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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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Jent13c · 12/02/2021 15:29

I'm a big advocate for promoting breastfeeding in healthcare. I work in a ward where we get a lot of breastfeeding mums staying with us and I have argued with many other nurses to get them a single room where appropriate and pumps etc and try to have the baby room in where we can.

This example is NOT discrimination. I think the fact that your menstrual cycles have been weird and you are around 12 weeks suggests that your baby is at least 6 months plus. Most likely they are no longer exclusively breast fed, they can be pacified with a rice cake and water. Or worst comes to worst they can cry in the car with their dad for 10 minutes while you get your scan. Its the middle of a pandemic why would you even want to take your baby into a busy scanning department? You made your point and now are facing the repercussions. Ps in the 4 years I've been in a busy emergency receiving ward (with daily visits from detoxing alcoholics and intravenous drug users) we have only had to call security once...I believe you were making more of a scene than your OP states.

Susanthepig · 12/02/2021 15:30

I think yabu. I had an ultrasound this week (not for pregnancy) and I also have an ebf baby.
I left him with my dh in the car and attended my appointment alone. It really wasn’t hard.

Chocolateandamaretto · 12/02/2021 15:30

I had to have a growth scan when I was about 6 months pregnant with DD2, husband away with work, my 4 year old came with me. I just said "There's no one to look after her" and she sat quietly on a chair, no one seemed bothered? I didn't realise it was a thing tbh, are you sure it's not covid related?

Anyway, common sense suggests there will be women who have nobody around to watch their older children, if you have a partner with you then I would expect them to be told to wait outside with the children but a woman on her own may not have much choice! Surely there are exceptions to a rule sometimes?

katnyps · 12/02/2021 15:30

I thought it was against the law to prevent mother's breastfeeding? I suppose in this case they could refuse her medical care but it would be a case of the hospital refusing to offer under the circumstances, not her refusing to take it
Its not always possible to have a friend / family member on hand (you don't know Ops circumstances)
Not all breast fed babies will take a bottle
I agree that the Op could have phoned ahead to confirm arrangements

brunetteonthebus · 12/02/2021 15:32

Awaits deletion message because OP has 'concerns' ie has been told that she is thoroughly UR and doesn't like it in 5,4,3,2,1......

katnyps · 12/02/2021 15:33

Also I'd like to see the hospital's policy for breastfeeding mums - do they have a "should be accommodated wherever possible" clause?

halfwaythrough2 · 12/02/2021 15:33

Smells like bs.

Bluntness100 · 12/02/2021 15:34

I think this is a very difficult and unique situation. The ultrasound dept are refusing to deal with her, but she needs a scan.

Op, I think I’d call my gp and explain the ultra sound dept won’t see you and scan you. Do not go into detail that you just asked for her name, because the gp will find out exactly what occured, but offer to be met by security guards and escorted in and have them present for staff safety whilst you’re there and state you will come alone this time.

I think a show of personal responsibility and a plan to move forward may help.

It’s important to note that hospitals are permitted to refuse care to abusive, aggressive or violent patients unless it’s an emergency. Clearly they feel you fall into one of these categories significantly enough that they are taking this step. So you’re going to need to do something here to move forward.

kowari · 12/02/2021 15:34

You should have left the baby with someone. I left DS at 4 months for 4 hours, he was breastfed on demand roughly two hourly, didn't take a dummy and didn't take a bottle of expressed breast milk the day before as a trial. He was fine on the day, took the bottle when he was allowed to hold it himself, no issues. It's not a reason not to leave a baby for a short time!

MsHedgehog · 12/02/2021 15:34

@katnyps

There is nothing in OP's post that suggested she was prevented from breastfeeding... where have you even got that from?

OP wanted to take her baby into a scan and she wasn't allowed. She kicked up a fuss and now she's dealing with the consequences of it.

