would you take 3.5 yo dd with you to the gyno?

[SweetPotato]

I have an important appt with my gynocologist this afternoon, but my babysitter has come down sick. Do I just take dd with me, or do I reschedule? On the one hand, I know that it's a normal thing not to be embarrassed about, and maybe even a reasonable segway into a conversation about private parts-- and I feel like I really do need to see my dr. sooner rather than later. On the other hand, I don't want to impart any new ideas about playing dr. that she hasn't come up with herself, and I do like some privacy every now and then. What would you do?

[Kim Allen]

My dr has a strict rule about now allowing in children under 4 months in her office if you are alone.For safety reasons. not sure but maybe you should check with yours first.

[journeymom]

Kim, did you mean kids under 4 years?

Are you going to be on your back? Feet up in the stirrups? (Gotta love that.) I would not take a 3.5 year old with me if I could at all help it. Seeing mom like that might be a little alarming. And it's reasonable to want your privacy. There are better ways to discuss private parts.

[Ceili]

I took my 4.5 year old with me to my OB and he barely even noticed anything except the pictures of babies in various stages of gestation on the wall. He sat in a chair, nearish my head and I was covered with a sheet, so it's not like he watching my pelvic exam.

[mbbinsc]

My sister is an OB and she once told me that she is used to kids tagging along with mom. I took my almost 3 year old last year on an annual appt. I put her in her stroller and positioned her so that she saw nothing. The OB was thrilled to see her again.

[ProtoLawyer]

Can you call the ob/gyn and ask if they have a particular policy?

[Golden]

My 3.5 year old son went me with for all my infertility treatments. I just strapped him into his stroller and gave him his snack up by my head. No big deal. Really.

[SweetPotato]

Hooray!-- I just called a friend, whom dd has never stayed with, but whose kids dd LOVES. Dd is thrilled to be taking them a plate of brownies for a "girl party" while I go to the Dr. Whew. I'm sure it would have been fine, but since I have some concerns to discuss and am uncertain if there will be any extra tests, etc., it eases my mind to know that I can concentrate on my own issues without worrying about freaking dd out, etc. (granted, now I can worry about her staying at a new place, but I trust this mom, we've visited a lot, and dd says she gets that I'm going to leave for awhile but will come back, and she seems fine with it-- that's really all I can hope for)

[FondestBianca]

dd has gone with me to all of my doc apps, OB, gyno, and any medical testing where children have been allowed to come along. My doc office is very kid friendly and they've never even suggested I don't bring my kiddos along. I couldn't imagine a doc asking that children under a certain age never be brought with no extra supervision. How the heck would any SAHP ever get medical attention!?

dd is 3.5 and the thought of not bringing her wouldn't even enter my mind. It's more a pain to find someone who can watch her on a weekday (pretty much impossible). If ever dd gets overly energetic or cranky at an app the nurse just pops in and asks her if she wants to come out to the nurse's station to pick out stickers or look at pictures... but that rarely is nessesary. I think this issue has more to do with your child's tolerence level for sitting still and entertaining themselves while you're busy being examined than it has to do with the content of the exam itself.

[nextcommercial]

NO! I wouldn't even take one to the dentist. Or to the hair dresser.

But... if I HAD to go. And, I had NO one else to watch my kids, I'd take em.

I wouldn't be happy about it. But, I'd do it.

[spirit4ever]

Originally Posted by Kim Allen

My dr has a strict rule about now allowing in children under 4 months in her office if you are alone.For safety reasons. not sure but maybe you should check with yours first.

under 4 months???

I had to go to the gyno today and its always close to a two hour wait. I had to bring my 9 month old with me. She sat on my chest while he did the exam. It would be harder though as they get older.

[lucyem]

I had to bring my DS once. I kept him strapped in the stroller and next to my head. No big deal.

[Kim Allen]

No I meant 4 months. Shes My Ob and that way the baby can be there for there 6 week checkup but after 4 months it can be a health hazzard. More for babys up and about that could get into the biohazard things.Dh takes ds in there with me (ds cannot see anything) but only if dh is there will they allow him.

[Ceili]

Originally Posted by Kim Allen

No I meant 4 months. Shes My Ob and that way the baby can be there for there 6 week checkup but after 4 months it can be a health hazzard. More for babys up and about that could get into the biohazard things.Dh takes ds in there with me (ds cannot see anything) but only if dh is there will they allow him.

That's inconvenient, I'd have to change doctors. My OB is an hour away and her wait times vary. Until ds weaned I didn't leave him with anyone for more than an hour or so and with no family nearby to go with me to watch him, I wouldn't have been able to do that without dh taking the day off from work. At my doc's office (and my dhs office too) the sharps/biohazard boxes are up on the wall well out of the reach of little ones or outside of the exam rooms.

[Kim Allen]

Im sure if I talked to her I could get exceptions but I always scedule on DH's days off so I can have them both there. Believe me I dont go any were without my DS so if I couldnt have him with me I would be figuring something out. It probably has alot to do with there being 6 other Ob's in the same building so Its probably just a Building rule and the doctors can go for whatever they feel comfortable with Just letting her know that incase hers does have a rule it would be really bad to get there and find out that she wasnt allowed to go back with her.

ETA mines also an hour away sucks

[Jessy1019]

I would (and have) taken my young kids with me. It wasn't a big deal . . . just told them what was going to happen and then went it and had it done.

I would not continue to use an OB who thought s/he had the right to decide whether or not my kids were welcome in the room. Frankly, unless fire codes are being broken because I want to bring in everyone I know, who comes in with me at ANY doctor is up to ME and no one else.

[Bell]

No, I wouldn't. Only If I had no choice....

[the_lissa]

I would.

[mystic~mama]

I brought DD once, she was 4.5, It felt a little funky, I wouldn't do it again but I do explain to her that I am going to take care of myself... ect...

[Drummer's Wife]

Originally Posted by Jessy1019

I would (and have) taken my young kids with me. It wasn't a big deal . . . just told them what was going to happen and then went it and had it done.

same here. I didn't realize it was a big deal.

Though, it helps that my mom was my midwife so either her or her partner did my pap smears/exams. Their offices had plenty of toys for small children and of course they loved to see my LO's.