I certainly don't resent the women who bring kids - I wouldn't say it inspires me or makes me feel good to see them either - to be perfectly honest - most of the time I have just been thinking about what I am about to talk about with the FS or nurse or whomever I'm there to see - looking at the smilign face or a child makes me smile - but I'm not thinking about the process that has occurred for the child to be there -- cause they may or may not have been through assisted conception -- and they may, or may not acutally be the child of the woman in the room....
I would think that if people are finding it difficult it is more about the head space they are in, obviously everyone who is in the place has experienced similar issues, and - as you said - is it not always possible to leave other kidlets at home.
As long as you are careful and respecful as much as possible - and try to keep the kids quiet (and preferably not with noisy kids videos (as one woman when I was waiting - which was irritating and annoying, cause everything else was so quiet!! - she needed kid sized headphones~lol)
most people will cope - and those that don't - well.... you can't protect everyone in the world....
I was at the FS this morning and there were 2 couples there both with boys that looked around 18 months old. I didn't have a problem at all. One of them was quite chatty, so I was kept entertained listening to him while DP and I waited for our appointment. I think as myturn pointed out, it's really going to be about the head space people are in at that particular moment.
My only tip is to not make a big fuss about your child or let your child talk to other women unless they sem obviously receptive - I remember having an awful day (you know, the holding back the tears type day) and I had someone's child in my face in the waiting room which of course I was supposed to smile at and semi-entertain. It was not what I wanted or needed - of course it was because I was having a really tough time with IVF, but still not the right thing.
When I had number #1 with my when we were trying for #2, I made sure I just kept her quiet, or would try and keep her away from others if I could. This wasn't always possible of course, but like you I simply didn't have the option to have her minded everytime I needed to go to the clinic, so I tried to be as thoughtful as I would when I had her with me.
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