"Gap in care when dealing with miscarriages"

I found out I was pregnant about 4 weeks ago. After my sister had a miscarriage the year before I knew that North Lanarkshire midwives would not see patients before 8 weeks gestation as most miscarriages happen before this time. I therefore decided to book a private scan. The scan was done in early June, the pregnancy sac could be seen however there was no fetal pole or yolk sac, I was past the 7 weeks mark and I was certain of my dates. I was advised to contact the Early Pregnancy Unit for advice. 

I contacted the EPU at Wishaw 2 days later, I made 63 calls, they either rang out or the line was engaged. There was no facility to leave a voicemail. I contacted Coatbridge Health Centre and spoke with a midwife who was really good and advised that as I had no pain or bleeding I wouldn't be seen at the EPU.

The next day I had slight bleeding and tried again to contact the EPU, I made 50 calls and still couldn't get through. I started work in the afternoon so my sister offered to call for me, she made 36 calls and also could not get through.

The next day the pain increased and I started to bleed more heavily. I contacted the Coatbridge midwives as I still couldn't get through to the EPU. I spoke to a Midwife who offered to contact them for me, they called me back and an appointment was arranged for the following afternoon. Unfortunately that night I miscarried.

The next day I still couldn't get through to the EPU so decided to call Coatbridge midwives. I spoke to a midwife and advised of what had happened and asked if I was still required to have a full bladder for the scan. They advised I should still attend with a full bladder. There was no compassion regarding my miscarriage and I felt dismissed as if what happened was not their concern.

I attended my appointment and after a very uncomfortable transvaginal scan it was revealed I had miscarried however there appeared to still be some tissue still to pass. They took some blood to check my HCG levels and they advised they would contact me the same day with the results. My results revealed that my HCG levels were still high and I was advised to return within 48 hours to have them repeated.

The EPU only runs from Mon-Fri 7am-4pm therefore I would need to attend triage to have the blood work done. The other option was to take another pregnancy test within a fortnight to check my HCG levels. I found this option dismissive and after what had happened I really didn't want to take another pregnancy test. 

I attended triage 48 hours later, whilst taking my bloods I was asked what it was for. It was an extremely upsetting to explain why I was there. I asked if the results would be passed to me that day and I was advised that was the EPU responsibility and they would contact me the following day.

The next day I was contacted by the EPU. They asked if triage had already passed my results and I informed them that I hadn't and was advised it was the responsibility of the EPU. I was then told that triage can pass the results however choose not to. My results indicated that my miscarriage was complete and my HCG levels were now at 10 and if I did another pregnancy test the results should come back negative.

I asked about after care and basically what happens now. I was given information regarding when my cycle should return to normal and my case was closed at their end. Again I asked what happens now. I found the experience traumatic, upsetting and physically painful and I thought as common practice I would be passed onto services that would help me deal with my loss. The member of staff from the EPU seemed flustered and put me on hold as they went to find a website address for me. After several minutes I was given the address of a website and advised that my care is now closed at their end.

There is obviously a gap in care when dealing with miscarriages and I felt no one took responsibility for my care after my pregnancy loss. I feel in limbo with this expectation that I should just return to normal, as if it shouldn't matter. This pregnancy mattered to me and feel extremely let down by the care I have received. I know there has been a pandemic however I feel this has been used as a crutch to justify bad service.