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AIBU?

Doctor banged my baby's head off the wall

58 replies

lavei · 30/01/2017 18:37

Went along for our 6 week check up and I wanted them to have a look at why he is sick as much as he is, also his cry has changed which I've read can be a sign of something.
She called me through and asked why I was there... I said 6 week check up and she asked what for. Now I just assumed that she would have know seeings how she had my records open. She then spent 10 minutes reading through all my notes etc and then complained that we were running over. Well I am having some issues with my stitches so wanted her to look at those (I was told this would happen anyways) but she said that I would have to make another appointment. She asked me about contraception and then complained when I said I wanted some as I should book another appointment for that.
When my OH brought DS through for his part of the check up she made us undress him and then sat for another 10 mins reading his records (he's had a few health problems).
She checked out all his bits and then started checking his hips. As she was moving them up and down she banged his head off the wall! It made a thump noise so wasn't just a small tap. I I was furious and walked away so she let go of DS when he was on the hospital bed to see if I was okay and my OH grabbed him as it looked like she was just about to walk over to me. She told us not to worry, she wouldn't have left him. Tbf, I'm sure she wouldn't have but she did nothing to suggest otherwise! She asked if I was okay and apologised and said his hips were fine and asked if I wanted a cuddle.
She then wanted to check his eyes and had me prop him looking over my shoulder. He was full on screaming at this point and she was trying to look in his eyes. My OH had to tell her to stop and when I brought him down his eyes were bright red from where she was pulling at them trying to force them open. He had his face screwed up when he was crying so obviously resisting her.
He wouldn't stop screaming after that and it took me ages to settle him. While I was doing that my OH asked about his sickness again and she said she didn't have time to look at that as she had spent too long with me and we had already run over.
I'm absolutely furious!
Sorry I needed to rant.

OP posts:

Report

Newbrummie · 30/01/2017 18:40

The paediatrician that checked my son out in the hospital was really rough with him. It's not necessary is it, I was bloody cross. Maybe make a complaint I wish I had

JenniferYellowHat1980 · 30/01/2017 18:42

Did she actually apologise?

lavei · 30/01/2017 18:46

She did say sorry and that she had never done that before.
I think I want to ask for a new doctor

OP posts:

Rightontheschnozz · 30/01/2017 18:49

Definitely ask for a new doc. Preferably one with experience of new born checks.

lavei · 30/01/2017 18:55

She apparently does!

OP posts:

MissMrsMsXX · 30/01/2017 19:02

Sick and crying...

is he bunched up after a feed?

TheMysteriousJackelope · 30/01/2017 19:07

I'd ask to see a new doctor. I would also check with whoever books appointments as to what the normal procedure is for that surgery when you have several reasons for seeing a doctor. You obviously don't want to be going in and out of there every other day, so how do you book a longer appointment?

Trifleorbust · 30/01/2017 19:18

To be fair she did apologise for banging his head. Doctors are very pressed for time so I can't really be too condemnatory about her saying certain things might need to wait for another appointment. By all means, request a new doctor, but mightn't it be better to give this one a chance first? If you make another appointment with her and you are still not happy, then you can change doctors secure in the knowledge that you are being totally reasonable.

EweAreHere · 30/01/2017 19:19

I would complain and ask for a new doctor.

Sara107 · 30/01/2017 19:21

The 6 week check is a standard thing, where mother and baby both get checked for a standard set of things. The amount of time the GP surgery allocate should reflect this - it is not the same as a regular GP appointment. And of course there will be different issues raised which the GP should deal with, again it is not a regular appointment where only one issue is discussed. It sounds like the doctor was totally clueless, was she a locum or something? I would request a follow up appointment with a different doctor and explain to the receptionist that you felt the 6 week check wasn't done competently and you would like elements of it repeated by a different doctor. Who doesn't crash the baby's head into the wall!

flupi · 30/01/2017 19:25

Can you chat to your health visitor? If you have a good one they can advise you about your baby's sickness and you can talk over your experience with the gp which sounds dreadful. I certainly wouldn't accept her behaviour. A six week check is a standard thing- she should know what to do and she should be far more in control and supportive of a mum with a new born.

flupi · 30/01/2017 19:26

Cross posted a bit with Sara

Poorlybabysickday · 30/01/2017 19:28

Is he being sick a lot after feeding? Could it maybe be reflux? Definitely speak to your health visitor

OfstedAintEverything · 30/01/2017 19:30

I was going to ask did the reception book you in for the wrong sort of appointment?
When I took DS for his six week check we had a 30 minute slot allocated, this is apparently standard because they need to do so many things.

