Has Anyone Had a Child That Has Had a Ultrasound

My daughter gets an ultrasound every 4 months because wilms tumor a type of cancer runs in my family. It doesn't last very long and she does fine I bring something like a sucker or a book to distract her so she will be still. It is very painless and the techs are use to working with kids. I wouldn't worry.

My daughter was 2 years old when she had an EKG and an ultrasound performed on her. They didn't put her to sleep. I layed down beside her and held her hand. The doctor talked her through it. She handled it like a pro. If you're scared, then she'll be scared. Be relaxed and help her through it. It won't take too long and take her afterwards for a treat.

Dear H.,

Ultrasound is very easy, painless, and relatively quick for children. My newborn had one in the hospital and then again a week later, as they thought she had hip dysplasia. My five year old had one of her kidneys and again, very simple painless and quick. They had her lay on her belly and it was over really quick.

I pray that everything turns out normal and that your daughter gets better quickly.

Blessings,
D.

An ultrasound on a child will be the same type of thing that you got as a pregnant woman, where they put gel on your tummy and rub a wand over it. I've talked and laughed while the techs look at the ultrasound, so movement isn't much of an issue, and you'll get to stay with her during the test. My 14-month son recently had a CT scan to check for hydrocephalus (perfectly healthy, thank goodness!), and for that they have to hold very still because it's a massive X-ray. The worst part was that I could not stay with him because I was pregnant; however, the tech told me that when a kid is crying, he's holding still, so they take the pictures then, in between the breaths. Sort of working with the body's mechanism. Anyway: for children an ultrasound shouldn't require any sedation; CTs rarely; MRIs do need sedation. An ultrasound uses sound waves, CTs use X-rays, and MRIs use magnetic imaging. Good luck and I hope your daughter feels better soon!

OK, so you've already read some replies from mothers of children who have had one. I have an idea on how to make it a little less scary for your daughter. My little girl is also 3 and had some pretty tough medical tests as well. You might want to go ahead and tell your little girl what's going to be done. Make sure she knows that it won't hurt -- even play doctor and take turns "getting the pictures". This will show her what to expect and maybe help with her fears (if she gets scared). Let her know that that room may be a little darker than normal and if she's still scared when it's time for the procedure, see if the ultrasound tech will just demonstrate on you first. Just make sure your daughter sees you smiling! I hope it goes well and please fill out the "So What Happened" update and let us all know how she did on the test!

Hey, my 2 month old has had echocardiograms, which are similar to an ultrasound. I dont think they will put her to sleep. This is more like the ultrasound you probably had when you were pregnant. Some physicians have "jelly warmers" so it isnt so cold and surprising. Hugs to you!

Our daughter had an ultrasound of her kidney when she was three years old. We had it done at a children's hosptial and they gave her some liquid vercet (sp?) about 30 minutes before the procedure. This medicine makes the child sleepy and groggy but awake. Our daughter laid still for the procedure just fine and doesn't remember much of the event at all. Good luck and God Bless.

It is the same procedure as an ultrasound for pregnancy. They put a gel on her body, then run the wand over it. I wouldn't worry about the procedure. It is non-invasive and not painful. Did they test her for a urinary tract infection?

Prayers for your little one to be better soon!

My children have had ultrasounds and they did great. There has never been a reason to sedate them for any of the scans. With an ultrasound it isn't as crucial as an MRI or CT scan that they be perfectly still. I'm sure the technician will appreciate any help you can give in getting your child to wiggle or try to turn over. I've always been in the room while the scan was taking place and sat next to my child's bed. It's quick, painless and even though it may appear scary to a little one, mine seemed to be intrigued when they watched the screen...kind of like a movie of their "insides"...very cool to them.

I know the unknown can be very frightening, especially when dealing with your child being ill.

Blessings to you and your daughter. I hope things go well and the doctor is able to give you a great report very soon!

H.,

My now 2.5 year old son had an MRI at six months of age and the did knock him totally out. Seeing him under aneshesia was unnerving because he was too still. When a child sleeps normally they twitch and move around. He did nothing.

I suspect they will give her something because even if she has the self control to lay still, her imagination and fear will cause her to be resistant to laying still. If you're to get the results you want then she needs to be immobile.

K.

We are currently going through the same thing. My daughter has had blood in her urine since she was between 2.5 - 3 yrs and will be 4 next week. Everytime they do a urinalysis on her, she has a trace amount of blood in her urine. They have also noticed that her calcium is elevated. They have done several uninalysis, blood tests and an ultrasound. The ultrasound was no problem. They may need her to roll over to get a view from both front and back. The only thing is that my daughter cracked the tech up by asking if she had a baby in her tummy! (She went with me to see a friend's ultrasound while she was pregnant and we showed her the baby so she assumed she had a baby also since she was getting an ultrasound.) At our last visit (just a week ago), they said that her calcium was still elevated and that may explain why there is blood in her urine so we are going to do another 24 hour collection and he will call me when those results are in. They may put my daughter on some medication to help lower the calcium because with excess calcium she could develop kidney stones.

