being asked about previous pregnancies

[Brightside65]

I had an early termination 14 years ago. Something I didn't tell anyone about and was 100% right for me.

I haven't told my husband and in all honestly don't think I should, my medical history before I met him is my business.

I was also concerned when we fell pregnant that I would have to declare to midwife about my previous pregnancy but I would do this and ask for info to be confidential. I knew I definitely need to declare it because I'm Rehsus negative blood and have had and will need anti d injections.

Cutting long story short I will be going to booking appointment myself and will speak to midwife. However I had to go for early scan during the week as I had little bleed. The hospital asked on phone my medical history and if I had been pregnant before I said about abortion and asked if this would be asked again I was told yes at booking appointment. I went for scan next morning sat in room with my husband and midwife said " this is your 2nd pregnancy" I said no I was so shocked, I spoke to her later when husband was out room and I was so annoyed.

I do not want to be worrying my whole pregnancy about this being brought up. Can I ask midwife for it not to be written in my book/ notes?

Also have a family member who works in maternity and told me she had seen my medical file while processing - it's causing me anxiety surely my medical history is my business this is 2015 not 1950.

OP, I've had the anti-d I injections in both pregnancies as I'm rhesus negative. The fact I had a termination years ago has never had any bearing on this, you get the injection with every pregnancy. And then afterwards depending on your baby's rhesus status.

When I went to my booking app my midwife knew about my TOP as she had my medical info from gp but she agreed there was no need to write it down in my maternity notes for this pregnancy. It didn't come up at either of my scans.

Brightside I sent you a private mail. As long as you received the anti d injection after termination there is no need to declare, you will receive another later in pg as a matter of course.

Thank you just replied

Didn't sleep much last night mainly now thinking about the family member who seem and moved my file.

As a matter of principle I'm going to speak to her today and ask her not to interfere with any of my medical records, there may have been a reason why my notes weren't where they should have been (that's the reason she said she looked for them) I was at the early pregnancy unit earlier in week they may be updating my notes. So I'm really annoyed with her about moving my records.

I'm probably over thinking everything

Agree for Forfour. TOP is irrelevant and the management of your rhesus type will not be affected.

I'm really posting though to reassure you about your relative (hopefully). If, as part of her job, she needs to access your notes, she is bound by confidentiality. Casually reading them/being nosey when there is no need to do so is not acceptable. Either way, it would be a breach of her contract to discuss the contents with you or anyone else. I'll let you try and phase that in a way that won't start WW3 in your family!

This type of breach is (or should be) taken seriously. Electronic notes are regularly audited to see who's been looking at them, ensuring there isn't this sort of idle interest.

I am still adamant that my medical history is mine and if I want it confidential it should be so will need to discuss with midwife how this can happen.

I'm sorry, but why would a midwife not think that the person you have brought into a medical appointment with you is someone who you are happy to hear your medical information?

It is a difficult situation. But really, I don't see how anyone can really blame a midwife, who looks after women during pregnancies, that she asked about previous pregnancies? It's not like she was going through a questionnaire that asked about previous sexual partners and favourite positions.

Up thread op, I meant tell your dh it was a miscarriage so when they ask if this is your first pregnancy you can say no. I didn't mean lie to midwifes and drs etc

Midwives are usually very aware that there may be things a woman wants to discuss privately - one reason they always write who else was present at appointments in the notes, so it can be clear whether a woman has had an opportunity to eg disclose domestic violence (abusive men often begin or escalate their violent attacks during their partner's pregnancy).

That said, I believe they are under great pressure to manage women's care with as few and as short appointments as possible.

Thanx all.

I spoke with midwife this morning and was reassured that my previous pregnancy shouldn't affect this one and so along as I had my anti d injection then the same procedures will apply that I will received injections during pregnancy and after birth.

I'm not going to declare. At any point in pregnancy it's explained that my previous pregnancy is having impact I will explain then.

I spoke with family member who did she seen and moved my medical file. I told her I was really unhappy she did this and she can't interfere in future, it can cost her job. She seemed really sheepish but I'm glad I've said. Not sure how much she read but in future she needs to stay clear from them.

Glad your mind has been at ease at bit OP and that you've spoken to your relative

I feel better about thy, Hartley slept last night thinking about it but was more annoyed than anything. She is not in position in hospital to be looking at files but she works in medical assessment but know she would have looked mine out, she was trying to say she randomly found mine! Anyway I feel better I've made it clear she has no right to do that regardless of my medical history she's in breach. Obviously never want her to get in trouble but did warn her she could if it continued.

Why are people suggesting say it was a miscarriage- like the OP should be ashamed of what she did and what choices she made!

She wants to keep her previous pregnancy to herself no matter what the outcome was! Miscarriage termination or even adoption.

Hi all,

thank you again to everyone who took the time to respond and for those who put my mind at rest.

I spoke to midwife and explained I situation I didnt want to declare previous pregnancy - she was totally understandable and never put it in my notes, she said I dont need to mention it again, especially as termination happened so long ago and so early on.

im now 18 weeks - doesnt time fly by!