Taking Child to Your Dr. Appointments?

Updated on June 08, 2012
S.H. asks from Harvest, AL
17 answers

While my 6 year old daughter is out of school for the summer, I am working from home to be with her, and so we do not have to have someone else watch her.

We are talking about conceiving our second child in the next few months. Before that can happen, I have to go to my OBGYN to have my Mirena IUD removed. Then it just occurred to me - what am I going to do with my daughter while I go to the doctor for this?!?!

Hubby says take her with me. I'm torn on whether I should or not! She knows everything about where babies come from, EXCEPT for the actual act of intercourse. I don't think she would be freaked out about anything. Maybe I could tell her to stand by me and talk to me during the procedure? Have her hold my hand so she thinks she's helping me feel better? :)

But then, I have no idea if this is normally ok for an obgyn office?? Do I need to just ask them if it is ok with them? Or should I really try to get someone to watch her for me?

Thanks!

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So What Happened?

Thanks for the responses! She's not going! I'm sure I would be more comfortable anyways!

Now I just gotta figure out what to do with her! haha Hubby can't have her at work nor take time off yet. If I get the appointment on a Friday that my brother is off work, he could watch her. Small chance my mother could come watch her. Or I could see if my coworker could let her visit her at the office lol I'll figure something out :)

Update - Coworker is going to watch her for me! Problem solved!!! :) Now to actually call the doctor's office when they are OPEN hahaha (Tried to call during their lunch break earlier, doh!)

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C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

I took my daughter with me to GYN appointments. She came into the exam room with me, and it was no problem. I explained to her beforehand what was going to happen. She sat in a chair and read a book or played with a video game. It's not as though she had never seen me without panties before.

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M.J.

answers from Sacramento on

No, I've never taken my kids with me. I either find a babysitter or use our local drop-in childcare when I need to go. Way TMI for my little ones to be at my appts.

3 moms found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

I would trade out care with a friend. Let them know you will be willing to watch their child at some point..

Or have your husband take off from his work for a few hours or drop her off with him during the appointment. ..

I think it is important for anyone that goes to the doctor to be able to make the most of that visit, so not having to worry or keep up with a child is important.

3 moms found this helpful

D.D.

answers from New York on

You should get someone to watch her while you go to your appointment. My ob/gyn does not allow children in the room and has a sign that says children under 15 are not allowed in the waiting room without supervision.

3 moms found this helpful
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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

If it's something personal, like the OB/GYN, I don't. I find a friend or DH to watch her for the hour or two it will take to run the appointment. If the appointment is simply that I need a vaccination or my teeth cleaned, that is different. Then I've taken her with me. But not something so personal.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.G.

answers from Seattle on

I guess I'm the odd one out but I've taken my daughter with me to appointments before and never had an issue. I simply explained that I had no one to help and no I could not afford to hire anyone. She was never an imposition during any procedure and either held my hand or sat in a chair reading while things were being taken care of. I guess I should add my daughter is now 8 but started going with me to those types of appointments and others when I had no choice ever since she was born.

2 moms found this helpful

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I wouldn't take her. You never know how long you will be there, and you'll both end up miserable.
Can't you just arrange a play date for her that day? My fellow moms and I are never shy about calling each other up for this kind of favor. Most of us are happy for our kids to have a friend over during the summer :)
Though I suppose if ALL the moms you know are working outside the house that wouldn't help.

2 moms found this helpful

X.O.

answers from Chicago on

Call your OB's office and ask them if they will allow you to have her in the room while they are doing it. They might have a policy about kids being in the room during procedures.

The only OB appt I would take my kids to would be ultrasounds or to just listen to heartbeat & check vitals, etc. Nothing that would require me to be disrobed.

2 moms found this helpful
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H.M.

answers from Dallas on

I would not take her. Unless they have someone to watch her while you are being seen which most offices wont. See if one of your friends or neighbors can watch her.

2 moms found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from Dallas on

I would avoid this at all cost. There are lots of options. Drop in care, hire a high school neighbor for the afternoon, trade off with another mom, have Dad take a long lunch and watch her. I know some Ob offices are sympathetic and the nurses will watch your child while you are in your appointment, so that may even be an option. Other offices do not allow child in the examining room. It's a terrible position to put a six year old. Dr tools and stirrups look really scary. Not only that, but you never know what kinds of discussions will come up and what the doctor may mention.

2 moms found this helpful

M.B.

answers from Orlando on

my ob's office had someone watch my son a couple times during vaginal exams when i was pregnant. i would call and ask if someone is available for that. it only takes a few secs to remove mirena. so they might

2 moms found this helpful
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T.S.

answers from Washington DC on

I probably would NOT have her in the office with me for anything that requires sirups :)

I would think you could leave her in the waiting room for the actual appointment, but it's all about what your level of comfort is. My son (6) has occasionally had to stay in the waiting room when he and I go to his psych. appointments together and then the doctor needs to speak with me alone.

Do you have a neighbor or anything who could watch her for an hour while you run to your appointment (I had my Mirena out a month ago... seriously like 15 minutes in and out of the office)?

1 mom found this helpful

C.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

i had mine taken out w/out a hitch but i wouldnt take your daughter, (unless it was ok w/the dr. office and you had no other person to watch her). the reason being is b/c during my visit the dr. told me before removal to be aware that sometimes they get embedded and it takes longer to remove. mine was not embedded, but if it was and they had to dilate you (or whatever they do to remove), this would probably be painful and traumatic for both of you.

1 mom found this helpful

K.M.

answers from Chicago on

I would look into a "drop in" care center. My park center has one open 9-11a daily and 445-8pm that is 3.5/hr. There are also other places where this is their sole business, that is what I would do if I was in your situation.

1 mom found this helpful

S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

Both of my sons came into the doctors office with me, until they were old enough to sit in the waiting room (about 5 yrs), which was coincidentally around the time they were uncomfortable being in the room with me. In fact they were both there when I had my IUD inserted and removed. They sat behind me, so they weren't actually "watching" the procedure. They had books to look at.

1 mom found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

No, how terrible for her to have to see you with your legs spread and the doc putt his inside you and pulling out stuff. This is why they make programs like Mother's Day Out. SO mom's who stay home and don't have any friends that will babysit for an hour or two will have someplace safe for kids to go. They can go one day, one day per week, 2 day's or even all 3 days per week. Just so mom can go shopping like an adult and take her time without a child whining and crying for every little item on the shelf.

It is so nice for SAHM's to have some place part time and safe for their kids to go for a few hours and play and have fun.

She needs to go to a friends house, MDO program, cancel the appointment until school starts again, etc...that is something no child needs to experience.

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S.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

My son came to all my prenatal appointments when I was pregnant with his sister. As far as I have seen it has not scared him. In August I have a recheck PAP after my LEEP. My kids both have appointments for well child checkups in the same builiding right after mine. Plus my hubby works nights so I am not getting him up at 8am to watch the kids. So they are going with me. They were also both in the ER with me when I had complications from the LEEP. They are 3yrs and 4mnths though.

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