Who remembers all the ltetters we wrote to our MPs about women miscarrying in hospital and having to be on labour wards?

[NAB3wishesfor2008]

I have had a letter today from my MP and the hospitals response. My goodness, they did investigate thoroughly and I am pleased to say they already have special policies for m/cing women and they don't have to be on labour wards if the m/c is early. If it is later than 18 weeks there is a bereavement area on the end of the labour ward and all are treated very carefully and with respect.

I feel a bit guilty sending the letter now as I think they can't understand why I did. Maybe bad practise isn't nationwide afterall.

Did anyone else have a reponse?

When I mc'ed in late 95 I was put in a small private room (epsom hospital) as I assume I was a surgical rather than gyno, having a D&C.

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I wish I had followed this up when it happened to me. I was on a normal maternity ward and had to endure the sight of pregnant women walking around plus the unbearable torture of seeing all the newborns.

And the auxilliary who brought me my breakfast asked, "And how is the new Mummy today then?"

So, rather too many letters/Emails sent than too few.

I wish i'd sent a letter when this happened to me.

I had my own room but it was the middle of summer and the windows were open. I had to spend 3 days listening to women giving birth and hearing babies crying all the time. I was so numb I just accepted it all.

Glad some action was taken from your letter. Good for you.

I got no response.

I have formally complained about the first hospital I visited.

Because they are incompetent and dangerous.

Hello,
I'm new to the site and haven't heard about this.

Our daughter was stillborn at 42 weeks at Christmas. We knew prior to delivery that her heart had stopped beating and while the midwives were incredibly compassionate and understanding I had to endure labour whilst listening to laughing and cheering and new babies crying as they were delivered in nearby rooms.

8 weeks later the consultant called us back for a followup appointment to discuss what had happened and the future. Incredibly she made the appointment at the Maternity Hospital. So concerned with what she may tell us, we hadn't given much thought to where we were going. It wasn't until we arrived, were left to wait in the foyer (watching all the pregnant women and new families come and go) then led through the ultra-sound department, that I broke down (and my husband blew up).

The consultant was incredibly apologetic at her thoughtlessness but then proceeded to talk to us about our daughter while flicking through our notes where we could quite clearly see all of the scan pictures of our beautiful girl.

It seems unbelievable to me that none of these things were a consideration for the staff at the hospital. Surely they are used to dealing with women/couples in similar positions every day?

Would be interested to hear action other people have taken. We in no way blame the hospital for ANYTHING that happened to us. Would only want to help others in the future suffer as little pain as possible in what is already an unbearable situation.

Hi Debbie,
am so very sorry for the loss of your daughter. It amazes me that these people who are in the caring profession behave in such an inappropriate manner.
I found that when i had went for councilling after another m/c the place was on the materninty ward, can you believe it!!! I said to the lady in charge she said that she knows it is difficult but there is no other room available in the hospital. It truly is unbelievable what we have to go through sometimes!
wenXXX.

debbie, the way your sad loss was managed was unforgivable IMO. I am also new to the site.
After my second miscarriage of a much-wanted baby, I was admitted to the ward for a D and C. It was the ordinary gynae ward which also looked after ladies having terminations. I make no judgement about this, only that it greatly increased the distress that I felt at the time.