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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Refused growth scan for forgetting notes

25 replies

ExpectingatChristmas · 23/10/2019 17:12

I got told this morning that I had a growth scan. I spent the morning organising childcare and rearranging other things to attend. In the chaos of it all I forgot my pregnancy notes. I spoke to reception and they said I couldn't have my scan because I didn't have my notes.

Has this happened to anybody else? I know it isn't ideal but I don't see why they couldn't do the scan and give me the print out to put in myself. I wasn't due to see a consultant or anyone afterwards so it's not like the results needed to be analysed straight afterwards.

I know it's partly my fault but I can't help feeling annoyed that they wouldn't just do the scan. I was referred for measuring a month behind.

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IsAStormApproaching · 23/10/2019 17:21

My last pregnacy I had notes I took to evert appointment but with this pregnacy they no longer give us notes
We get a sheet of paper with the appointment date and that is it. They say everything is online now.
I am surprised they refused you for note having notes especially as you will be having growth scans for a reason,

Boymummy3 · 23/10/2019 17:22

Wow that's ridiculous! The only reason I know that they need your notes is to plot on your growth chart but I wouldnt say this is cause for refusing you the scan! I had a growth scan last week and that's all she did with my notes was plot babys measurements onto my chart and print out the usual scan stuff that they do. Have they rearranged for you? X

snowflakeeel · 23/10/2019 17:26

I've forgotten notes before. They've just printed out the results and told me to add to my notes. Seems especially ridiculous as you have been referred for measuring a month behind. They tend to request as urgent when it comes to growth. My midwife wanted me to have mine done the same day and I was measuring a month behind. Can you contact your midwife to update her? She should be able to push for an urgent app.

Original poster

ExpectingatChristmas · 23/10/2019 17:28

It's good to hear that I am not the only one that thinks this is a little OTT.

They have rearranged my scan for Friday. This has meant arranging more childcare and getting further behind with other things I have had to cancel.

This pregnancy has made me far too emotional as it is. I'm so upset about it.

OP posts:

crazymuseummumtobe · 23/10/2019 17:28

The notes will be used so the sonographer can see the history of the pregnancy, they may have never seen you before. I'm not entirely surprised they refused the scan, tbh, as they would have no medical history to relate it to, and could have given poor advice as a result. Were you offered a rebook?

ballsdeep · 23/10/2019 17:29

In my trust we have folders with a huge sticker on sating if the notes aren't taken to any appointments then they will refuse to see us. They probably just needed to check all the history and things.

snowflakeeel · 23/10/2019 17:31

I agree the notes are useful point of reference for the sonographer. However, being turned away when you have been referred for an urgent growth scan is certainly more neglectful than forgetting your notes. Glad you have another booked. Hope the result if positive.

Zarara · 23/10/2019 17:35

Wow what a pain for you, I would be annoyed. in their defence maybe it was because it was a growth scan because if they don’t have anything to compare it to then how can they advise on the situation or the growth of the baby?

Original poster

ExpectingatChristmas · 23/10/2019 17:38

I get that it is handy to have the notes to compare to. Surely though they could have just taken the measurements for now at least.

I haven't had any previous growth scans, only the typical 12 and 20 week scans so there isn't much to compare the growth to.

OP posts:

Whiskerychinsrock · 23/10/2019 17:38

Unfortunately they can't make a full and safe clinical assessment without having all of your notes available.

Original poster

ExpectingatChristmas · 23/10/2019 17:40

Thank you for all your replies. I know forgetting the notes was my responsibility.

We all just need a bit of a moan sometimes when we are exhausted from pregnancy and things seem unfair.

