Scary moments and a bit disappointed by the NHS

[sarahharas]

HI all,

I have gone very quite in the last months, but I wanted to share a story.

After a quite emotionally stressful period of infertility and treatments, I am now 18 weeks pregnant. So far I had a wonderful pregnancy without any complications (not even morning sickness) and I am feeling fantastic.

However, last week, out of nowhere I started to bleed on a Monday morning when I got up. It was not heavy, just some spotting, but i was very scared. I called the Triage at RIE and they booked me in for a scan which did not show anything but a happy and healthy baby. I was told that it is not normal but that it can happen. I went home, reassured, but the next morning there was more blood. I called again and they said that I should wear a pad and wait until it is over, but when it does not stop in a few hours I should come back.

The problem was that I was supposed to go on a work trip to Germany the next day. the midwives told me that they cannot tell me really whether to go or not (what a help). I asked them if they could examine my cervix and find out where the blood is coming from, but they told me that they dont think it is necessary - I was a bit annoyed about the health service.

Anyway as I was not bleeding the next morning, I decided to fly (I have to note that I was going to stay with my best friend in my former home town so I knew everything there), but of course the unavoidable happened. I started to bleed quite heavily, so I went straight from the airport to the hospital in Germany. After waiting for 2 hours and filling out forms and trying to figure out my blood group from the NHS via phone, I had a real check-up (not just a scan) and they found out that I have a harmless cervical polyp (quite a big one though) which is bleeding and the blood is not coming from my uterus.

Coming back to the UK, I had an appointment at the midwife and she asked about this. She asked me what the doctors said, and I told them that they said it is harmless but I should be tested regularly for infections, because the risk is much higher. The midwife only told me: Oh thats not something we do. End of the story.

I am supper relieved that my baby is fine, but I am a bit in rage about the NHS. They seem to order sometimes useless things (like multiple scans) although it does not give you any further information. Just looking at the cervix takes minutes and is much cheaper and would have reduced my stress and anxiety levels. I am also a bit annoyed that they wont check me for infections, even when there is an indication for it. When I start bleeding again, they will just do another scan, which does not help me any further. It is not that I dont like the NHS service, so far I was quite happy and I am very grateful for my long fertility treatment, but I think this is just unacceptable how they deal with this situation, even the doctors in Germany were shocked.

Sorry for this long email, I just wanted to share this story, also to tell you to not get stressed and too stressed about bleeding in pregnancy, it can be completely harmless

xx

[Kiedy84]

Hi, so sorry you had to go through this anxious experience but glad the baby is fine. It's a blessing in disguise you went to Germany and they actually took their time to examine you. I hear your frustrations, unfortunately although NHS is great at treatment where it's lacking is prevention..

I have recent example, I am 23 weeks my recent blood tests showed I am below norm for iron and red cells. It was just a few points below so my GP marked results as borderline. Noone offered me a follow up or said hold it let's start taking iron tablet before things get worse. I had to push for it! No point to wait until I faint!

If I were you I would contact different midwife or even hospital to get a second opinion xxx

[sarahharas in reply to Kiedy84]

THank you. I somehow do see that they have to save money, but in the end, preventing something bad from happening is much cheaper than treating when it is too late. The NHS has a list that they need to go through, when you have a pregnancy (or any other disease) that follows that list, it is all fine, but they are somehow not able to see you as an individual with individual needs, they still go through their list....

I hope you are fine, as iron deficiency is not so much fun, but also taking iron tablets on your own is not so good. I hope you get some support somewhere, and have a good pregnancy

xx

[MissSaoPaulo]

I'm glad to hear everything's fine and your pregnancy is going well - nearly halfway now!! I hope you can work out how to proceed with the check ups for infection you must be feeling pretty frustrated xxx

[Hidden]

Glad everything is okay with the baby. thanks for sharing this . This is so very unsurprising , sadly. my best friend lives here but has gone home to Germany to pay for IVF and it sounds like a completely didn't experience over there - extraordinarily thorough. I thought my IVF was good on the NHS! We are so fortunate here but equally it is a frustrating institution.

Hope you find a way to manage to get a check up . Maybe the GP is a better route than midwife to get a chance to look at the cervix, swabs etc . good luck

X

[sarahharas in reply to Hidden]

Thank you!

Yes the problem always comes when we have something to compare. When I tell my family and friends how things work over here, they are very surprised. But I have never been pregnant in Germany, so dont really know how it can look like. As long as everything runs according to plan, the NHS offers a great service.

I tried to talk to my GP, but here they are only doing a cervical smear, and they are not allowed to do that when I am pregnant, but they never do a vaginal smear/swab, so I will not be tested for anything. I could pretend that I think I have an infection. I also have bought some pH test sticks just for myself to be able to at least detect any changes in pH.

xx

[Rainbowhope]

This sounds infuriating. Thank God the baby is okay. Xxx