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Refused Antenatal Scans - Help

673 replies

MotherHubbard2020 · 12/02/2021 13:43

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?

OP posts:
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Threebecomesfour · 12/02/2021 15:17

In all comms from the hospital with my two pregnancies, it was made very clear that no children at whatever age are allowed in the scan room.

On top of that, the NHS are facing the biggest crisis in its history with covid. The staff, including antenatal staff, are rushed off their feet. If you can't follow basic instructions that's on you not them.

Nith · 12/02/2021 15:17

@JudgeRindersMinder

Is an exclusively breastfed baby different from a breastfed baby?
Yes. It means the baby isn't getting any other nutrition.
atThecrossroad · 12/02/2021 15:17

@rosegoldivy

Legit now only following to find out HOWWWW OLLLDDD THEEEE BABBBBY ISSSSSSSS
Has to be under 6 m? As after that it’s not ebf as then you’d be weaning
Covidcorvid · 12/02/2021 15:17

I think you need to get it in writing if they’re going to decline/refuse to do all future scans. I’m a midwife and can’t imagine that happening unless someone had actually thumped a midwife! Sadly verbal abuse and threats happen and I’ve still never known anyone be banned.

Are they refusing to do the anomaly scan? Sounds crackers! If your baby was then born with some sort of defect and had a poor outcome they’d be in a lot of trouble for not scanning you unless they can demonstrate you were very aggressive.

Nomorepies · 12/02/2021 15:18

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on the poster's request

Kitkat151 · 12/02/2021 15:18

@B1rthis

I'm so sorry that they discriminated against you and your child. No you cannot leave an exclusively breastfed child and the radiographer should have respected that. Everywhere in GPs and healthcare settings it says "we support breastfeeding" I would contact your la leche Legue for references etc. The good news is that it isn't recommended to have a scan unless the baby/you have concerns over health/symptoms. The other good news is that you can discharge yourself from a hospital's care and go somewhere else. So go to a different hospital that respects the mother/child bond.
and the NHS does support BF..... but it is neither safe nor appropriate in a clinical working environment such as the scanning room Where is your information from that’s it’s not recommended to have a dating scan unless concerns? Never heard that before
TitusPullo · 12/02/2021 15:19

I don’t believe this for a second. For a start the NHS is not organised enough that the midwives already knew about the ban by the next appointment Grin

Lemonandlime123 · 12/02/2021 15:19

You can leave an ebf baby. Couldn't somebody wait in the car with baby or you feed just before you go?

JumperooSue · 12/02/2021 15:19

Dying to know how old the child is. Completely agree with the poster who pointed out you could have fed the baby at the door and left with a family member/friend, for half an hour! I have an EBF baby and would regularly leave her with my partner from about 3 months to do the food shop etc, for security to be called you must have made a scene.

DumplingsAndStew · 12/02/2021 15:20

Jesus, it's a ten minute process. Are you saying your young baby can't go more than ten minutes without a breast feed?

Immaback · 12/02/2021 15:22

I would imagine you were behaving quite aggressively if they called security.
Having an exclusively breastfed baby is not an excuse- it honestly sounds like you are trying to be difficult. You could have someone come with you and bring baby for a walk in the buggy, or wait in the reception/public area / car while you go in.
If that’s not possible then explaining to the staff that You didn’t have someone to help instead of getting annoyed and using the breastfeeding excuse.
Try and think of it from a hospitals point of view- if every woman coming in demanded to take a child in with them it would be mayhem. There’s a time and place for making a point and now , during a global pandemic is not the time.

atThecrossroad · 12/02/2021 15:22

@DumplingsAndStew

Jesus, it's a ten minute process. Are you saying your young baby can't go more than ten minutes without a breast feed?
Some babies cluster feed and are literally attached all the time ! But it depends how old OPs baby is although surely has to be under 6 m if ebf
WhoWh0 · 12/02/2021 15:23

We are never going to find out the age, are we?

Hoppinggreen · 12/02/2021 15:23

[quote Username7521]@Hoppinggreen I’m so sorry for you loss x[/quote]
Thank you very much. It was a few years ago but the whole set up was so wrong
The good news is that not only do I now have 2 lovely dc but I managed to get things changed so the EPAU is now in a completely different area.