OP posts:

Cyclewidow46 · 23/10/2019 17:44

They need your notes to plot the baby's weight on your customised growth chart to check the weight is in the normal range. If they cannot do that there is no point in doing the scan.
Unfortunately the chart is printed off using an on-line site (perinatal institute) and there is no way to retrieve your chart and print off a new one to plot.
Your Midwife should have told you to take your notes to all appointments/ scans.
If the weight was low you would be referred for follow up at Triage/ Obstetric Assessment Unit/ Consultant depending on your Trust's practice and they will need your notes too (wouldn't see you in my Trust without these unless it was an emergency)

AllFourOfThem · 23/10/2019 17:50

If you don’t have your notes, they can’t check all is well and healthy with the baby. That means something seriously wrong could be missed and the hospital held liable for allowing you to leave without seeing a consultant (or having a baby). I appreciate that it’s annoying but your baby’s health is worth it.

Bol87 · 23/10/2019 17:56

I forgot my notes for 12 week scan with my first & you’d think I’d forgotten my baby. Why on earth in 2019 notes aren’t online is beyond me. Some of mine are now, from my midwife appointment but I still have a wedge of paper as well.

That said, they did agree to scan me and just printed off the notes for me to add to my pack..

snowflakeeel · 23/10/2019 18:07

The reason why I would be concerned to be turned away is that it isn't just the growth they check. They check the umbilical artery flow and the amount of amniotic fluid. I would imagine these can be done without previous fetal measurements.

Cyclewidow46 · 23/10/2019 18:12

I agree that a Doppler and liquor volume assessment can be done without the notes. However the scan was for growth. If, for example, the liquor volume was down or the Umbilical Doppler was high, the size of the baby would need to be assessed and they would need the growth chart to check the weight was normal, hence the need for the notes....

Whiskerychinsrock · 23/10/2019 18:25

Any assessment can be done in isolation but it's pretty meaningless without knowing the full clinical picture.

Hope you can sort another appointment soon, OP.

anitagreen · 24/10/2019 14:26

The notes being online now is just useless it doesn't work. I miss the days of them being in the green folder because everything was wrote down. Now online no results ever go up from your bloods etc or urine tests. No info on the scans and we don't see the growth charts anymore.

20viona · 24/10/2019 17:28

All my notes were online and I had access for them via and app. It was excellent.

girlanonymous · 24/10/2019 17:37

How come they only told you this morning? They told me way in advance about my 2 growth scans with my 1st

leomama81 · 24/10/2019 20:49

I forgot my notes for my 32 week growth scan, it was not an issue. They're not doing it all on paper! She compared everything and added everything on their computer record. The only thing she couldn't do was plot my growth on the original chart I was given when they first started measuring.

That is seriously silly on their part.

Kitten22 · 24/10/2019 21:07

It happened to me at my 20 weeks scan. I went to hospital straight from work forgetting to pick up my hospital book. Completely forgot until I parked the car and just got there on time. Told receptionist and explained what happened, she said it should be ok. I dont see the big deal in forgetting it, especially if it's a one-off. They should have seen you and given u your notes by hand. But if they cant for whatever reason be it policy then hopefully they rebook. Surely growth scan is important enough to see u regardless.

Cyclewidow46 · 24/10/2019 21:49

We would also scan you at my Trust if you forgot your notes for your anomaly scan.
The customised growth chart doesn't start until 24 weeks and so you cannot plot the estimated fetal weight at the 20 week scan. We would print off the report for you to put into your notes when you got home.

We would not scan you without your notes for any subsequent growth scan as we need to plot the weight on the chart as i explained previously. Obviously if it is an emergency such as bleeding etc then that is a completely different scenario.

Hope all goes well tomorrow x

FormerlyFrikadela01 · 24/10/2019 21:55

I cant believe so many places are still relying on paper notes. All mine were electronic (ds is now 3) and they gave us print outs of the growth charts etc after scans if we wanted one. You could also request full paper copies if you were travelling anywhere or anticipated needing care outside of the trust.

Toadtoadstool · 24/10/2019 21:59

You shouldn’t have been turned away. Even if you don’t have your notes it would be on your medical file. I all out lost mines at 32 weeks (left them and all my scans on top of the car and drove off (baby brain)) and when I went down for my growth scan and Gestational Diabetes appointment the woman had a giggle about it and signed me in anyway.

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