I fell down some stairs today:-/. In Boots on Oxford St... I'm amazed I didn't break a leg but I escaped with cuts and bruises. I saved myself from falling on my tummy as far as I can remember but it was a BIG fall and I feel panic stricken nonetheless. Can a big jolt hurt a foetus?
I am trying to find out how I can get seen to check that the Tiny Guest is OK and I'm being fobbed off. They're saying it's still early in my pregnancy and I have to go to A&E. I'm 16 FUCKING weeks. 4 FUCKING months. That's nearly halfway. (please excuse the language but I am upset, and I am FURIOUS)
If I go to A&E after hours, which it will be by the time I get there on the bus, all the sonographers will have buggered off home and I'll be left with the same predicament that I had when I had the miscarriage. I am scared, angry and upset. I have a sprained ankle, a bruised and cut up shin and (against my better judgement) I tried to find a heartbeat using a doppler that a friend has lent us and I could find nothing, not a pin drop:(.
I've had assurances from my friends and family that the Tiny Guest is more resilient than we think and probably just thought I had taken him/her on it's first rollarcoaster ride. I hope that's true.
What has frustrated and upset me about trying to gather some assurances from the professionals is the ease with which one is passed from pillar to bloody post. My experiences so far of NHS maternity care have been nothing but positive but today I feel let down and concerned. I've been reading far too much about our understaffed and underfunded midwives: 75% of NHS compensation pay outs are as a result of incidents that happened to women giving birth. That's a frightening statistic anyway but to a pregnant woman in the NHS system, its positively terrifying.
I'm still bristling that apparently my 16 week old pregnancy is so inconsequential that I'm not even looked after by my midwifery team outside of the check ups I have booked in.
Too many patients, not enough time, not enough money. NOT. GOOD. ENOUGH.
So I will spend the next few days quietly stressing myself half to death which is no good for any of us.
I wish I could feel the little bugger start moving so I know that it's OK:(.
Oh poor you, how incredibly scary and horrible. Have you seen your GP yet? Are there NO after-hours sonographers working anywhere? You won't rest until you've been reassured, so keep pestering. Wish there was something more I could say. All I can do is add to all the other responses reminding you that babies are incredibly well-protected in all that amniotic fluid and I'm sure all will be well.
ReplyDeleteMuch love
@JillMansell xx
Please don't get het up about not hearing anything on the Doppler, the midwife couldn't hear my 1st at 15 weeks said sorry but 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage!! Luckily she did send I'd straight up for a scan & there was baby nuzzling and wiggling around. The sonographer was cross that the midwife had panicked us so early. That was probably the worst few hours of my life, But she's 7 now and gives me the best hours!
ReplyDeleteGood luck, try not to stress
Cx
Don't worry, pregnant mums are clumsier than normal because their centre of gravity shifts and plus you have the assortment of hormones whooshing around your body which puts you off kilter. But your body prepares for this and ensures that your baby is extremely well padded, protected and safe. I have three children and have had a swing snap under me and driven into the back of someone when pregnant and everything was fine I am sure the same will be for you. I have never got one of those heart monitors to work for any of my pregnancies at any stage. It is frightening so first thing tomorrow go to your gp and I am sure that they will put your mind at ease
ReplyDeleteYour baby will be well protected-far more than you'd think. At 15 weeks its hard to find a heartbeat, even for experienced midwives, so dont panic. One option if you get nowhere with NHS is to pay for a private scan. Should be a couple of hundred quid & can be worth it for peace of mind. Plus you'll get lovely pics of baby as a bonus :-)
ReplyDeleteBut NHS pregnancy care is a complete lottery, & seems to be worse the nearer London you get. Heard absolute horror stories of London & Reading, but have to say our experience in Swindon has been really good. Not enough midwives still, but care has been much better than we have heard about elsewhere.
Good luck!
Honey, I wish I had read this earlier. I tripped and split my chin when I was 10 weeks pregnant with Cohen. Col took me to A&E at 10pm at night and I was rushed past all of the drunks and seen immediately. I too, was terrified but was assured that the baby is totally protected. I wouldn't have been happy without a scan though. You feeling better now? xxx
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