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"12 week scan - misinformed"

About: Ninewells Hospital / Maternity care

(as the patient),

Went for my 12 week scan, at Ninewells Dundee, and it was horrific. We recently lost our daughter last year, so this appointment was going to be traumatic regardless. However the sonographer did not appear to be trauma informed, nor did they appear to have read my notes which understandably are quite in depth due to everything that happened with our daughter. 

They were speaking to me as if I had never been pregnant/had a baby, even though when being scanned my C Section scar is very visible. Their attitude felt very very rude. They did not understand how sad and triggering this scan was. Even when I asked is everything OK with baby, trying very hard to hold it together and not get upset, she rudely answered yes, but kept talking about other babies and how they've not been sitting or lying properly when really I shouldn't have had to listen to this at all. 

The whole experience itself really upset me, and I was getting more irate as the appointment went on, because the attitude from the sonographer was appalling. 

They finished off by saying, you'll be back at 20 weeks and not before,  I knew this isn't true due to my consultation Dr already agreeing with me that I'll have scans every 2/4 weeks due to the mistake of allowing my daughter to pass previously. I mentioned this to the sonographer and they turned around and said it wasn't on my notes and she thought I was lying.

I replied that the Dr had told me otherwise, they want to make sure I go home with a baby this time due to midwives previously making a mistake and they just shrugged their shoulders like they didn't care. 

They were very very rude, seemingly no training in terms of being trauma informed and very disrespectful towards me and my partner given everything we have been through.

I have requested that no further scans be with this sonographer, given my next few scans are going to be vital in terms of gender and growth of my unborn baby. 

I feel more training is needed for this particular nurse, and to learn some manners because this isn't fair to make me feel like this regardless of what I've previously been through. I feel it's unfair, 12 week scan is always a nervous one regardless but even just a brief look over the notes would've indicated that this was also going to be traumatic and upsetting. 

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Responses

Response from Stephanie Gardiner, Senior charge midwife, Obs and Gynaecology, NHS Tayside 2 months ago
Stephanie Gardiner
Senior charge midwife, Obs and Gynaecology,
NHS Tayside
Submitted on 27/02/2024 at 16:49
Published on Care Opinion at 16:49


Dear geminibh56

I wish to thank you for sharing your recent experience within our ultrasound service. I wish to offer my deepest sympathies to you and your family on the loss of your daughter. I appreciate how difficult this is to share your personal bereavement and grief, and I am sorry you were placed in this position. I am saddened to hear of your recent experience within our service, and I am very sorry this has negatively impacted you and your family, when this should have been a positive happy time, providing you with the reassurance of your pregnancy wellbeing during your 12 week ultrasound appointment.

I would be very keen to review the individual circumstances of your experience, and would really welcome, if you felt comfortable, getting in touch personally to either discuss via telephone or email, to ensure we can implement learning within across our teams.

My email address is stephanie.gardiner@nhs.scot, or if you would prefer to inform your named midwife, they can contact me directly, to ensure your wishes are acknowledged.

Warm wishes

Stephanie Gardiner

Senior Midwife

NHS Tayside

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