Can I bring kids to scan appointments?

[LillianFullStop]

I have an anomaly scan coming up but my childcare options may have fallen through - has anyone been allowed to bring their kids into the room with them?

No they tell you to either leave them in the waiting room with someone ( obviousally someone they know) or don't bring them.

No, our hospital are very strict about this.

All my letters said no children. It’s a serious medical appointment which will hopefully go smoothly but it’s not a place for children and you wouldn’t want them distracting them sonographer.

Here you are allowed to as long as there's an adult who can remove them if necessary.

At mine they'll let children come in if there's an adult who can take them out if needs be. Best thing to do is give them a ring as I know some won't do it at all, and mine says they discourage it the booking in letter. Might depend more on the sonography too.

Sonographer

It should say on your letter, our hospital is strictly no children. Give them a ring and see if they can shift your appointment maybe?

I got given 8am .

As long as DP is there too it's fine as he can just remove them if needed.

Dd was funny, she was like 'it looks like a froggie' 😂

If you're with your partner then your child may need to remain outside of the room with your partner.

No children at all allowed at our hospital.

Definitely give your hospital a call and check. Mine wouldn't so I went alone whilst hubby stayed at home with son. But if you have no one to watch at all maybe they will be lenient!

Usually no. Have you thought about if you get bad news at the scan, would you want your children there witnessing that? People often forget it’s an anomaly scan designed to detect problems if they’ve never been in the position of being given bad news.

The hospital I booked at can bring your children but having had bad news at my 12 week scan last year I wouldn't take my daughter. Can you rearrange it for a better time?

Our hospital lets you - I try to arrange scans on my non-working days to avoid screwing over my colleagues and then don’t have childcare. My husband came to 20w and we agreed he would leave with her if there was bad news or if she was distracting the dr. We didn’t take her to 12w as higher chance of unexpected bad news.

She was totally fascinated by them baby’s teeny heart, her teeny feet etc and sat in awe through the whole thing!

Call your hospital and ask. At my hospital children are allowed if they are going to be a brother or sister to the baby. My son went to all my scans, he was three.

You really shouldn't even if the hospital allows it.
The anomaly scan is there as a serious look at the developing baby. Its purpose is to find problems some of which are incompatible with life, others may lead you to delivering at a specialist hospital far away after lots of investigations.
Picture worse case scenario - you have a toddler kicking off or a sensitive 5 year old or a 10 year old who understands enough of what's going on and then you're told that this baby has a life limiting condition/isn't going to survive. Whatever age child is in the room, you'd have to manage them while dealing with what's possibly the worst moment of your life.
Its not fair on you, its really damaging for them.

Is this likely to happen - of course not, it will probably be fine. But the reason for the scan is if its not fine and you need to be prepared for that and how to deal with your children.

It depends on the hospital, ours stipulates on the letter that they arent permitted in the room, but perhaps if the only other alternative is that you are unable to attend the scan which is detrimental to both you and the baby, then they would.

My hospital has signs that say they will let kids in but only at the end of the scan once they have done what they need to do.

I wouldn't in an ideal world but had to take DC1 to a growth scan after the hospital switched the time and date on me with 4 days' notice not leaving me time to organise childcare. Was difficult- would not advise if DC1 is over about 2... under 2 less of an issue as less aware and likely to stay in a pushchair!

I took dc1 to my 20 week scan as I had zero other options and my planned childcare fell through 45 minutes before hand. I got a receptionist to sit outside with him for the first minute and then he came in and sat quietly. It wasn't ideal but my alternative would have been rescheduling.

Maybe ask if you can reschedule your scan to a day when you have childcare options.

We had to take our 6 year old to my 12 week scan as it fell in the school holidays and we couldn’t get childcare. I remember on the letter with my appointment it said something like it wasn’t recommended to bring children but they are allowed if you must bring them. Check with your hospital on their policy

I needed several additional scans in my last pregnancy and spent a lot of time in the waiting room of the antenatal ultrasound department. Couples who arrived together with a child were told in no uncertain terms that the mother must go in alone while the other parent remained in the waiting room with the child. It sounds harsh but they took the view that if your partner was available then you had childcare.

My four year old was with me at a 20 week scan.

I asked my midwife as I’m pregnant with my second and she seemed to think it was a strange question. She said of course they’re allowed. My son is around 18 months he’s come in to scans with us on three separate occasions now (three separate sonographers) and everyone seemed happy to have him there.