Are you taking your older children to your sonogram appt?
OK so my daughter is a sweet heart, very caring and likes to research everything just like me. She's 7 1/2. One of her teachers has been out for a long period of time caring for her baby who was born with health issues. This is her 1st week back. WELL the teacher explained to the children apparently exactly what was wrong with hr baby and all the surgeries ect she has had to go through. Now I like this teacher a lot so I'm not complaining about her in any way and I'm sure the kids were all asking questions. But now my poor child bless her she is worried sick about the our baby. she keeps asking if our baby has those same problems ect.
I just felt so bad that she is worried about these things. My next sono I think I'm going to being my daughter so she can see that baby is perfectly fine.
Have any of you taken your older children to sono appts? My husband and I are finding out early at 16 weeks what we are having. So we can announce for Christmas and because his schedule is insane. Doing it at a separate/3D/4D sonogram facility allows us to make an evening appt that he can attend. So I'm thinking I will take her to my 20 week regular sono at the doctors office the 1st week of Jan.
Re: Are you taking your older children to your sonogram appt?
Layne-May 6, 2013
Callie-February 14, 2011
LOL! I could understand that! If my daughter were younger I would say the same thing. I think my daughter is old enough and mature enough to enjoy going and so she can see and hear from the doctor that baby is doing great.
I'd take a 7 1/2 year old, especially under the circumstances.
You'll want to call and make sure she can go, though. The place I went to had a rule of no kids under the age of 10, but my ultrasound was done in the L&D of a hospital, so...
We took our not quite 4yo to both an earlier one and the anatomy scan, and she loved it, and I'm so glad we decided to. I'd think a 7yo would be fine if she's interested, and especially if it will ease her fears.
Do check that kids are allowed, at the radiology office my OB used to refer to before offering u/s in office, extra people under 18 weren't allowed.
these are all good points. FI wanted to bring his daughter (3yrs) to the a/s, and I said no way. Especially if she were there and my daughter wasn't (she's 7 and I didn't want to take her out of school to sit for an hour). I wanted it to be a moment between me and my FI.
You could probably just show her some of the pictures they're sure to print out, and that could alleviate some of her fears.
Because of a scheduling mishap at my a/s, DH and I ended up having to take both DDs with us. They are 2 and 3 and did just fine. and it helped them realize that there is a baby in there, something they just didn't get before seeing it.
Total lurker here, but I just wanted to say that my parents took me to a sono for my sister when I was nine years old. It was a wonderful experience for all of us. (Even though the joke 'look, she's waving at us'' still haunts me because my parents continue to believe I was dead serious and keep making fun of me.) I'm so glad they did it.
So I would do it! Even though the person here who said 'what if things are not ok with the baby?' has a valid point.
Sorry for lurking...
My son is 18 months and I take him to all of my appointments (along with my husband). I like to think it helps him understand that there is something new happening in our lives.
Also, I have two younger (very much so younger; eight and nine at the time) siblings that I'm very attached to. When I was pregnant with my son I had them watch my sonogram that checked his gender. They loved it and it brought up and answered a lot of good questions. It also helps kids form an attachment to their new family member.
I watched my first sister's birth at nine years old and it was a very enlightening experience for me. I understood how things worked and exactly how special it is to get a new baby and for the baby to be healthy. Granted I was very mature for my age and I would not recommend this for most children that age.
I would take her to an elective ultrasound place, but not a medical office. My doctor dosent allow children under 12 in the room for ultrasounds. Only one extra person is even allowed at ultrasounds, period.
I think it would be a lot tougher to take your daughter to see that the baby is perfectly fine, only to find out that it might not be, with her right there. Unfortunately, it happens.
First, if i were you, I might send the teacher an email that you are concerned about the amount of personal information she is sharing; whether you like her or not, it's not at all age appropriate for 7 1/2 year olds to hear the details of her child and the medical issues he/she is dealing with. Most 7 1/2 years olds cannot comprehend situations like that and it can be more scary than helpful - especially for children like your daughter who is expecting a sibling.
