Booking apt, MW etc & other child?

[BBIvy]

Can your other child attend your booking appointment and future MW appointments?
What about scans?
Appreciate this maybe hospital dependant?

Thanks

My MW and hospital both have a no children policy.

No children allowed at mine either. They've only just started letting partners back in

No not normally.
Imagine you get bad news, especially at a scan. (God forbid)

Weren't allowed at mine either

Yes I’ve taken my Son to all appointments with no problem, he’s a baby so he stays in his car seat. So he’s not running around or causing any nuisance

My hospital and midwife have said no other children

No, throughout for me. There’s nowhere for them to wait, they can’t be unaccompanied and they’re not allowed into appointments.

It also might not be that nice for them (even if you get good news, not everyone there will) or for other people there who are struggling. Two people had been given bad news while I was waiting for my 12 week scan, and at my 20 week scan there was a lady who was undergoing cancer treatment and was very upset. I think my midwife appts would potentially have been more flexible but the letter asks you not to bring them. Not even DH was allowed to my booking in appt, or AAU appointments.

My hospital has notices in the waiting area and in the scan rooms saying no under 18s unless they are the patient* and then some polite way of saying don't bother asking because we'll have to say no.

I think it's a good policy for reasons mentioned by @TakeYourFinalPosition

I do remember going to a scan appointment with my own mother, many years ago, looking back I'm not sure what she would hace done if the news had not been as expected. She was lucky enough to have had a series of uncomplicated pregnancies, many aren't so fortunate. Plus it was different times.

*I presume the exception would extend to a father or birth partner under 18.

Thanks all - expected they weren't allowed. Totally understand at the scans but the booking apt less so. No idea what I'll do for child care!
Thanks again

Depending on where you are OP your booking appointment may be done by phone, mine was pretty recently, took about an hour.
I had to go to the hospital at an earlier date to have blood taken and be weighed and leave a urine sample, so that appointment was really quick. In fact it was a weekend.

Maybe check how things work in your hospital just now in case there is an easy solution at least for that one.

Thabks for the above info!

I'll give them a call tomorrow! No one mentioned it on the phone not to bring a child to the booking appointment and you don't get a follow up letter to confirm your appointment with info/instructions on so you'd think they would mention it on the phone. Xx

Booking appointment takes ages and they like to ask about DV and stuff and your medical history so it might not be appropriate for a child to attend.

Hi OP my first booking scan was done over the phone and my DD has been with me at another midwife appointment due to summer holidays (she's also severely disabled so they understand we don't have anyone to care for her short notice due to her needs)

Scanning at hospital (in fact all hospital appointments) are strictly no children allowed

Pre covid kids were allowed to midwife appointments in our area. The midwife even had a basket of toys for kids to play with. Kids weren't allowed to scans though.

Honestly, if they didn't say, and there's no information in your notes (if you've got them already) and if any research online says otherwise, I would take your child anyway.

I took mine to my booking appointment at a very small community hospital that is closed to inpatients atm. There was nothing in my notes, online, nor over the phone that said I couldn't take my child (they did know I had a 2 year old). So I took her. Midwife was more than happy she was present.

Scan letter specifically states no children allowed. I'm making arrangements for someone to look after her for that morning.

You could ask to do your booking appt over the phone, my last one was a tel appointment.

I never knew you could do it over the phone!!! I'll see if that's an option.

Booking appointment is long & would be really boring for a little one so much less stressful not to take them & be trying to keep them quiet/entertained unless there absolutely no-one to have them x

I did my booking appointment over the phone a few weeks ago and then had to go in for height, weight, blood pressure and bloods and to get maternity notes. I brought my DD who is 1, no one complained, if anything the midwives all came to say hi to her! She did cry a little when they took my blood though
For reference my booking appt was at a family centre so I couldn't see them refusing kids...

In my area you’re allowed one extra person to midwife appointments and I was told if I needed to I could bring my 2 year old. But I’d guess it varies between areas and children aren’t allowed at scans here

No partners at my MW appointments and no other people, including children

No children at scans. Booking appointment was over the phone. Obstetrics appointment was over the phone. Have brought my 2 year old to midwife appointment at the surgery.

Mw - yes, round my way. (Well, they haven’t said anything to the contrary and there are toys in the consulting room…) Hospital - no, explicitly not allowed.

Id ask. I've never taken my daughter with me as its easier to go alone but I have no option on Friday for my 28 week app and midwife said it was fine for me to take dd with me so worth asking if you're really stuck