Opinion? No children policy in the RE's office?

jannasmith · April 2010

What do you think? Should RE's offices have a "no babies or children allowed" policy? I know this might be a controversial/sensitive topic, but I'm curious because several times that I've been at the RE's office, there have been people with children in the waiting room (playing, crying, babbling, saying "mommy mommy mommy"). Curious how you feel about that?

Mine doesn't have a policy, but another friend of mine/patient mentioned saying something to the office manager one time. Not sure it would go over well.

CJ71903 · April 2010

My RE's office has a "no children" policy.

scooterq · April 2010

My office has "no children" policy also.

sheila1108 · April 2010

My RE's offics has a sign up that says "out of respect for our patients who do not yet have children...." I think that;s a nice way to phrase

I personally do not mind it though. once I was there for pre-op testing & a woman had her 2 yr-ish old there & I felt like it gave me hope- like wow this actually does work sometimes LOL

nikinikinine · April 2010

ours has this policy, although sometimes these situations can't be helped. When I first started going to the RE I didn't think much of it either way, but now that we've been at this for nearly two years I am more sensitive to it and more bothered by it when children are at the office.

amaksym05 · April 2010

You know I am might sure if my RE's office has this policy but I think it should. Same goes with no pregnant nurses.

AimeeL85 · April 2010

I'm kind of torn on it, I guess. On the one hand I think it would be respectful to not bring babies in, and I wouldn't if I had any. On the other hand, we see babies and children everyday and I don't necessarily believe we should be sheltered from it.

That being said, it doesn't bother me to see other peoples babies or children, so that's probably why I feel that way. I understand everyone has a different sensitivity level.

chuckansarah · April 2010

Mine doesn't have that policy that I am aware of, but I would only take Em in if it were an extreme emergency. Our office is pretty good about getting you out of the waiting room quickly, so I would think chances of running into a small child in there would be slim. That being said, I have a friend going through her 3rd IVF and went in yesterday for a monitoring appt. and the u/s tech was very pregnant....not cool at all!!

newsbaby · April 2010

My REs office does not have this policy as far as I know. I have seen babies/children there and it bothers the hell out of me. I can do my best to avoid them everywhere else in life but the REs office is the last place I want to see one. I vowed that if I ever had a child I would never bring my kid into an office like that. Trying for #2, whatever the reason may be, I will never do it. I would spare the feelings of the infertile. If you have truly been through the ringer and back, you would understand and know better than to do something like that regardless of circumstances.

Yellow_Daisy · April 2010

I think of all the places we go the RE's office should be a safe place with no babies or bellies.

My RE has a no kids rule. I like that they are thinking of us and how it would feel for us to be around babies during such a sensitive time.

Edwina.McDunnough · April 2010

sheila1108:
My RE's offics has a sign up that says "out of respect for our patients who do not yet have children...." I think that;s a nice way to phrase

This, and I agree that it's a nice way to say it. Still, some people bring in their kids and I've seen insanely annoying parents and very considerate parents. One Mom brought her kid to a 2 hour workshop! Go figure.

Temp935838312504158 · April 2010

My RE's office has the "no children" policy. I had to sign a form stating that out of respect for their patients that I would not bring children to the office. I think it is considerate for the people sitting in their waiting room who are struggling with infertility to not have children running around. I know I appreciate it.

gidge · April 2010

My office doesn't forbid them, but in the intro information and around the office they post reminders that children can be upsetting to patients and ask that you not bring them if at all possible.

I like that they post that reminder and I've only seen 2 kids in there, so I'm ok with that. I was only annoyed one time because it seemed like there were enough adults (the mother, father,and grandparents?) they could have entertained the little boy outside.

ams8099 · April 2010

My RE doesn't have a policy of no children, but there are signs posted that asks that you find alternative care for your children during appointments.

Susan&Courtney · April 2010

Mine doesn't have a policy on it and there is actually a basket of toys in the waiting room... I've only ever seen one child there though. It sort of bothers me but I also understand that if one day I'm lucky enough to have one child and want another that it would be super hard to figure out what to do with the first child for all of the appointments that people going through IF have... there's probably not a great solution...