I'm pretty high risk and have had almost weekly ultrasounds/fetal echocardiograms. I think I've probably had 15 ultrasounds so far. Due to the fact we have no child care options (and my husband travels for work every week), I have brought my 3.5 year old to every single one. Between travel time to the facility and the actual appointments, it turns into a 4 hour extravaganza every week. It's never been an issue - the Maternal Fetal Medicine office understands my situation and has never said that she couldn't come in. My daughter loves seeing her baby sister and hearing the heartbeat. She's fascinated with what's happening inside my body. I also make sure to be well prepared to keep her busy - we have special snacks, coloring books, the iPad (with headphones, of course). She is extremely well behaved during the appointments. We make it into a big adventure, and she actually looks forward to it (I, however, do not, for various reasons)!
The concern about finding out there's something wrong with the baby at the appointments is always a concern - and they have found a couple of things that they are concerned about with the baby and it is sometimes difficult to hide my anxiety about it, but I do the best I can. I don't have any other options. She has never caught on or thought there was something wrong.
If I had child care options, I probably wouldn't bring her, just because of the chance that I could get bad news and it would be easier to process without having to hide my emotions from her - and I would feel the same way if she were older. I guess you have to weigh how much it would impact you and your daughter if you were to get bad news (since she is old enough to realize what is going on) - although most ultrasounds are normal and a great experience.
ETA: In your case, I would probably bring DD to the elective US, but not the actual anatomy scan a few weeks later. At the elective, it's just to find out sex and not diagnostic; they won't tell you if there's something wrong with the baby. I would skip the actual anatomy scan with her, only in case you get bad news; she doesn't really need to be a part of that.
I live in a small town, so the doctors office which is at the hospital doesn't do the ultrasound. They send you to an outsourced office. So I do the ultrasound then the next day I go to my doc for my appt. But yes I agree if I was getting a full exam I wouldn't bring her.
LOL! Yes if I end up having a boy my daughter will think the same thing.
Due to child care she will probably come with us to the elective one as well. But since it's my husband and I's 1st child together I'm really thinking he's wanting that to be for him and I to share together. We will see in 2 weeks what happens. My 20 week is only an ultrasound not a doctors appt. and the sonographer won't say anything is wrong she will send all the results to my doc who I see the next day. It's 1st thing in the morning so she is only missing a little bit of school and I've checked with the office and teacher who said she won't miss anything that's needed and she won't be counted tardy or absent since she will be back before 9 am.
My daughter is very mature for her age. Her and I have a tight bond and she likes to be a part and help with anything about the baby. The pictures it self she even has me make copies and put on her board in her room LOL. So that's why I was thinking taking her to my 20 wk appt. which my husband can't attend due to traveling with work. That way it's me and her, she will think it's special and it will like your said ease her mind.
That sounds really nice for the two of you! It's good that your doctor's office does it that way, so she will be able to go. My doctor comes in at the end of each scan and immediately tells me what is going on, and it hasn't always been good news, but at least I don't have to wait for results.
EDD 1/31/13, MC May 17. EDD 3/31/13, MC July 26. I miss you so much already my angel loves
DS is 8, and had been asking/praying for a little brother or sister for years. He's super excited and interested about every aspect of this pregnancy, and he will be going with us to the anatomy ultrasound next Tuesday. I've told my doctor and the receptionists that he's coming, and they think it's cute that he wants to come along.
I hadn't thought about the "what if" scenario if something questionable where to come up during the exam. But, he's pretty mature for his age, and we discuss some pretty big issues sometimes (such as the meaning of life and what happens when we die -- seriously! And some of this was a year or more ago that he started asking these questions).
He's really hoping for a little sister, so I think that's all he really cares about. That, and he gets out of school an hour early that day, lol.
An older child maybe.
A 2 year old? Not an effing chance.
Definitely.
I took my DS (he's 2.5) to an appointment and he thought the doppler was awesome. I'm pretty sure we are going to take him to the U/S appt.