STM+ Taking Kids to Apts

JessyKV · July 2016

Question for the STM+'s out there! Will you or do you have to take your kiddos with you to your OB appointments?

I worked when I was pregnant with my son, so my daughter was in daycare during my appointments. So I never took her. Now I stay home with both and I'm a little nervous about appointments. Once preschool starts back up I can schedule appointments during those days and just take my 19 month old but taking a 3 year old too sounds like torture. Wondering if I should find a babysitter. We moved so we have no family close and my husband cannot take off for this. I have taken them both to a dentist apt before and it was ok. I know when I get further along the appointments will be pretty quick so it won't be as bad but the first 2 are full of blood work and family history.

Please share your experience!

nursemama-2 · July 2016

I never take mine. If you have no choice then you have no choice, but I like the time to talk to my provider about how things are and any questions. I cannot focus on anything other than stopping my little ones from getting into things when they are with me.

JessyKV · July 2016

NurseMama said:

I never take mine. If you have no choice then you have no choice, but I like the time to talk to my provider about how things are and any questions. I cannot focus on anything other than stopping my little ones from getting into things when they are with me.

Totally agree! It will be super hard to focus will wrangling 2 kiddos!!

Jparisi926 · July 2016

Tomorrow I have my first sono and I have no choice but to bring my son as my mom who normally watches him while I'm at work has a test. Fingers crossed it goes well. I'm thinking LOTS of snacks

meq124 · July 2016

No experience yet, but I will have to do that with most of my appointments. I found someone to watch her for the first one since it's long and has potential to be tough if things go bad. I have seen lots of moms there with there kids, I am sure those short BP/ FHR appointments you will be fine.

kjd291 · July 2016

I've been thinking about this too. I just have one- an 11mo old. I'm planning on just bringing her. You know your kids best and what they can handle, but if you've done a dentist app before I think they'd be able to handle these with some distractions

Burrberrymum · July 2016

This has also been on my mind, and I'm leaning towards finding any means possible not to bring her. I have a very busy 3 year old that would not have the patience to sit in a waiting room, and I'm sure there would be a few disruptions throughout the appointment. I'm going to schedule her in daycare, leave her with her dad or her grandma if at all possible.

JAGinMI · July 2016

NurseMama said:

I never take mine. If you have no choice then you have no choice, but I like the time to talk to my provider about how things are and any questions. I cannot focus on anything other than stopping my little ones from getting into things when they are with me.

This.

MrsNap_515 · July 2016

It's hard, but with fertility treatments, I've had 2-3 time a week appointments for monitoring, and some days DH would be able to bring her to daycare so I can go solo, since my appt's were early am before daycare opened, but there were a few times I had to bring her, she has a kindle kids, but she doesn't get it often, she hasn't had it since easter, but on those occasions I bring it, because it will keep her entertained, and also snacks! for ob appt's, chances are they will fall within daycare time, since i work ft, and my appt's are usually am or afternoon during my work day, so hopefully it won't be an issue. my worry will be the postpartum visits/pedi appts, because we will probably have to pull her out of daycare while I'm home on maternity since we won't be able to afford it, those will not be fun visits, but we have a BIG family, so I'm sure I could wrangle my MIL's help or one of my SIL.

chrlyr · July 2016

I don't foresee taking DS to any. At 4.5, he's old enough to be interested and ask 1000 questions about what's up. I don't think his iPad would distract him enough.

Robi1 · July 2016

I will take my 3yo and 16mo to all my appointments, probably. I'm home with them and don't have any childcare. My midwifery practice is really comfortable with kids at appointments, and they really involve them in the process. I took my oldest to most of my appointments with my second as well, and it was fine. I wouldn't want to take them to an ultrasound like the anatomy scan alone because you're immobilized, but I only get the one US so it's easy enough to get my husband to come for that or take the kids for one day. Otherwise, I love having kids come to learn about their new sibling and how pregnancy works and get to know the midwives and birth center. I think it's really important that they're included.

librarymom917 · July 2016

My doctors office actually doesn't allow kids who are out of an infant carrier to come to appts because of the distraction. My daughter would behave and probably not even say a word because she's so shy but I'll leave her and her siblings with my in laws because my husband won't be home for the first appt. After that I'll schedule when she's in school

CanadianintheSouth · July 2016

I took my almost two year old to my first appointment because no family in the area and she's on summer break from her parents day out program. Worst thing ever, she thought she was going to the doctor and screamed bloody murder the entire time. I didn't even notice that I was getting a pap because I was way too distracted by the screaming banshee on my chest. I vowed to never bring her again.

Today for my ultrasound I had my husband leave work to come, she was much better during that part, and they went out to lunch while I had my appointment.

mizzoumomma11 · July 2016

I had to take my almost two year old to my hCG blood draw yesterday and I think he enjoyed it, lol. He sat on my lap and just stared at the blood being drawn like it was fascinating. (I told myself that means he will grow up to be in the medical field.)

But... I plan on scheduling my appointments during my in-office days (I work from home Mondays and Fridays), so he will be in daycare. There may be a few times I have to bring him (we also don't live anywhere near family--but we do have very close friends and neighbors), but hopefully not many, if any...

kiyamurph · July 2016

My LO will be in daycare for all of my appts, but if I was forced to bring him, I'd bust out the iPad. If you have to bring your 3 yo, do you have a tablet or anything that can keep her occupied? Even your phone and just keep the volume low? My son loves nursery rhyme videos on YouTube. His favorite channels are Hooplakidz and Pink Fong. I know they say no screen time, but F that, when you need it you need it!

Burrberrymum · July 2016

CanadianintheSouth said:

I took my almost two year old to my first appointment because no family in the area and she's on summer break from her parents day out program. Worst thing ever, she thought she was going to the doctor and screamed bloody murder the entire time. I didn't even notice that I was getting a pap because I was way too distracted by the screaming banshee on my chest. I vowed to never bring her again.

Today for my ultrasound I had my husband leave work to come, she was much better during that part, and they went out to lunch while I had my appointment.

I'm soooo sorry that this made me laugh so hard! But this is precisely why I'm not going to try to attempt it with my 3 year old. She's to big to hold only chest anyway at this point, she'd probably be touching everything she can get her hands on!

CanadianintheSouth · July 2016

@Burrberrymum haha yeah I tried the whole sit her down with a movie thing but she just had to be on top of me. I'm sure her two year old check-up next month is going to be just as great

JessyKV · July 2016

I found someone to watch them today for my first apt and I am so glad because it was like an hour of family history crap. The kids would have lost it!

mkillian27 · July 2016

My 11 month old will being coming with me and SO to my first appointment, but she starts daycare at the end of August, so I am going to schedule appointments when she is at daycare. It would be too much of a hassle to bring her.

Scarlett830 · July 2016

I took my 10 month old today to my US because I had no one to watch him and DH was working. He sat in his stroller eating puffs and playing with his phone, but definitely got bored and cranky by the end. Hopefully I'll be able to find someone to watch him for the rest of my appointments, but it's not likely unfortunately.

smevan11 · July 2016

Once we tell him about the baby my 4 year old will come unless he's in preschool.

vino831 · July 2016

My husband missed our first appt. He didn't listen to the time and he didn't listen to the location.

So I had my ultrasound, annual exam, breathing exam etc all with my 10 mo in my lap.

It. Was. Awful.

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