Did you take your current child to first scan??

[Summersun8383]

Hi just got my scan date through and had it in my head that I wanted my DS to come with us so we make sure he's involved the whole way but the letter says they don't advise children to come. He's very well behaved and would just sit while she did it so he wouldn't distract her but don't want to get into trouble for taking him lol! Has anyone else taken their child to the first scan?

I know my hospital will not allow it at all and will re schedule your appointment if you turn up with a child ( happened to a friend )

I think it is mostly because it may be very very upsetting if anything unexpected comes up in the scan, or if sadly it is bad news. I feel awful writing that, hopefully yours will be wonderful and all good news! But if it weren’t, it could be horrible for both you and the older child.

Saying that, I know I’d struggle to get childcare if it were me in this situation. Actually I’m not sure what I’d do? I’m sure some people HAVE to take their older child if they don’t have childcare available

I'm not sure you've thought it through. From the point of view of the sonographer, it is always very difficult to break bad news to parents at a medical scan. Even harder if there is a child present.

We did take a child to one scan which was luckily fine - for another pregnancy we got quite bad news at the 1st scan, thank goodness we didn't have a child there, it would have been awful to either have them listening in, or to have DH take them away and me hear the news alone.

I'm now very much in the 'no kids' camp, at least for the 12/20 week ones.

It’s not about behaving well it’s in case something is wrong.

No to nhs scans. My first was only 2 and we took her to a private scan as I was worried but had no childcare. Baby had no heartbeat and I’d miscarried. Luckily Dd was too young to understand what was going on but I certainly wouldn’t take any older children or to NHS scans where space is tighter and they don’t have as much time.

I took my 9 month old to my 8 week scan (yes, I only had 7 months between pregnancies) and the sonographers laughed and asked if I knew what was causing it yet!

I agree with PPs that you shouldn't take him.

Even if there is no bad news, I think you'd be risking them saying he can't come in, and then your partner would have to miss the scan as well to wait outside with DS.

Thanks everyone, yeah I totally understand why they say that and it's in case there's any bad news to break but I just feel like it's important for him to be there with us too. I know they have let children in as my friend was in the same predicament and took her DD and all was fine thankfully. Was just curious what everyone else did. I'll have a think about it as it's not for another 3 weeks yet, thanks for all your comments though

So which is it, you can't get childcare or you just want him there? Because only one of those is a predicament.

Most hospitals will not let a child in period and will reschedule your scan or make them stay with your partner in the waiting room. It's a medical examination not family bonding time, and no matter how "well-behaved" your DC is the sonographer needs to be able to focus, move around, take the right measurements, and be able to appropriately counsel you if necessary.

I'm firmly in the no kids camp, it's a medical test/diagnostic not a family outing, it's understandable hospitals say not to bring children. I'm sure if there is literally no other option at all then you could speak to the clinic but that's fairly rare that there isn't someone who could even sit in the waiting room with an existing child.

You can book a private scan later on and take your child along to that, there will be more to see then too. I will be booking a private one for later in the pregnancy so dd can see her little brother or sister and I think it'll be much nicer for her as they'll do 3D and make a bit of a fuss over it all in a way the nhs just can't.

OMG no, I was too worried hoping everything was ok, and wouldn't have had others looking after a child in the scan with me. It's a medical appointment, not a bloody day out.
I know the midwives used to complain it took longer and wished people didn't bring kids.

It’s a medical test to check your baby, not a family day out. If something dreadful is detected, how will it be for: 1. You 2. Your child and 3. The radiographer having to break bad news in a coded way so as not to upset your child?

Think you're on the wrong thread Kayleigh1702

Don't take a toddler to a medical NHS scan.

If you want a "meet the baby" type scan pay for a private one.

Kayleigh, you probably need to start your own thread about that.

To the op, I didn’t take my child with me as everyone else has said, it’s a medical procedure and I would not have coped with my child and devastating news.
I feel that it would have been traumatic for my child to see us so upset.
(Multiple miscarriages here)

Churchthecat
Yes i am, not sure how I ended up here. Sorry lol

Absolutely don't take children. It's so insensitive to other women/partners who may receive bad news whilst there to be greeted by babies/small children when they walk out.
It's also distracting for the sonographer. It's a medical appointment not a jolly.

Another reason they say no children is because of the other people in the waiting room who may get bad news and seeing a child may be too upsetting for them. Please book a private scan if you want to take your child.

I found out my baby had died at my 20 week scan so I would never take a child to a scan. Scans aren’t for fun it’s to check that everything is ok with the baby and placenta etc. They can be very distressing and also in the scanning waiting area there may be very upset individuals who have been given bad news. Not a place for a child in my opinion

I didn’t to the normal ones, but had to have an extra one at short notice and do to that one. Thankfully my eldest was very very young so had no idea what was going on and stayed in the buggy with a toy.

I honestly don’t think they are that fun for a child and I think it adds time and stress a bit unfairly to the NHS if you can avoid it.

We did a private scan that gave a video and we showed our second one this as a dad at home when number 3 was due and it was lovely.

I would only take a child if I couldn’t get childcare.

We had a complete childcare meltdown on the day of the scan. So had no choice, well apart from leaving an 18mnth old in the car or in the care of the cats....
They were quite stroppy about it but it was fine (and what exactly do you do if both of your back up providers are unavailable - illness, no space at nursery that day and emergency hospital appointment). Brought snacks for the little one, who sat on her dad's lap being pretty good.

My local hospital only allows children under 4 and they have to be quiet, strapped into a pushchair, and be watched like a hawk by the second adult in the room. The person delivering the scan needs to concentrate otherwise they might miss something.

My local hospital has an absolutely no children allowed policy. It's a medical procedure carried out by someone who needs to do a job.