Amie8301 · April 2010

I'm not sure if I think there should be a policy in place, but it seems like people should no better than to bring their children into the office out of respect to those of us without any kids. The patients should be considerate of others' feelings.

PrincessJesci · April 2010

My RE shares a waiting room with a regular OB/Gyn and I think I saw a kid in ther twice over the year I was there. I think in general. there's a "no child" policy because this office doesn't do pediatrics. Adults seeking medical attention should find other arrangements for their kids. Who wants to be wrangling a toddler while they are getting a PAP, anyway?

yodasmistress · April 2010

I am firmly in the "no children at the RE" camp. Angry

OscarQ · April 2010

Hi. I'm a lurker but this post hit close to home. The second to last time I was at the RE's office they were running really behind and I was getting annoyed. Finally my team came out to get me but there was a family there with their twins so they oohed and ahhed over the babies first. Meanwhile, I'm sitting there getting more pissed off by the second. So, yeah, I understand people have Secondary IF but still, firmly in the no children in the RE office camp. Now to speak to my RE about it...

kekis · April 2010

I think it's a respectful policy. My ob-gyn's office has two offices one for gyn patients (I have seen a few babies there) and the office for OB patients ( in the hospital offices across the street). It's a nice respite for me and my broken, barren ute.

wiscgirl95 · April 2010

The 2 RE's I've seen allow children. Both of these offices even had toys and children's books. ETA: these offices see patients for reasons other than IF too (urology, obstetrics, etc).

I don't think it would bother me but I've never encountered a child in the waiting area at either of my RE"s offices. Now if the child wasn't being watched and was climbing all over me, I'd have an issue with that. Like PP said, sometimes these things can't be helped .

lmc5004 · April 2010

last time I was at my REs office in the waiting room with DH there was a woman with a 3 yr old with her being loud and yelling etc and I just look at my DH and said "Did she seriously bring her child here.... to show us what we dont have."

I wish they had a no child policy.

hopefulmommy · April 2010

My RE office doesn't have a kids poicy. I don't know if I think it necissarily right or wrong but I do think there is a right way to do things. One time I was there really early on a Sat.morn. and there was a lady there with her 5/6 year old. Obviously she had nowhere to leave her child. The little girls kindve slept on the couch while her mom was checked. It didn't bother me one bit. Now, a screaming baby might. But, I teach Kindergarten so I'm around small kids everyday. I think pregnant women are the hardest for me at this stage.

schoolsoutbride · April 2010

Mine doesn't have a policy.

I have an almost 4 year old, and I'd be ok with it, mostly. There are times when I've been waiting for a dreaded appt and people have had infants in the waiting room that I've REALLY not wanted to deal with babies.

In 18 months of treatments, I've only had to bring him with me once, and if they had a no kid's policy, I would have asked to go straight back to a waiting room. HOWEVER, I am really lucky that my Mom is retired, lives close by, and can watch him on short notice. Since they don't (and there was a woman with 2 kids in the waiting room), I didn't worry about it.

kimarino13 · April 2010

My first clinic had a no children policy. Thank God.

My second clinic didn't and it pissed me off to see kids in there.

DrVWife · April 2010

Being at a military clinic...there is no policy in place at all for no kids. Everyone is mixed together...ob/gyn, RE, MFM. Hell, the ultrasound room was 3 machines divided by curtains. On several appointments for u/s and b/w...I got to hear the joyful sounds of a fetal heartbeat. I'll be honest...I cried. Kind of heartbreaking to hear that little heartbeat and know that your own cycle is not going as you hoped.

mrsarjiltobe · April 2010

I haven't seen or heard of any no children policy at my RE. Mine is in a huge medical office building with many other offices, including OB/GYN. I don't really think there should be a no kids policy, but as with any doctors office, kids should be discouraged unless absolutely necessary to prevent exposure to illness, and disruption of service. Depending on the RE, some treat things other than fertility, and I wouldn't want my child being exposed to anything contagious. I try to be open minded about these things, and be considerate of others rather than myself.