Refused Antenatal Scans - Help

[MotherHubbard2020]

NC for this as it is pretty embarrassing.

Anyway, I attended my 12 week scan yesterday at the hospital and was accompanied by my exclusively breastfed baby.

I was refused the scan based on me having a child with me, I asked them to use discretion as my son is exclusively breastfed but the lady was completely dismissive and said it was policy. No children allowed to accompany mum for the unltrasound.

I tried to argue my case asking what the reasoning was, please use discretion and then explained that they had a duty of care and were now refusing my care based on me bringing an exclusively breastfed baby to the appointment. They argued that I had refused my own care as I could’ve left the baby. It got to the point where I asked them to make a note on my record that I had been refused entry to my scan based on me being accompanied by an exclusively breastfed baby. At this point I think the manager panicked and she told a colleague to call security.

As soon as I saw security walking towards me I just left.

Well today I attended my midwifery appointment, the midwife explained they couldn’t do much without the scan information but said the scan department was now refusing to scan me and an incident report had been logged, if I want access to this I need to file a freedom of information request.

I am totally at a loss, I have no idea how far gone I am because I am still breastfeeding and my menstrual cycles have been all over the place plus I’ve started having pain on my lower left side which I explained to my midwife today who advised A and E if it got any worse but explained that the ultrasound department at that hospital are refusing to deal with me so she doesn’t know what would happen.

I am totally at a loss, I have an immediate family member who is a consultant obstetrician but am reluctant to get them involved yet. Any suggestions?

@Covidcorvid

suspect someone is playing a little game with us all now: 'name changed' regular with a couple of hot-button issues (breastfeeding discrimination, the NHS being meanies

I agree, I think I recognise the poster.

Can someone please tell me who this might be ? Is this thread just for reaction ? 😞

My hospital (pre covid) would only allow children in scans if previously discussed before appointment, and only for circumstances where there is literally no childcare (husband deployed etc)
You are not special. Your child being ebf is not an extenuating circumstance.
The entitlement is insane.

Whilst I think you could and probably should have arranged something like your partner sitting with the baby in the car or outside, I also think they overreacted and are being unreasonable. As others have said, get on to PALS.

It's funny that the person in question isn't answering any questions. Such as how old is your baby?! There is more to this story that she is letting on

Oh OP. Please listen. Take a breath and calmly sort this out. The scans given are important.
And this is not a breastfeeding issue. I’m a vocal supporter of breastfeeding (and EBF my daughter!) but taking a baby to medical appointments isn’t always appropriate

Honestly@katnyps, read the room. Do you genuinely think that no-one else on this thread has breastfed or understands breastfeeding?! 😂

Bf isn't the issue.

Where's the father?

Also to completely refuse you access to scans, there's more to this than you asking them to write a note that they refused you. You were more than likely being aggressive towards staff.

@MsHedgehog
You seem to be obsessed with missing the point that breastfeeding is a special circumstance and the hospital probably has a policy on it which may have been broken in this instance. I'm not saying that for certain, just that it's a possibility

@katnyps - you seem to be spectacularly missing the point that the breastfeeding policy would in no way prohibit the NHS from saying no children to a medical procedure where breastfeeding isn’t possible. They don’t allow breastfeeding mothers to bring babies into operating theatres if they require surgery either.

How old is your son? Please answer that one instead of ignoring it and then people can advise based on facts

This thread is bizarre. I feel like I’ve wasted my time on it giving accounts of what happened to me and advice about bf and weaning and OP won’t even say how old her ‘baby’ is . Just all very, very weird

@katnyps

And you seem to fail to appreciate that this post has nothing to do with breastfeeding... Somehow every other woman (and man) here is wrong and only you know about breastfeeding? Please...read the issue properly and stop jumping to conclusions.

The hospital's policy was no babies at the scan...OP broke that. The fact that the baby is breastfed has nothing to do with that. OP used it as an excuse to get special treatment.

If they have a policy they should state it in the letters they send. I haven't seen such a thing written in the letters - some trusts may be different. Also if all you know is that no children are allowed at scans wouldn't it make sense to call and check and not wait until the appointment to find out if it's ok or not? The OP never said she was told before that it would be ok to do so.

@MrsElijahMikaelson1

How old is your son? Please answer that one instead of ignoring it and then people can advise based on facts

Yes ! This !

Soooo not a baby then... although OP does say she had a car seat with her... I'm just imagining lugging a High Back Booster into the waiting room indignantly....

Carrier Car seats usually go up to 18 months I think but can be used much longer depending on weight. ....

So generously 18 months, but I think two. As said there was a poster going on about her baby awhile ago and it was a two year old who was being breastfed, something in thr tone of this is the same. Everyone kept saying that’s not a baby.

[quote katnyps]@MsHedgehog
You seem to be obsessed with missing the point that breastfeeding is a special circumstance and the hospital probably has a policy on it which may have been broken in this instance. I'm not saying that for certain, just that it's a possibility[/quote]
The only one breaking any policies is OP

I had to bring my similarly aged ebf baby to appointments too. I had to have some extensive dental work done and there was just no getting around it. The problem started while I was pregnant and was patched until the baby was born. DH came and sat in the lobby with dd and when she needed to eat would come get me. She had latch issues so we couldn’t introduce bottles yet. The key there is the other adult to be in charge of the baby. With Covid that becomes very tricky, but that is the solution I would have gone for. Called ahead and talked to the staff to figure out where they could wait nearby during your scan and you could feed just before appointment.

Well done to everyone on here who has juggled breast feeding and appointments previously, good on you. However, you should all understand that individual circumstances can vary and (regardless of this Ops specific circumstances) there may be times when a mum needs to take her bf baby into a scan or other appointment and there is a drive within the NHS to support this wherever possible so we don't end up in a situation where someone needs to choose between breastfeeding and their healthcare needs.

Wow, how entitled are you?
I’ve sat in the waiting room waiting to see a doctor after being told my baby didn’t have a heartbeat - do you think I’d want to see your baby?
Don’t be so ignorant. Leave your baby with your husband for 30 minutes.

Yeah ok.

My 2 year old has come to me with scans after notifying them a few that I literally do not have childcare. My husband cannot leave work. I have told them what times I can come alone but they choose not to book appointments in those time frames.

It is a pandemic so I said I won't be leaving my daughter with the inlaws who see every tom d and harry and won't be putting my household at risk.

Not had no issues except we are not allowed in the waiting room lol.
I actually think it's a ridiculous rule.

Sorry to add to the others but how old is your child exactly?

@katnyps

Well done to everyone on here who has juggled breast feeding and appointments previously, good on you. However, you should all understand that individual circumstances can vary and (regardless of this Ops specific circumstances) there may be times when a mum needs to take her bf baby into a scan or other appointment and there is a drive within the NHS to support this wherever possible so we don't end up in a situation where someone needs to choose between breastfeeding and their healthcare needs.

What about if it’s a two year old kid. ?

I don't think I'm the one making assumptions here

Oh and when I say similarly aged, I guess I was assuming < 6 months ie really ebf and not really mobile.