Pregnant SAHMs - childcare during appointments?

[ladygrey]

What did you do for childcare for your prenatal appointments with child #2 (or more)? 

My mom works part-time and is able to take DD after 2:30 pm, but that really limits the availability when scheduling appointments. DH has a fairly flexible work schedule, but I feel bad asking him to take time off each month. Also, then I would have to go to all of my appointments alone; he actually came to every single appointment when I was pregnant with DD and really liked being part of the process. I don't feel strongly about having him there (with the exception of important things like the NT and anatomy scans), and I know that he's more than willing to take her while I'm at the doctor. 

Sigh. I'm already stressing out about this, and I'm only 4 weeks along. I wish doctors offices had drop-off childcare. It would make life so much easier.

[Deleted]

DH never went to any of my appointments. I'd just bring kid and the tablet and let him watch a show or play a game, if that's possible. My check ups were super short and uneventful. If your DH wants to be there, you can easily just bring your kid too.

[hocus2]

I would arrange care for the big pants off appointments (u/s, gsb test in T3 etc). Otherwise you can probably just bring your child with you. The majority of appointments were in an out both times.

[thatgirl2478]

I just took her along. She actually loved helping the nurse put the blood pressure cuff on and put the bandaids on my arm after blood draws.

ETA - I even brought her to the pants off appointments - I asked her to stand by my head and hold my hand to help me be brave.  She's seen mommy without pants on many occasions (she showers with me frequently), so while she questioned why I took off my pants she didn't really freak out or anything.

[lilles]

Took them to all appointments.

[ilikedonuts]

I had to bring DD1 to plenty by myself (she was 16-24 months) and I just strapped her in an umbrella stroller and gave her some books and snacks. Sometimes the receptionists and nurses would keep her with them and they would play with her.

We didn't bring her to any ultrasounds though. I had my friends watch her while DH and I went.

Also when I had my weekly iron treatments, I switched off between my mom, ILs and my friends. They weren't all available consistently so I just tried to schedule around who was available that week.

[Deleted]

I brought my kid and the iPad. They loved her at the OB's office, I had a nurse that begged me to hire her as a babysitter. My OB also gave lots of ultrasounds so I feel like it really helped DD1 process the idea of a new sibling to see her onscreen.

[sjh722]

I don't SAHM but I work PT.

I've brought DD with me several times. The lobby is always full of toddlers and pre-schoolers. The appointments are what, 10-15 minutes at most? It's not ideal, but I've done this before and don't have a million and one questions.

My MIL watches her now that I'm going more often and it's harder to drag her around. My friends who are SAHM and don't have family here seem to swap childcare a lot.

[ilikedonuts]

I've watched my friends' kids during their appointments. Is there anyone you can ask?

[anna7602]

DD was out of school last summer and I had to bring her to a few of my late-pregnancy appointments (they were weekly by then). I just set her up with the same kinds of activities I give her on a train/plane- iPad or coloring books. For the NST, they parked her in a recliner right next to me in the same room while I was being monitored. 

DH didn't usually come to my appointments. I think he came to 1 scan for each of my pregnancies and maybe the first appointment each time. 

[ladygrey]

Wow, I'm surprised that so many of you brought your kids. It just seems like a nightmare trying to wrangle a busy toddler while getting checked out. Hmm...maybe I need to rethink this.

[thatgirl2478]

This is one of my favorite pictures of my DD1 'helping' the perinatologist.

[barefootcontessa]

The only time I sprang for a babysitter was during the anatomy scan because I did not want to deal with my kids.

[cinco]

I had to bring DS a few times. He watched the IPad or my phone. My doctors office was cool with it. DH watched him at home a couple times too.

[mainelyfoolish]

I tried to make my appointments for when DD was in preschool. If I couldn't, then she came along to the appointment. My DH didn't attend any of my routine office visits.

[redpenmama]

DD was in preschool 2 mornings a week during the second half of my pregnancy, so I scheduled on those mornings when I could. However, I would say she came to at least half of my appointments. Short of hiring a babysitter, I have no help (family) around, so I just brought her along. We packed a bag for her with snacks and activities, and she was fine (age 2-2.5 at the time). There always seemed to be other moms in my situation at the OB as well.

[motzie]

I took DD to almost all my appointments. A few I made them early in the morning and H would stay home with her. When she came I brought the iPad and some flash cards to distract her. She's super mild mannered so she was always fine.

[jr009j]

DD1 came to all my appointments except the anatomy scan. She even came to a spur of the moment ultrasound that DH couldn't stay for and all my growth scans at the MFM the last 4 weeks. I just packed her a special bag of things to do only at the doctor with special snacks. She loved hearing the baby and sometimes still gets upset that there is no baby for her to hear when we go to the doctor. The regular ob appointments were so quick that she never really got time to get bored.

[sjh722]

Jan 30, 2015 10:29:14 GMT -5 ladygrey said:

Wow, I'm surprised that so many of you brought your kids. It just seems like a nightmare trying to wrangle a busy toddler while getting checked out. Hmm...maybe I need to rethink this.

They have no problem with her sitting next to me on the exam table while they check the heartbeat and measure. It's really NBD.

[mrsg123]

My MIL watched DD1 when I went in, DH may have a few times too.

[scribellesam]

When I didn't have a friend who could watch him, I brought him along. He was 20mo-30mo while I was pregnant, so snacks, videos on my Phone, and a few Matchbox cars worked pretty well. My H also works near my OBs office, so when he could he'd walk over and watch DS1 in the lobby while I had my appointment.

[DarcyLongfellow]

I tried to schedule them for when DD1 was at preschool, but if I couldn't, then she just came with me. It was no big deal.

I'd say half the women I saw who were there for pregnancy appointments had older kids with them. The office is very used to kids being there!

My DD1 was 3 when I was pregnant, so I wouldn't have wanted her there for a pelvic exam or a transvaginal ultrasound (just because I didn't want to deal with the questions), but otherwise it was totally fine. She actually came to our 20 week ultrasound so she was there when we found out DD2 was a girl :-)

[SJ]

I had zero problems scheduling every one of my appointments after work or on weekends, so I'd try to see if you can do post 2:30PM when possible so your mom can take her.

[flgirl]

All of them have come with me. I think out of 4 pregnancies I have only had 5 or 6 childless appointments.

[imojoebunny]

I took my 3 year old to most appointments. She was fine. We reserved certain toys for that. My son has also been to the doctor with me dozens of times, and he does fine as well. I just give him the iPad.

I was not paying $30-45 for a sitter to go to the doctor on top of the $40 company and other out of pocket, and $10 for parking.

You could also see if there is another SAHM who would be willing to take your child, in exchange for you taking hers.

[Willis Jackson]

I brought my kids.

[liveintheville]

I brought him with and prayed he wouldn't open the door while I was peeing in a cup.

[anaps28]

I scheduled my appointments when DS1 was in preschool or had my husband meet me on his lunch break. I think only once did I bring him along for a blood draw. I had zero desire to try and wrangle him in a docs office.

I actually noticed MANY people coming for their post partum appointment with their newborn, toddler AND their husband which I don't understand at all.

[MadamePresident]

My husband and Nods came with me to every appointment. I think she wants to be a midwife, because she watched everything. 

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[6fsn]

I took mine to every appointment except the first u/s and the anatomy scan. If there was something wrong I wanted to process without them.

With #3 I'd have a 3.5 yo and 1 yo and it was fine.