This entire process has been very scary for me because I want my daughter to be healthy and the thought that something could be wrong is terrifying. They also don't seem to be too worried which helps, although at times I think we should be doing more to find out what is wrong and not waitng so long in between appointments. Please let us know how the ultrasound goes and if you need to talk just email me. I know it is hard to look at your little one and think something could be wrong.

My son who is 2 now had an ultrasound down on his kidneys when he was 10 months, they actually put in a movie for him to watch and my husband and I talked to him and we were done before he knew it.

Hey H.,

My Daughter had Vesicoureteral Reflux (Kidney reflux). She was sent for a series of test which included an ultrasound of the kidneys and then a VCUG. The ultrasound is no more than it is with us having one done when we're expecting. Same thing. The vcug they inject die thru a catheter into her kidney and then x-ray them as her body exspelled it. She daughter was awake for both procedures. Please contact me if you need more information. Hope she gets well soon.

Its a very quick procedure. They just get them to lay up on the table and run the wand around their tummy and lower back. Just like they did when you were pregnant. Our hospital has a T.V. with cartoons for them to watch and all kinds of things on the ceiling to keep their attention. Good luck and I hope you get some answers!

When my son was 7 weeks old, he had a urinary tract infection. They did an ultrasound and a VCUG to make sure everything was functioning correctly. The ultrasound was a breeze. It did not take long at all and we were done before we knew it! Everything turned out well, and he is now doing fine. Guess it was just one of those freak things that happens sometimes! Just take a deep breath. Everything is going to be fine!!

My son had an ultrasound done on his heart(he had a heart murmur when he was born, thankfully it's gone now) when he was 1 month old. He was awake the whole time, they didn't put him to sleep, and he didn't fall asleep either. He was as still as a one month old can be, and they were able to get the results just fine. I'm not sure about the kidneys and her being 3 years old, but if she's like my 3 year old daughter, once she gets there and they start to do the ultrasound, she may sit still if the dr. tells her to, or if she's scared. Every time I've had to take my daughter to the dr. to get her ears checked or something when she's sick, all the dr. has to do is say "ok, can I look in your ears, can you sit real still for me?" and that seems to work. I hope this helps, my situation isn't quite the same, but when my 1 month old son had one done, it was fine, and he moved around as much as a baby that small does, and they were still able to do it. Good luck and God bless!

Our daughter has had several ultrasounds for chronic Urinary Tract Infections. They are completely painless and they are the same that they do to us moms to "see" the baby during pregnancy (they are sometimes called sonograms). So our little girl wouldn't be scared, we would joke through the entire test and say we were looking for candy in her tummy and we would joke "there's some!!" She would lay nice and still and would look at the monitor for it too. Good luck and I hope she is well soon!!! Her tests started at the age of 3 and went until about 6.

My daughter was about that age when she had to have an ultrasound on her for urinary track infections. THey keep them awake and usually the tech keeps them so interested in watching the screen to see their different body parts that wiggling is not a problem. It is much like the ultrasound of a pregnant mom and the monitor is very intriguing to little eyes. Even the wiggliest of kids! She will do fine! and so will you! Make it a fun experience of exploration!

H.,
An ultrasound is a very simple procedure, but I would definitely try to explain what to expect to your daughter before you go to the hospital. At that age, it is easier to be very simple. Tell her the are going to put a little "camera" with some gooey stuff on her belly. They are going to move it around and take some "pictures" of her tummy. Reassure her that it doesnt hurt at all. The gooey stuff might be cold, and the camera might tickle a little. They will let you sit with her the whole time. You might even have practice time so she will understand what to expect. Just take a utensil, like a kitchen ladel or something, get some good smelling body lotion, and tell her that the ladel is your pretend camera. Have her lay down, and put the lotion where her kidney area is, or just below the ribcage on both sides. Use the round part of the ladel and make little circles on the front of her belly on both sides. Make it fun, and laugh with her while you are doing it, and try to tickle her if you play like that. I am sure your doctor is just being cautious, blood can be in urine for many reasons, sometimes its just a regular old bladder infection. But, it is good that your doctor is being cautious and making sure that is all that it is.

Good luck.
K.

Ultrasound is really a very safe procedure, and not usually done under anaesthesia. The risks are minimal. You probably had it when you were pregant. I don't know if any sedation might be necessary if your child won't be still however. I would call the hospital where the test is scheduled, ask for ultrasound department and speak to a technician and ask them. They do it all of the time. I think it will be an easy procedure however!
Sincerely,
B. S. RN CCM