"The care I recieved during a miscarriage"

This thank you comes over a year later, it was a difficult time for me and although I wrote it at the time, I never got round to posting it.  I am now pregnant again (further along than before) and I see many of the same staff still work in the maternity unit and I am so grateful to them all that when I came across this information I wanted to share it now that I am in a better frame of mind

I phoned the EPAS ward in January (2020) and spoke to a midwife named Vicky, she was very calm and understanding and booked me in for a scan the next day.  The next day, I was looked after by a midwife-sonographer, whose name I can’t remember.  She scanned me and, as I am a radiographer with a basic interest and knowledge of ultrasound, I knew that my pregnancy hadn’t progressed.  She apologised that I would have to return the following week for a second scan, but I know she knew I was aware of the situation. 

On leaving she took me and my husband to a quiet space to take some time to ourselves.  The following week I had a scan from a second midwife and she was very caring and understanding when I explained the past week of the symptoms of my miscarriage.  She discussed and explained the next stage of management and I opted for surgical management in the event that it did not occur naturally.  As I was in pain and my ultrasound appeared irregular I was kept in for observation for a few hours, I was visited by a Dr, whose name was Hannah, she couldn’t have been nicer, she was very understanding, particularly as the family member with me was very anxious and insistent about my care.  Vicky came to check on me and ensure I had someone to take me and my car home.

When I returned a week later a midwife named Elaine got me settled into the four-bed ward, she explained how the day would go and truly managed my expectations telling me that providing the surgeons day went to plan I would be in theatre early afternoon.  Another wonderful sonographer took me for a scan and explained that the procedure would be going ahead, again I can’t remember her name.  A student named Lauren measured me up for surgical stockings, she was wonderful, especially given it was her first day in EPAS, which must be difficult.  She took the lead from me with conversation and was very respectful. 

The surgeon and the anaesthetist came by to run through the procedure, both expressing their apologies for my loss.  Elaine explained the process of what would happen to the foetus afterwards and ensured I had the information about remembrance and miscarriage support group.  She provided me with the medication and left me and my mum advising that she was available if we needed anything.  The staff that took me to theatre were pleasant.

When I got to theatre there was a nurse or anaesthetic assistant who made sure I was comfortable and checked if I had any questions, I started to shake quite embarrassingly and she held my hand and got me tissues and made sure I was okay.  The next thing I remember is Loveness waking me up in theatre recovery, tissues still in hand.  I woke with tears of pain and emotion and she saw to my pain immediately, she was so attentive and it was nice to be able to talk away to her to take my mind off what was happening, another nurse, Jim, was also there chatting away about the hospital we had in common.

I was taken back to the ward and I had my mum and another relative waiting, my husband arrived shortly after as my mum left.  I was given discharge instructions and allowed to go home.

I can’t thank everyone enough, I’m just so sorry it took so long to submit this!