"Upsetting early scan at EPU made to feel like a..."

Hi there,

Unfortunately I feel I need to complain about the way I was treated this morning (18.6.18) by a Sonographer at my early pregnancy scan. I'm 6 weeks today and like many women I had an early scan to check everything was progressing as it should be and have my mind put at rest. However, no sooner did I have my legs on the bed, the sonographer whipped open the curtain and didn't even say "are you ready!?"

I was still quite exposed at the time. She told my other half and son "sit there!" In an abrupt manner and In what felt like a forever of silence she finally said she "could see the sac and yolk but still very faint". I've been following early scan posts on baby groups and know at around 6 weeks you can sometimes detect a heartbeat so I said "can you see the heartbeat!?" To which she scoffed "I can barely see the sac so I definitely can't see a heartbeat!" I don't know if I am being sensitive but I felt like bursting into tears :( I said to her "I'm here because I want to check everything is Ok, I'm not medically trained and don't know how it all works" to which she then responded "it might be too soon" like I was a hassle. I explained that I had seen others with a heartbeat at 6 weeks and she just said "everyone is different" abruptly. I completely understand that but feel she could of said it in a nicer way that didn't sound so abrupt. I then said calmly "thank you for explaining that to me"

This woman had a trainee in the room watching her work so from what I assume is she strikes me as someone who has done this job for a long time and forgotten how she can make people feel. I feel a refresher course on customer care may not go a miss!? I realise sonographers have an important job to do and need to concentrate but I wonder if they need to be reminded it's also such a privilege because I honestly don't know why you need to be so insensitive and brash. So many woman are there early for a reason and understandably anxious. I dread to think how she would make someone feel who had been trying to conceive for years and there first experience of being in hospital and checking their baby is OK, was this one :( I just don't understand why you would purposely start your day off by being so hostile.(our appointment was quite early, first thing) I got dressed and she shouted over the curtain "at your 12 weeks scan, you can't bring kids!" We don't plan on bringing our son to the 12 week scan but I didn't even bother explaining myself as I just wanted to get out of there. I'm paranoid now wondering if the pregnancy will progress :( I wish I never went to the early scan it's meant to reassure and it's just upset me and made me worry more. I wanted to voice my concerns for myself but also for women who made have been treated like this but felt like they couldn't complain. I don't know what will happen with my pregnancy but the last place I want to end up now is in the EPU, although that said all other staff I saw today where pleasant. Thanks.