20 week baby scan

dizziblonde

Depends on the hospital. In my local one it seems to be that you bring the entire flipping family to them (people sit there with like 5-6 hangers-on) as some kind of social event - but the scan rooms are quite big and set up with displays on the wall so you can see them... in another hospital I know of you can't swing a cat in the scan room so it's one other person only.

And our local maternity ward's visiting hours resemble the Jeremy Kyle show with the addition of lots of helium "It's a boy/girl/twins" balloons...

mishkanorman

I wouldnt take my 6 year old in a million years ! firstly the wait before drove me and OH potty let alone a child (we were a 9:30 appt and went in nigh on 2 hours late) and secondly because there isnt much for them to see, OH struggled to make out which bit is what and I dont think they will have the time to point it all out to your son,

At our last appt a lady had her son with her and barked at him every time he moved :mad: and after the scan she needed further testing so they were both sat looking so miserable I doubt he felt bonded to his sibling at all.

To help our boys bond with the bump I have let them listen in to the doppler - and scare themselves silly when they couldnt find their own heartbeats :rotfl: and they have a feel when baby kicks, we have also talked about it lots so baby is included in future plans already.

NBirdy

My 20wk scan took almost 2 hours, with assorted breaks where I had to go out to the toilet/corridors/cafe to pee/wiggle about/do star jumps/drink coke and eat sweets, as the pesky baby wouldn't change position for the last few measurements needed. Hubby had only been allowed an hour off work and we were both quite stressed by the time it was over - it would have been a nightmare if we'd had one of our children with us too.

As it was, only the younger one could have come as the eldest was in school and we wouldn't have taken her out of school for the appointment (neither would the school have authorised the absence) and it didn't seem fair to take one and not the other.

The hospital really prefers children to NOT be taken to scans anyway, and say so on the scan appointment letters you're sent.

emweaver

Sparklebabey wrote: »

Did you check with the hospital beforehand that you could take children into the room with you?

If not then I don't think you have reason to be angry at the hospital.

No but if it did not say on my appointment letter why would I think t even ring and ask!

Saying that when I had my 20 week scan last month it did state this on my appointment letter but as DD is only 15 months old and I had nobody to have her I took her and was prepared to go in alone but they let her come in.

penguingirl

emweaver wrote: »

Saying that when I had my 20 week scan last month it did state this on my appointment letter but as DD is only 15 months old and I had nobody to have her I took her and was prepared to go in alone but they let her come in.

I'm intrigued by this- if they'd said she couldn't have come in, what would you have done? Surely she couldn't be left on her own.

Loulou2010

i took my 3yr old ds to our 20 week scan. the whole scan took a long time doing measurements etc but ds just sat and stared at the screen. he was mesmorized by the the whole thing.

osian

In our hospital they don't seem to have a problem with children attending scans. I've noticed lots of couples with children there.

I took my daughter (3) along to the 20 week scan as it wasn't convenient to leave her with anywhere else.

She had been along to a private 12 week scan with us, so we had an idea that she would sit and behave. In all fairness she was very good and just sat and listened/watched.

I was a little worried in case they gave us some bad news, but she is fairly young to understand those sort of things.

I'd call the hospital and ask.

tiamai_d

penguingirl wrote: »

I'm intrigued by this- if they'd said she couldn't have come in, what would you have done? Surely she couldn't be left on her own.

Surely it's better to risk it than rearrange a time sensitive appointment?

Not all of us have a million willing family members to provide childcare, or a partner who can just take time off work willy-nilly. Some folk don't actually like being seperated from their older children either.

Or are they just not supposed to have more children so they don't have to miss a scan?

cottonhead

I have a 6 year old and wouldnt take her with me. I know after 10 mins she would get bored and I would be unable to take care of her and it might disturb the sonographer. Also if there is a problem detected how would you cope / explain etc. I would find childcare and show him the photo afterwards. Also maybe get a listeing thingy ( forget the name ! ) so when your pregnancy is more advanced he can listen to the baby.

tiamai_d

Ohhh! You can't get a doppler! You'll get all worried and freak out and end up wasting the doctors time when you can't find a heartbeat, dontcha know?