QEH
BORN wishes to convey their sympathy to the young couple who
suffered a fetal loss and who seemed unable to access the care they
were seeking and needing. BORN awaits the outcome of the investigation announced
by QEH realizing that, whatever that outcome, bleeding in pregnancy is
frightening and a miscarriage is accompanied by pain, disappointment,
and sadness.
The issue of loss in pregnancy is one that concerns both BORN
and other volunteer groups concerned with maternity care. We have
raised the issue at meetings before and would love to see P.E.I
follow in the steps of other health districts which have a clear
policy that if a woman arrives at an ER and is suspected of loss in
pregnancy that she be allowed to wait in a quiet separate area and
provided with professional support and follow up care. It is BORN’s
position that the QEH provides the highest standard of care to
Islanders and without knowing the facts of the case, we do not seek
to place blame on any particular individual or the staff at the QEH.
We do feel it appropriate to state at this time that there are better
systems in place and hope they will be applied in the future. It
should also be noted that as Midwives provide prenatal care as
primary caregivers, they are available to clients when issues arise in
a pregnancy for a timely assessment of the situation. BORN, as a
committed group of volunteers, will continue to work toward obtaining
more birthing choices for pregnant women on PEI.”
October 10th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
What about the consideration of where women are placed in the hospital during and after a miscarriage?
I experienced a miscarriage with complications last year myself and was appalled by the treatment I received. I was left alone in the emergency ward with no consideration for the pain I was in. They knew very well the measures they were going to have to take and I wonder still why a woman experiencing a complicated “spontaneous abortion” wouldn’t be offered some pain relief for an invasive (and incredibly painful) procedure. (The lingo they used was less than comforting also.) A women who’s chosen to abort at least gets the comfort I wasn’t offered.
After my initial admission, the experience only worsened when I placed in the maternity ward to recover. The lack of sensitivity disgusted me as they questioned my ability to cope with my loss without considering that I placed in the very middle of all the joyous cries of new mothers and babies alike; everything I was missing out on, that I almost lost my own life to lose. A family experience the loss of an unborn child doesn’t need to be reminded of all they’re missing out on.
There was little support for me but even less for the father. Because men aren’t allowed in the ultrasound during the actual test they left it up to me to tell him our baby had died. Because of a lack of resources to help I had to cope with all this on my own.
I think what BORN is doing for PEI’s mothers and fathers to be, even those who’s babies don’t survive, is incredible. Keep getting these facts out there, let everyone know there are changes to be made. You’ve found another advocate here in me.
December 4th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
I also agree and think what BORN is doing will benefit many PEI women, I also miscarried and my husband was not allowed in the room while I was going through the procedure of removing my baby and then when I asked to see him/her I was refused, seeing your baby is part of loss and grieving and I was devasted, more so when I then miscarried three time more BEFORE any referral was EVER made! And then to top it off I had to wait over 10 months AFTER the referal to see an OBGYN, maybe if midwives were available then I could have seen a Dr sooner when I needed to