Trifleorbust · 30/01/2017 19:31

I had the 6 week check today too, coincidentally, and it was a double appointment. I have to make a separate appointment for contraception too.

Coffeeflavouredbiscuit · 30/01/2017 19:35

I found a similar attitude with my first burns six week checkup. A kind of "I can't be bothered but I have to".
She was definitely too harsh.
I also hated having to completely strip baby especially in this cold weather and then that rush to get them dressed as the dr stares at you to hurry up.
The receptionist should allocate a 40min slot. It shouldn't be a 10 min appointment.

ohtheholidays · 30/01/2017 19:43

Bloody hell your poor DS and poor you.

I'd make a complaint whatever is going on with that Dr she's not behaving in a professional manner at all and I'd ask to be moved to a different Dr!

She should know what's included in a 6 week check up and she should know that she's supposed to check how you are and how your doing and to check any stitches and sort our contraception if you need it.

The fact that the time was running over was the Dr's fault not your fault!

I've had 5DC and been with my Niece for the 6 week check up after she had her first baby and none of those 6 week check up's were anything like you described.

AfroPuffs · 30/01/2017 19:49

I would have let rip when she offered a cuddle. How condescending

MaterEstIratus · 30/01/2017 19:50

She clearly wanted to look at his eyes because she'd banged his head.

MrsSpa · 30/01/2017 19:55

Our surgery allocates 30 mins for the 6 week check and the dr knows what to do. Contraception has always been considered/ administered or prescribed. This sounds awful, although maybe you were just unlucky with the head bump (even a dr unfamiliar with the 6 week check wouldn't want to intentionally hurt a baby). The eye check sounds very badly judged... agree with pp request another (longer) appointment for whole check. Hope your baby's sickness improves x

candycoatedwaterdrops · 30/01/2017 19:55

YANBU, very poor show. :( I'm not surprised you're furious. I hope the little one (and you) are ok now.

Trifleorbust · 30/01/2017 19:56

MaterEstIratus: The doctor looked in my child's eyes today - totally standard part of the examination.

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Redesul · 30/01/2017 19:59

Make a complaint, it may not get anywhere far but at least it'll be on a record of some sort. My 6 week check up was a disgrace as well, while the doctor was lovely with my son, she spent the whole of it with him, not looking at me or speaking to me, did absolutely no checks on me, no questions, examinations etc. I was/am on medications and I'd had a difficult birth, I was trying to tell her I was struggling at home with the baby and I got an, "ok. Well is there anything else?" while showing us to the door.

To be fair, I'm not sure what I was expecting as she once screamed at me over the phone and made me cry. She has since been fired.

I do keep hearing of really crappy 6 week check ups where the mother hasn't even been looked at, maybe they're being told the appointment should be shorter or something to cram in more appointments?

Silverthorn · 30/01/2017 20:05

Totally unprofessional to chivvy you along with the time.

Quartz2208 · 30/01/2017 20:07

Ah no wonder you are upset. But once the dust has settled it does sound like it was an accident and she did not mean too. She must have felt terrible. It wont be the last time he bumps his head and it's never pleasant. However unless you feel that she acted in a way to cause it rather than being an accident what can you actually complain about.

The problem here is the time allocated to GP appointments its a common NHS directive that the time allocated reflects the appointment that you have made, yours was a six week check up to tick the boxes those boxes were ticked, beyond that for contraception and to check him out other appointments would be needed. That would be a practice and NHS general rule. Not saying I agree with it (surely its better to do these things at the time) but again its not something you can complain about.

The other thing is that GPs are surprisingly rubbish with babies and contraception (I dont think they see many) so HV would be a good starting point

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