Anyone else have to bring kiddos to all their prenatal appointments?

[WantsALittle1]

My kids are 3 years old and 2 years old. DD starts preschool in August, but for DS it's still 2 years off. We don't have anyone to watch them around here as we're relatively new to the area, so I have to bring them to every... single... prenatal... appointment. Nothing is more fun than having to calm tantrums and provide endless entertainment to two toddlers while trying to have an ultrasound done or trying to talk to the doctor about my serious delivery/pregnancy concerns over the sounds of screaming or arguing.

I used to bring the double stroller with me to appointments, and just strap them into that, but I got tired of how insanely difficult it was to get the stroller into exam rooms, much less find a place for it that was out of the doctor's way. So I switched to the single stroller, and while DS is buckled in, now I often have to chase DD around the room to keep her from opening drawers and playing with lights, etc.

Just venting. Ugh.

 

[Redhead84]

I have had to take mine to midwife appointments. My husband has had him for ultrasounds and he has been able to come in at the end and watch baby for a minute or two. I don't find it that bad to be honest but I only have one to deal with and I know my midwife pretty well so she's known him since he was born.

 

[yourstruly10]

I have to bring my 3 with me also they are 5, 4 and 18 months. Thankfully my oldest is pretty great at keeping the other two entertained it only gets bad if the doctor is running late and we have to wait longer then expected. I imagine I won't be finding it as easy as I get bigger though lol

 

[minties]

Yup! Midwife is fine with it, tje clinic has toys for kids. Hard taking them to scans though as the sonographers get grumpy. It's summer school holidays here.

 

[Spiffynoodles]

YES! Mine are 3, 2, and 1 and it makes my appointments so freaking stressful! Like you, I only bring a single stroller because of how hard it is to maneuver the double, and so I'm always chasing somebody, and my boys LOVE to get into everything in the exam room, and one kid will inevitably push another kid down and make them cry while I'm up on the table getting checked out and can't do anything about it.

 

[WantsALittle1]

YES! Mine are 3, 2, and 1 and it makes my appointments so freaking stressful! Like you, I only bring a single stroller because of how hard it is to maneuver the double, and so I'm always chasing somebody, and my boys LOVE to get into everything in the exam room, and one kid will inevitably push another kid down and make them cry while I'm up on the table getting checked out and can't do anything about it.

Spiffy this exact thing, yes, haha!

And the kids know I'm incapacitated, especially during an ultrasound, so they literally ignore every word I say, even if I say there's gonna be a time out. The OBs are usually pleasant and laugh it off but I always feel like they are secretly thinking I should have better control of my kids... And I do! But they are smart. They have learned that I won't/can't do a thing, especially during an ultrasound, so they ignore me and then the second the scan is done they start listening again. Sigh!

Minties sorry the sonographers get grumpy. I've had that experience with OBs actually. I had to bring the kids to an MFM scan and the OB acted annoyed. I was like, I'm so sorry, I really have nobody to watch them. A friend reminded me that if a medical professional doesn't like kids, OB might not be the best speciality to choose. That made me feel a little better but I guess I still get it, here they are trying to discuss the scan results with me and DD is picking leaves off the plant in the exam room :/

 

[Spiffynoodles]

Spiffy this exact thing, yes, haha!

And the kids know I'm incapacitated, especially during an ultrasound, so they literally ignore every word I say, even if I say there's gonna be a time out. The OBs are usually pleasant and laugh it off but I always feel like they are secretly thinking I should have better control of my kids... And I do! But they are smart. They have learned that I won't/can't do a thing, especially during an ultrasound, so they ignore me and then the second the scan is done they start listening again. Sigh!

Yes, they just know! And in my case threatening a time-out never does any good, because I have literally nowhere to put them for time-out anyway.

And I worry that people see me struggling to keep control of them and are thinking, "You're having another one?"

 

[WantsALittle1]

Spiffy this exact thing, yes, haha!

And the kids know I'm incapacitated, especially during an ultrasound, so they literally ignore every word I say, even if I say there's gonna be a time out. The OBs are usually pleasant and laugh it off but I always feel like they are secretly thinking I should have better control of my kids... And I do! But they are smart. They have learned that I won't/can't do a thing, especially during an ultrasound, so they ignore me and then the second the scan is done they start listening again. Sigh!

Yes, they just know! And in my case threatening a time-out never does any good, because I have literally nowhere to put them for time-out anyway.

And I worry that people see me struggling to keep control of them and are thinking, "You're having another one?"

^^^^^^^^^YES!

The thing is... I *know* they are thinking that. They just usually find an innocent way of saying it, like "haha, well, things are only going to get crazier from now on..."

And I'm like, people, they are not toddlers and babies FOREVER. Yes, it'll be tough to have three young ones for a little while, but in the scheme of my life, it's a blink of the eye. They will grow up, and they will become more independent. The insanity of my life right now, I see it as an investment, and whether we had one kid or three, the highly dependent infant and toddler years are just plain tough but it takes this investment to help my children become INdependent and functional adults. And when they are, I will look back on this insanity and laugh!

 

[musicmomma]

Luckily my daughter is in first grade so I never have to bring her. But I do have to bring my almost 3 year old every time. I just say, you shouldn't have to be responsible for finding a sitter for an appt like this. There are so many appts and that's alott to find someone to keep watching your kids. I don't care what people say when I bring them, they are my kids and come where I go! Luckily my mother in law works at my OB office and helps sometimes.

 

[Spiffynoodles]

And I'm like, people, they are not toddlers and babies FOREVER. Yes, it'll be tough to have three young ones for a little while, but in the scheme of my life, it's a blink of the eye. They will grow up, and they will become more independent. The insanity of my life right now, I see it as an investment, and whether we had one kid or three, the highly dependent infant and toddler years are just plain tough but it takes this investment to help my children become INdependent and functional adults. And when they are, I will look back on this insanity and laugh!

Exactly! You took the words right out of my mouth! Plus, I just think to myself, "You people only have to deal with my crazy little kids for a few minutes. I deal with them EVERY DAY, so if I'm not complaining, why should you?"