I think I was given medical management for 16 weeks miscarriage without consent

[Loulabelle2015]

Hi there, I'm looking for some answers about the way I was managed in hospital over xmas.

My waters broke early at 16 weeks and I developed an infection, the doctors at St Mary's at the time seemed to be wonderful and dealt with me rapidly as the infection was becoming serious. With no heartbeat my partner and I agreed to choose ERPC ( my second after another late miscarriage at 22 weeks)

We were advised that medical management would be safer but I couldn't emotionally go through the experience. Docs very rapidly and and seemingly panicked started me on anti biotics and admitted me to the ward to stay until surgery next morning. I thought what I was taking orally was an antibiotic but looking back the name 'Mifi' was requested and given to me. I didn't know what it was and on investigation I think it was mifespristone.

I then had IV antibiotics and later that night around midnight was given a pessary ( which wasn't in itself unusual as id had on before to soften cervix before surgery)

around 3 am i began to have contractions which coupled with the infection was unbelievably painful. Nurses then gave me codeine, pethadine, gas and air and liquid morphine. I was so out of it and in agony and afraid that at the time I thought my body was naturally trying to expel my baby. The contractions increased and I was in labour for 7 hours before being told by a nurse that i would have to delivery my baby as it was going to happen before the surgery time at 10.30 am. I was so terrified but just going along with the trusting in the medical professionals. I managed to hang on til 10.30 when the trolly to take me to theatre. The porter and nurse with me were running me to surgery which terrified my partner who they allowed to come with me.

Can anyone cast any light on my worries that these 'MIFI' tablets I was given were for medical management which i had not consented to?

I'm having nightmares and flashbacks and my bf screams in his sleep, we weren't prepared or told anything about the process.

Please help

xxx

I'm so sorry that you lost your baby. It sounds to me like you need to get an appointment to discuss this with the doctors. In my experience it is extremely rare for clinical staff to purposefully mislead patients but communication can fall short if expected standards.

According to this MIFI is an antibiotic

www.medclik.com/General/pages/Drugmanual/Lit/MIFI.asp!

Sorry. That link didn't work. Will retry

www.medclik.com/General/pages/Drugmanual/Lit/MIFI.asp

Appears to be an Indian brand though.

I would ask to talk to consultant and ask for an explanation

I've spent the last 2 weeks trying to recover physically as it got serious really quick and initially i was just happy to be alive after infection turned septic. I was thinking to request my hospital notes before meeting with consultant as I'm worried that if my concerns are right then I may still be misled. If it turns out that I was overridden for my own safety then I can cope with that but I wish to hell I had been adequately prepared for the hell that unfolded.

Or am I being completely paranoid and trying to find blame where there is none? I know that I didn't give consent to this ' MIFI'

Sounds very hard. I think you are entitled to, and should for peace of mind, get some answers.

Fanjo - that link is reassuring thank you, I was just swallowing whatever they gave me to begin with without asking what anything was,

Does anyone know if my labour experience could just have been my body reacting naturally? It seemed so extreme!!

Definitely could be but obviously I don't know. I'm sure you could ask for a debrief and they wouldn't lie.

I would say at the most if they did override your lack of consent it would be for your safety and not something they would lie about.

Hopefully they didn't but definitely talking it through with them will be helpful I think.

I have to go to sleep but I hope you can find some peace for tonight x

I'm so sorry you lost your baby

I would find it hard to imagine that the would do this without consent, obviously that would be horrifying. What does have to be addressed is the time they allowed you to labour instead of requesting emergency surgery.

I hope you are allowed time to physically and emotionally recover, both yourself and DP and talking through what happened would be a helpful step.

I believe that too, they were fantastic in most other ways. I was distraught during the decision making process and can believe that if my choice of surgery wasn't in my best interests then they did the right thing. And after all they kept me alive !

The explanations and preparation I was given certainly fell short though, I think the fear of not understanding what was happing has really screwed with my head and ability to move on

Thank you everyone for taking the time to respond to my post, really appreciate the support!

x

loulabelle I'm so sorry that you lost your baby and that the process was so traumatic for you both. I'd suggest you contact PALS to see what the hospital can offer in terms of a debrief. Most hospitals now have midwives who have training in talking couples through their notes after a traumatic birth experience and giving you the time and space to ask your questions. I hope they will be able to allay your concerns and explain what happened and that this will allow you make another step towards recovery.