DS to the 20 week scan. He took one look at the screen and said 'beebies!' very gleefully - think he was a bit confused when some fuzzy grainy pictures showed up instead!

BetsyBoop · 13/06/2007 20:01

took DD to both scans (she was 17months at 20wks) SHe was fine but got a bit bored, so would definitely recommend having another adult with you.

Can't see how the hospital can STOP you taking them. I wouldn't have been happy going on my own & the only option for us would be for DH to look after DD & miss the scan as we have no family close & all the people I would trust DD with work FT.

SlightlyMadScientist · 13/06/2007 20:04

I took DTDs to my 20wk scan - they would have been 4 (wouldn't have taken them to 12wk in case of 'issues'). We explained that it was a special camera that could see into mummys tummy so that they could see how big the baby was and that it was OK. We explained they would have to sit quietly so the 'nurse' could concentrate hard and make sure baby had all their fingers and toes etc. They weren't frightened at all, and didn't keep hassling - they were mesmerised.

The staff were good and even showed them around the baby explaining on their level (e.g. how many legs has baby got- how many have you got...) - although I guess that could well depend very much on the person doing scan.

If you are worried about her being frightened show her some pics on the web so she knows what to expect. It is also worth explaining that the camera only works when it is dark so they will have to turn the lights off (but daddy will hold her hand....).

HTH

msappropriate · 13/06/2007 20:07

I didn't take my 3.5 yr ds to 20 wk scan just in case there was something wrong, I didn't want him to see me distraught (2 friends has recently got told of serious problems at their scans). But I had to have about 4 more growth ones and I took him to all of them. He was bored one time but really intrested at another because the sonographer really engaged with him and pointed out the baby was waving at him!

maisym · 13/06/2007 20:10

I've had my kids with me as no babysitter - even one was with me when I had a cvs.

The room will be dark and there will be the hum of the machine so this sort of quietens them. Make sure she is sitting in a chair - or take a pushchair so you are sure she's safe and you can concentrate on the scan. Best wishes.

msappropriate · 13/06/2007 20:13

I forgot I had taken him to a few internal scans as I had no one to look after him (one of which was a miscarriage and he helped me keep it together really). I used to strap him in with a packet of chocolate buttons and he was very happy. He did tell my partner about at the hospital someone sticking something in my bottom!

mad4girls · 13/06/2007 20:35

hi bag lady

i actuley really wanted to take dd's 4 and 7 as they are really into the human body etc and thought it would be really exciting for them but we were there over 2 hours last time and i didnt even have ante natal that was just a scan

this time i have to see mw and consultant as well as scan meaning we will be there for a minnimum of 3 hours an hour of which at least will just be waiting for the scan

so am thinking twice about taking them as there is no space there and nothing to do and no seats or toys they will be really bored which will eventually lead to me getting wound up with em and causing a scene so think it will be best not to bother

although im secretly hoping i have to go back for another scan(without the antenatal) thats in the summer holidays so i have an excuse to take them

also considering a private 3d scan which would solve the waiting problems and mean extra view of baby cant eally afford though

fruitful · 13/06/2007 22:04

Hmmm. I've had 10 scans now, over 3 pregnancies, and been given bad news at 5 of them. No way am I taking the kids to the next one!

BabyMadandBIGbump · 13/06/2007 22:58

I didn't take my DS's (5yrs and 7yrs) to my 10 week dating scan or my 20 week scan due to: A) Sitting about waiting (even tho we only waited 15mins both times but I didn't know it would be that quick at the time/s) and B) if they told us bad news. But due to having my placenta in the way alittle I'm having a 35/36 week scan in 3 weeks time and DS's have got the day off school to go as they asked to go with us, bless. We asked my MW weather it will be wise to take them and she said that the 35 week scan would be a great time to take them, great bonding for them too and she also mentioned that my hospital is really good with children when they came along to see baby! HTH

Blu · 13/06/2007 23:10

MadScientist - We had 'issues' at the 20 week scan - I'm glad we didn't have a child with us who needed our attention at that moment..

mad4girls · 13/06/2007 23:28

hope they enjoy it babymad will u let all of us know what they think

ps nursery looks gorgeous

cedar12 · 15/06/2007 12:44

My friend had issues a her 20 week scan. It was awful for her It would have been even worse with her dc with her.

pollyanna · 15/06/2007 12:54

I had to take dd2 (who was probably about 14 months old) to all of my scans for dd3 - the biggest problem was that she was very clingy and wanted to be held throughout the scans. The only other option I had was for dh to have dd2 while I had the scan, but I wanted him with me.

SlightlyMadScientist · 15/06/2007 14:24

I didn't mean there couldn't be issues identified at 20wks, I just made a judgement (personally) that there were less likely to be serious issues at 20wks than 12wks.

At the end of the day that aspect of it comes down to personal preference and a judgement call about what you feel most comfortable with.

frazzledfairy · 15/06/2007 14:32

like mad scientist i didn't take my ds1 to ds2's dating scan in case of 'issues' but took him to the 20 week one (took afternoon off school!) and he thought it was great, we found out he was a boy etc. i will be taking them both to 20 week scan this time too (in 2 weeks) although ds2 will be oblivious as he is only 9 months!

canmummy · 15/06/2007 14:51

I had to take our dc to my 20 week scan, they were 5 and 3 at the time and my dh was also there. We had no-one who could feasibly look after them with what time it was booked for. We decided beforehand that if they were playing up/bored/noisy/distracting then dh would have to take them out (he did have to leave at one point to take dd2 to the toilet!) We were a bit worried that we may have been given bad news and not liked them to be there but thankfully everything was fine. If you have no choice go for it! DD1 was able to point all the arms/legs out which I thought was amazing seeing I couldn't

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread