"Ante natal scanning"

Having had numerous recurrent miscarriages I was referred to this dept for an early ultrasound scan today by my midwife. The nursing staff on the early preg unit on the 6th floor were lovely and I was welcomed with not only professionalism but friendly and compassionate care. However, this was not echoed in the ground floor ultrasound scan room. I was already very anxious about the scan as all my prev miscarriages had been diagnosed at scan with no pre bleeding or pain. The sonographer prodded and poked my tummy with the probe and after a while asked me if I had done a pregnancy test! Would I have bothered attending having been seen by a midwife and referred if I hadn't done this one simple thing? I was then told by the sonographer that they could see no pregnancy! As you can imagine I had already envisaged yet another loss and struggled to hold back my tears. I was then instructed me to empty my bladder and change into a gown for an internal scan. No compassion or warmth or reassurance was given whatever apart from the assistant handed me a box of tissues. When the pregancy was seen on the screen the sonographer simply said that it was measuring six weeks and not the seven that I had declared. I also had to ask if everything was ok and looking normal which the sonographer simply confirmed it was. I felt so uncomfortable in there that I apologised for crying! This time for me the outcome was positive but I left that room feeling very lost and anything but as the sonographer's behaviours had led me to fear the worst! I am well aware of the large number of pregnancies that do not progress especially within the first trimester so feel that staff working within this field need to be able to respond to patients anxiety and offer them warmth and compassion and reassurance where appropriate during what is a very traumatic and difficult time for a number of people. A little empathy and warmth goes a very long way and can make a huge difference to peoples past and future experiences in healthcare.