Got my first smear test on Friday and baby is coming with me,any advice?

[1990shopefulftm]

GP have agreed my 4 month old can come with me, so taking them up on the offer as I don't want to wait till DH can take a holiday day and my grandma had cervical cancer so figured it's important not to delay, any advice on how to be prepared for it?

Having had a 10lb baby which involved having 3 midwives down there and quite a few stitcjes, I m not bothered about it not being very dignified.

The only advice I have OP is that if you’re feeling nervous, share those anxieties or worries with the nurse doing your exam. They will hopefully reassure you if you do have any concerns. Don’t worry about shaving or anything down below!
Other than that, there’s no preparation really that I can advise you of!
Really glad you’re going and I hope it goes well

There's no preparation needed apart from having a shower before you go. I assume baby will be in a buggy/car seat and as the procedure only takes a few minutes you shouldn't be too long. Im sure they will be used to crying babies so don't worry if baby cries while you are having the test done. Having one this week too - the joys!

No preparation needed really. I would suggest wearing a skirt as its easier than taking off trousers but it might be a bit cold for that at this time of year!

@Oodilallygolly I m young enough to have been the first year to get the HPV vaccine so I know it's unlikely there's an issue but i know it's better to be certain

@Notaroadrunner yes he ll be in his pram, I can't drive so it ll be his first trip on the bus for him to get there. Hopefully he ll find the new environment entertaining
@ChocOrange1 I do have one dress that s pretty loose so easy to lift up, perhaps that will work

Don't worry about leaving your socks on and park baby at the head end so you can chat to them if needs be.

@Iveputmyselfonthenaughtystep thank you I hadn't thought about putting him right by my head :)

He doesn’t need to be at the business end!

I have this next month as well, double joy. Smear test and then baby 16 week vaccines in same appointment. Doing smear first so baby hopefully calmer than after jags. I usually wear a pad after mine as sometimes feel a bit uncomfortable but that may be a personal thing.

@brokengate now that's an efficient doctors , I wish mine did that :)

I took my twins with me when babies just parked them next to head end x
I wouldn't if older though lol

@1990shopefulftm My experience of babies and this kind of thing is that the buggy is parked outside of the curtain and they won't be watching! The nurse/ dr closes the curtain round you.

@SallyAnnWotsit

Yes, that happened to me, really made me laugh that they closed the curtain so the baby couldn’t see- I think they’ve seen it before when they came out of there 🤣

[quote OverTheRainbow88]@SallyAnnWotsit

Yes, that happened to me, really made me laugh that they closed the curtain so the baby couldn’t see- I think they’ve seen it before when they came out of there 🤣[/quote]

I do hundreds of smears a year. Don’t overthink it!

Wash your feet as well as your fanny - my head is nearer your feet than your genitals...

Wear something easy to remove on your lower half, or a dress you can hitch up. You can keep your socks on! We don’t care at all if you’ve shaved your legs, tidied your bikini line, got matching underwear or socks.

Please don’t have sex the night before.

Park the buggy wherever the clinician tells you to, we can work around prams but if they’re huge and our room is small it can be tricky. I try and put baby near mum’s top end so they can see and hear her if they’re awake but not always possible depending what room I’m in. I’ve done smears with mum holding baby on her chest before. Not a problem.

Relax, breathe and it’ll be over in a flash.

@Sidge the rooms in my GP are tiny but his prams not too big.
He's a 4 month old that fits in some 12 -18 months clothes so he barely fits on my chest now, hopefully he ll just try and flirt with the clinician like he normally does with strangers if he won't fit by my head.

@OverTheRainbow88 they don't have curtains in many of my GP rooms anyway, silly how they think baby would be bothered

Had to delay it last week due to being ill but done this morning and was a great experience, responsible way to start a birthday