"Disappointing and at times stressful."

What could be improved

In 2004 I came in for the routine 12 week pregnancy scan. Unfortunately I was told that there was no heartbeat and taken out through the back with my partner. I was in shock and discussed options and chose to have the operation. I was not offered any support at any point during this for coping with loss.

We started trying to conceive again last August and were lucky to conceive in Nov, I n Jan I had bleeding so was booked in for a scan 2 days later. The staff were great. However after the successful scan and heartbeat present I had to wait over an hour to see a doctor to ask me a couple of questions and give me advice on pregnancy that I already had - which was annoying as I just wanted to go home once I knew all was well.

When I went for my 12 week scan one of the first things the sonographer said (before I was even on the couch) was 'Have you booked in for your 20 week scan yet?' which seems a little premature considering what would have happened if again there was no heartbeat? Fortunatley all was well but in the notes on my form it says unable to demonstrate feet. Scared that our baby would have not feet we paid for a private scan and all was well. At the private scan we found out the gender and the measurements moved my EDD forward by a couple of days.

At my 20 week scan at the RBH i was trying to have a friendly discussion with the sonographer about the private scan i had and that my dates were only a couple of days different. She was very abrupt and was starting to argue with me about the fact that 2 days is nothing and they wouldn't change my EDD etc... I did try to explain to her that that was fine but she just kept going on and on. Then she said about my metal belly bar and I explained that no one had even mentioned I would need to take it out. In the end I even said 'well this is relaxing!'

Anything else?

Overall I am worried I have not been told everything I need to know about pregnancy care and what is expected from me when I come into the RBH.

Also - everyone I know has had some sort of bad experience during their labour (being left for ages without being checked before and after birth, not even being told where the toilets are on the ward, being sent home only to then give birth at home, not being spoken to nicely or being patronised)