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'm of the opinion that hospital scans are no place for kids. I'll never forget a lady who was ahead of me at one of my scans. She came out of the consultation room, spotted a little child no older than 18 months pottering around the waiting room and she burst into tears. She had to be consoled by the midwife and the other mother looked horrified when she realised. She had obviously had bad news. It was awful . OP if you really want your child to go to a scan, get a private one when you are past your 20 weeks. They are much nicer, calmer experiences and far less chance of something going wrong.

and what exactly do you do if both of your back up providers are unavailable

Certainly at my local hospital they would have asked your DP to stay outside with your DC1 and asked you to come into the scan alone. I’m not sure of the policy if this were to happen to a single parent.

My DH didn’t see any of my scans with my last three children because he was looking after the other ones at the time. I wouldn’t have dreamed of taking them in, or into the waiting room, because it’s not a place for kids.

Many years ago my friend took me to my 20 weeks scan and we both took our daughters (age 3 nearly!) the sonographer said they could go in as I didn’t want to go in alone and one of them started to play up. She kindly said if they don’t be quiet they will need to leave as she needs to focus. This was years ago so it could have changed now Xx

God no. It’s probably fairly unusual for a 12 week pregnant woman not to have a partner who could look after her other child

If everything is ok, why not book a private scan and take him? They’ll be more relaxed and you’ll know all is ok

No - for the reasons others have already said. The scans are for medical reasons and seeing the baby is a bonus.

At our hospital if you miss your scan for any reason (late, turn up with child when they've said not to etc) they warn you they will not reschedule.

Definitely not. I haven't even told my children that I'm expecting and only plan doing after my 12w scan if all is well.
I agree with booking a private scan after the dating scan if you'd like your child to see the baby.

Here's another of these threads:

Poster: should I do this?
Every single reply: no way
Poster: I probably will

No id never take my other children, i was half hour in my 12wk scan & even children who are good would struggle to sit through that ,also they always run late so sat in the waiting room before that. Upto u what u do but its no place for children to be thats my view also if im going for my scan i wouldnt want to be sat in waiting room with children its a stressful time going for scans. Im a mum of 5 with another on the way, i love children just not when im going for important hospital appointments.

Hi op well it's obvious from the responses that the majority wouldn't take a child to a scan but I however did! all depends of age of child in my opinion,we took our then 21 month old daughter when we was due our 2nd and we also took our son when he was 2 when we was due our 3rd! The hospital we used allowed children and even had a small area with toys and kids books,I took a sticker book and food to keep them entertained and I went into the scan alone at 1st to check all was ok and get measurents etc and then when I got the thumbs up my husband then came in with toddler in buggy so he could see baby while pics we're getting printed. At my 20 week scan with my 3rd child we all went up together and again once I got the all ok,hubby and our 2 kids came in to find out the gender of baby which was lovely! My experiences have been good and we have never had the option to go without children in tow no baby sitters etc and kids were too young to know anything anyway but do go prepared for any scenario and good luck x

My hospital don't allow it - when I was there last time I saw them telling the dad to take the child elsewhere whilst the mum got scanned.

My friend is a sonographer and they've just introduced a no children policy. They're too distracting and is distressing for them if there is bad news.

They also refuse to write down the sex so people can have gender reveal parties - that's caused loads of complaints. People seem to forget it's a medical procedure.

The ante natal clinic I go to drives me mad with all the kids parents drag along with them. The waits can be long so the kids end up bored, wailing, playing loud games, rolling on the floor...

My son came to my early scan and will be coming to my 12 week scan - they even have a play room in the waiting area. If they have anything to say tough, he goes for ultrasounds all the time for certain reasons in X-ray and no ones ever stopped us from more than one parent going.

What happens when you don’t ah e childcare? My scan is in afternoon well beyond morning nursery so they just have like it or lump it.

To keep him quiet in important appointments is we download stuff from bbc iPlayer for him to watch, take one toy to keep him distracted and lots of snacks to avoid loudness

When people use NHS scans for entertainment value. Just let them do their job without disturbance? 🙄
book a private scan if you feel it’s “important” for your child to be there

I have had bad news at two 12 week scans in the past, I would not take a child along to one of these scans. Missed miscarriages are sadly very real, I had no prior symptoms anything was wrong and wouldn’t have known without the 12 week scan.

They are very serious medical appointments. If you want to take your child to a scan, book a private scan. I did this with my last pregnancy at 16 weeks and my DC loved it.

Most won't let them in. What if it were bad news. God forbid it happens but do you really want your child to possibly witness you being told the baby is dead or that there is a major problem? What if someone else receive that news? Your little one might see some very distressing things, it's a medical appointment not for fun.

If you want to take your child to a scan, you pay for a private one.

The NHS scan is a medical appointment, do you take your son to your smears? I mean, that is where baby comes out, might as well go the whole hog!

Just get childcare, listen to every single poster on here who is saying this is a bad idea and you’ll be fine.

I took my eldest to 12wk scan with second pregnancy, he was only 18 months so oblivious to what was going on. It was bad news, I'd had a mmc, embryo had stopped growing at 6/7 weeks.
It was devastating and we had to hold it together cos dc was with us...

I am grateful that he didn't know what was going on, but sounds like yours is older as you want him involved so would be aware - please don't bring him!

duebaby you can't compare 2 adults going to their child's scan with bringing a child into your scan.

It's not the same at all.

The mental gymnastics needed to come to that conclusions Jesus Christ

I found out DS2 had died at a scan It was a horrific experience that would have been even worse if DH and I had taken DS1 and would have been most unfair on him.

Duebaby though they don’t have to “like it or lump it” do they, they can just refuse to scan you 🤷‍♀️

duebaby2 - my local hospital world have cancelled your scan appointment if you turned with another child. The appointment letters state that children will not be allowed.

I took mine but she was only just 2 and I didn't have any one else to look after her.