Pregnant mums to be BANNED from taking their children to baby scans so NHS staff ‘can concentrate’
Kids to be barred from going in with their mum to an ultrasound room from September 1 because it is ‘vital that they have as little disturbance as possible’
PREGNANT mums are being banned from taking their kids along to a baby scan at an NHS hospital because they “distract staff”, it emerged today.
Children will no longer have the pleasure of seeing their sibling for the first time in their mum’s womb from September 1 at a UK ultrasound unit.
The ban is to apply to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough but the radical move could well set a precedent and other units in the United Kingdom to follow suit.
Most pregnant women are offered two scans as standard by the NHS, with one between eight and 14 weeks and another between 18 and 21 weeks.
But in some cases, women will need scans at other points before giving birth.
And for some mums taking the kids along is sometimes their only option because of childcare problems.
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Lynne Young, matron for obstetrics and gynaecology, told the said the NHS trust did not take the decision lightly.
She said: “During a first routine baby scan the fetus is only 15cm long and sonographers are looking closely for any structural abnormalities which will determine the care of the pregnancy.
“Sometimes the outcome can result in a decision to end the pregnancy, so it is vital that they have as little disturbance as possible.
“It can also be very upsetting for young children if we have to discuss a problem.”
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