Skymum82 · 12/02/2021 15:24

I have no one who can have our kids, I will prob be giving birth on my own 🙄. I brought my youngest to our scan, I had called up already and they said as long as she is well behaved!
I have actually left my kids 5 times, and my eldest is nearly 11! That’s been with my sons old pre school key worker. I have 3 kids all with asd so leaving them with a friend or someone that already has kids really can’t be done. We also have no family. Your really lucky if you can leave your kid with someone tbh.
Obviously though due to covid if the kids are not back at school I will have to attend the scan my self. Which scares me incase it’s bad new 🙈.

MsFogi · 12/02/2021 15:24

How old is the "baby"? EBF does not mean they are still attached to you by the umbilacal chord. Leave the baby in a car with someone - if they get hungry they might cry a bit but that's not the end of the world - they'll cope without being fed for an hour. If they can't you need to think about the possibility your baby is using you as a dummy.

Username12353784 · 12/02/2021 15:25

I think it’s always been policy not to have children at a scan and it’s usually stated in an appointment letter. I think exceptions have been made, I know people who have rang ahead and asked as no other option. But I think you were a little ott. You wouldn’t have been feeding your baby during the scan so why couldn’t they have waited outside with someone? In the car? So you weren’t far away. I don’t know how old your baby is but they are at least 12 weeks (obviously) so it’s not like you had to feed a hungry newborn! Baby would have been fine.

Doggitydog · 12/02/2021 15:25

Won’t someone please think of the exclusively fed babies!! 😩

Bluntness100 · 12/02/2021 15:25

Op I suspect you were told to come alone, and clearly you can leave your child as this is your plan if you get a scan.

I understand why peoooe think there is more to this story, clearly you must know that it seems highly unlikely security would be called because you politely asked her name and to take a note, and then a record put to file where they won’t have you back, as they obviously see you as a threat to the staff.

Is your child not an infant anymore? Is that why you don’t want to answer?

ohnothisagain · 12/02/2021 15:25

How big are all these scanning rooms that you can even take a baby in a buggy in there? in our hospitals you can literally squeeze 3 afults (radiographer on chair, mum
on the chair, dad standing). no space for a carseat or buggy (except in the place behind the radiographers chair where dad usually stands - not safe for a child in a carseat). I assume if you absolutely have to take a child and let them know before the reserve a more spacious room, but otherwise its just not possible!

Username12353784 · 12/02/2021 15:26

@Username12353784

I think it’s always been policy not to have children at a scan and it’s usually stated in an appointment letter. I think exceptions have been made, I know people who have rang ahead and asked as no other option. But I think you were a little ott. You wouldn’t have been feeding your baby during the scan so why couldn’t they have waited outside with someone? In the car? So you weren’t far away. I don’t know how old your baby is but they are at least 12 weeks (obviously) so it’s not like you had to feed a hungry newborn! Baby would have been fine.
I mean obviously not in the car alone but with somebody of course.
MsHedgehog · 12/02/2021 15:26

@atThecrossroad

I think the baby would be 6 months as a minimum.

OP is 3 months pregnant, and she said she's been having issues with her periods before she got pregnant. So she started to have her periods again after baby 1, and is 3 months pregnant.

At the very least, baby 1 is 6 months old.

LannieDuck · 12/02/2021 15:26

I assume you have no-one that can accompany you to the hospital and wait outside with baby? That would be the obvious solution.

If not... I would send a (paper) letter for them to scan and add to your file, recording that you did attend the appointment, but that you were refused a scan and the reason.

And then I'd either get your midwife or PALs to act as an intermediary to try and to find a solution - presumably the hospital supports and advocates for breastfeeding? In which case, how does the hospital propose you attend your scan without said baby? Surely community midwives have encountered this problem before?

atThecrossroad · 12/02/2021 15:26

@MsFogi

How old is the "baby"? EBF does not mean they are still attached to you by the umbilacal chord. Leave the baby in a car with someone - if they get hungry they might cry a bit but that's not the end of the world - they'll cope without being fed for an hour. If they can't you need to think about the possibility your baby is using you as a dummy.
Wrong. Babies under 6 m don’t use their mothers ‘as dummies’ they v often cluster feed or feed more to up supply during growth spurts. It can also sometimes be for comfort but majority of the time it is to up milk production. And as a baby can’t tell you which you have to assume it’s for milk supply of you are breastfeeding responsively and exclusively
Chloemol · 12/02/2021 15:28

You are nuts, what possessed you to take a baby with you, I get you are breastfeeding but i don’t believe you couldn’t have left them with someone, must admit I am assuming are now eating solids,

I am glad they followed procedures, and for them to call security you must have done something unreasonable, and certainly the attitude in your posts show how unreasonable you as can be