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Original poster

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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MsHedgehog · 12/02/2021 15:43

@katnyps Are you reading the same posts?

There is nothing in OP's posts that suggest she shouldn't breastfeed or that she was told she's now allowed to breastfeed. The issue isn't about whether she should breastfeed, but that she believed because she is breastfeeding, rules don't apply to her. She was asked not to bring her baby to the scan. They are two different things, and you're conflating the two.

In OP's case, it's highly unlikely for her baby to be EBF considering she's 3 months pregnant already.

MsHedgehog · 12/02/2021 15:44

@MotherHubbard2020 You're back!!!

How old is your baby?!!!!!!

Bluntness100 · 12/02/2021 15:45

I’m not sure if others remember there was a poster on here while ago talking about her “baby” and the child was two or three. Posters kept trying to point out the child was not a baby.

Op was that you? Or is your child two or three, even older? Did you rock up with a young child and start trying to tell staff they were en ebf baby when they were looking at an older child?

Bluntness100 · 12/02/2021 15:46

@katnyps

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?
I think thr ops “baby” is much older than this.
TinyTear · 12/02/2021 15:46

@MotherHubbard2020

how old is the baby?
how old is the baby?
how old is the baby?
how old is the baby?
how old is the baby?
how old is the baby?
how old is the baby?
how old is the baby?
how old is the baby?
how old is the baby?

Covidcorvid · 12/02/2021 15:46

@MotherHubbard2020

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.
You’d probably missed your slot by then. So I think that’s fair enough.

Have they actually said they are refusing to scan you for the rest of your pregnancy?

MangoWeetabix · 12/02/2021 15:46

@katnyps what are you on about??

katnyps · 12/02/2021 15:47

My HV told me recently she had a lady pregnant again at 6 weeks. I obviously don't know the exact details here but not completely unreasonable that the baby could be EBF.
My point generally is that regardless of what people's opinions are, I would think that denying the appointment based on baby being present is potentially a breach of the hospital's own policy

MsHedgehog · 12/02/2021 15:47

@katnyps

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?
Not breastfeeding a baby for an hour is hardly depriving them of calories... We're not talking about a full day with no food for the baby.
NiceTwin · 12/02/2021 15:47

I bet baby is 54 weeks Grin

@MotherHubbard2020 can you change your care to another hospital/trust?

You need to go part way to finding a solution, you can't go without care.

Kitkat151 · 12/02/2021 15:48

@katnyps

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?
No one is saying OP should deprive her bay of calories.....just feed before and then feed after.....so the sonographer can safely do their job without any distractions and not miss anything on the ultrasound.

Simples

Original poster
MotherHubbard2020 · 12/02/2021 15:48

I’m having antenatal care at the same hospital, security never escorted me out. I just attend my antenatal appointments but have been refused by ultrasound.

OP posts:
MsHedgehog · 12/02/2021 15:49

My HV told me recently she had a lady pregnant again at 6 weeks

OP says her menstrual cycles have been all over the place...she got pregnant at more than 6 weeks for her periods to be coming back and to talk about cycles.

Doingitaloneandproud · 12/02/2021 15:49

@katnyps

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
It's not preventing breastfeeding, the baby can wait for a short amount of time. It's well explained children will not be allowed in to scans, OP thought she'd try and force them to allow her kid by saying it's breastfed and it backfired. Quite rightly so they refused her. Next time OP leave your kid with family.
MsHedgehog · 12/02/2021 15:50

@MotherHubbard2020

You're still not answering the question, and your refusal to answer a question that dozens of people have asked suggests your baby is far more than 6 months old...

How old is your baby?

Bluntness100 · 12/02/2021 15:51

@katnyps

My HV told me recently she had a lady pregnant again at 6 weeks. I obviously don't know the exact details here but not completely unreasonable that the baby could be EBF. My point generally is that regardless of what people's opinions are, I would think that denying the appointment based on baby being present is potentially a breach of the hospital's own policy
As said, I think it’s clear from the ops refusal to engage, irrelevant of what she says now this is a much older child who has solid food. She used the ebf as an excuse.
TitusPullo · 12/02/2021 15:52

Can we start putting bets on? I’m voting 38 months

Bluntness100 · 12/02/2021 15:53

security never escorted me out

Only because by your own admission you scarpered when you saw them walking towards you. If you had not, you’d have been escorted out

katnyps · 12/02/2021 15:53

I would expect that the hospital's policy has no details of how the relevant department should assess just how long each individual patients baby is expected to reasonably go between feeds - just that reasonable efforts should be made to avoid separating a mum and breastfeeding baby. It shouldn't be on the patient to prove just how long their baby would be going without feeding if they had to, say, leave them with a relative over an hour away from the hospital and then end up waiting for a delayed appointment.

PolarnOPirate · 12/02/2021 15:53

I mean..... you're gonna feed the baby while you're lying down for the scan?? Partner/someone could have waited with baby in the car in case and you could have popped out to them if they needed a feed while you were waiting (believe me I understand sometimes you are waiting for scans for hours!).

gypsywater · 12/02/2021 15:53

I vote 14 years

atThecrossroad · 12/02/2021 15:54

@katnyps

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?
This is absolutely true BUT once over 6m and baby is also having some solids / water then there is the opportunity to leave baby if needed and they usually feed more once they are back with you. Under 6m it is much much harder if a baby is ebf but 6-12 m there are ways to leave baby and arguably it’s a good thing to try to do as from personal experience it’s good to be able to go to appts/out alone sometimes I’ve always tried as soon as baby hits 6m to start weaning and get then onto food so that that option is there if needed
cupofdecaf · 12/02/2021 15:54

@MotherHubbard2020

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.
So how is your baby?
MsHedgehog · 12/02/2021 15:54

I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt and go for 11 months!

PolarnOPirate · 12/02/2021 15:54

And I bet 26 months Grin