She was told (probablt in advance too) that babies are allowed. She wanted to break the rules. So by refusing to accept care on the hospital's terms, it is her that has refused scan.

MeanMrMustardSeed · 12/02/2021 15:34

If you can make time to create another baby, you can leave your baby for half an hour!

Bluntness100 · 12/02/2021 15:35

I thought it was against the law to prevent mother's breastfeeding

They were not preventing her breastfeeding. They were preventing her brining a child into the scan.

BlueCookieMonster · 12/02/2021 15:35

A scan and appointments don’t take so long that you need to express for your baby, they’ll have you in and out pretty quickly due to covid at the moment.

IndecentFeminist · 12/02/2021 15:35

Tbh, with a baby I would have taken the father with me to hold the baby anyway, in which instance they would have stayed outside of required.

I've taken older children to scans, but the logistics of a baby in the ultrasound room are very different.

SheilaWilcox · 12/02/2021 15:35

YABU

On more than one occasion I've come out of the scan room having just heard devastating news. It would have added to my distress to see a baby as I walked out.

I had to go to an appointment when my DD was 2 wks old once that it wasn't appropriate to take her to. I also wasn't comfortable leaving her for long (PFB 2wk old!) We put her in the car seat and my Dad sat in the hospital cafe with her so I left her for minimal time.

Where there is a WILL there is a way. Sounds like you just wanted to make a point. If you're struggling, find a way to ask for help rather than taking it out on people or parenting will become very lonely.

Chanandlerbong01 · 12/02/2021 15:36

I haven’t been given that luxury.

Why should you be given that luxury? They state clearly on the letters. Someone else could have had that appointment. NHS staff should be able to work stress free, you didn’t give them that luxury.

You’ve ignored all questions about your babies age, clearly because it will highlight they are old enough for food.

JumperooSue · 12/02/2021 15:37

No wonder our breastfeeding rates are so shocking in this country, people make it sound like a baby has to be permanently attached to your breast at all times otherwise they scream🙈

wayovermyhead · 12/02/2021 15:38

YABU I had to leave my 5 week old ebf recently when my older child was having a minor operation. I expressed beforehand and you could have easily done the same as you obviously had prior knowledge of the appointment.

BigBadVoodooHat · 12/02/2021 15:38

I thought it was against the law to prevent mother's breastfeeding?

Was she likely to be breastfeeding during the scan? Hmm

They didn't prevent her from breastfeeding before or after the scan; they only required her to be separate from her baby for the brief time that a medical procedure was taking place.

Pumpkinpied · 12/02/2021 15:38

What are you planning to do with your ‘baby’ when you go into labour?

katnyps · 12/02/2021 15:39

Talking hypothetically just because your scan takes 10 mins doesn't mean that you would only be leaving your baby for 10 mins (how far away is the hospital, how do you get there (e.g. no car), do you have to wait in the waiting room for a hour because they're backed up) - there are lots of unknowns. I'm just surprised tis all as I was sure hospitals were on a big push to improve breast feeding numbers from the current ~40% mark in the UK, and this was being led by support within NHS environments?

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 12/02/2021 15:39

Write to the head of the department asking for written confirmation that you are barred from scans. How long will this last?

Do a FOI request.

Did they ask you to leave before calling security? You might think it got blown out of proportion but thats not necessarily true.

hellywelly3 · 12/02/2021 15:41

Couldn’t someone of come to the hospital with you and just waited out with the baby in a pram?

Original poster
MotherHubbard2020 · 12/02/2021 15:41

The lady in ultrasound walked to antenatal while I waited in ultrasound then came back and said antenatal are not seeing you either now accompanied with a baby, they’ve just confirmed so no point doing the ultrasound. Petty point scoring to be honest on her part.

OP posts:
katnyps · 12/02/2021 15:42

Also, for everyone saying the baby is old enough for food - I've been told by my HV that when you wean the baby still gets almost all their calories from milk until around 1 year old?