"Pregnancy fluid and blood loss"

Recently, I was taken by ambulance to Bunbury Hospital due to fluid and blood loss while 16 weeks pregnant. While there a swab test was positive for proteins meaning that amniotic fluid was present. The doctor advised we would possibly have to terminate if there was amniotic fluid leaking and I was admitted for monitoring. I was in the Surgical Ward for over 30 hours before I was seen by anyone from the Maternity Ward and a formal scan wasn't performed until the following evening when we were told that baby was looking healthy, amniotic fluid was normal and told to monitor the situation.

We returned to the hospital for the follow up scan at APEX the following week, 17 weeks pregnant. The sonographer advised they had found something ‘funky’ and wanted to get a second opinion from the doctor. We were then advised to go to Maternity as they needed to see me urgently. The sonographer said that they’ve found something quite shocking, but the good news is our baby is still alive.

Arriving at Maternity we had to wait for approximately half an hour with no update. The doctor took us to a room to discuss the results of the scan, explaining the scan had showed Spontaneous Chorioamnionitis Membrane Separation, and chances of our baby surviving were extremely low.

Despite having no symptoms of illness, the doctor advised us to terminate the pregnancy to protect me from going into septic shock. They went through the process of termination, explaining that I would need to be induced and birth our baby. Despite all scans showing a completely healthy baby up until this point.

After explaining to the doctor that this was an IVF pregnancy and we had been trying for this baby for over 2 years, we asked if there was any possibility that our baby would be ok. Their response was that the chances were extremely low to zero and the chances of me getting severely ill in the meantime were high. My partner queried whether we could make it to 24 weeks when baby had a chance of being viable but was told it was extremely unlikely and if we did make it, baby would likely have disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy and would have be at a different hospital meaning we would have to find accommodation, stop working and find care for our child to be at the hospital which would be a huge undertaking.

We asked if another diagnosis was possible as I had a large bleed when I was pregnant with my other child and that pregnancy continued until 37 weeks. I recall the doctor responded that the diagnosis was very clear on the scan. They then explained that Bunbury Hospital could accommodate the termination as soon as we were ready to move forward, they had already given me a room and were ready to admit me to go ahead with the termination. When I mentioned that I wasn’t feeling unwell, the doctor conceded that I could go home if I would prefer and wait until I started to experience symptoms before returning to emergency for the termination.

At this point we advised the doctor that we would like to get a second opinion. They responded that they could have another doctor (Consultant on call) give us a second opinion the following day, however we advised that we did not see the point in this as that particular doctor had already confirmed the results. We now understand that the second doctor was working with information given to them over the phone. We again stated we would prefer to attend another hospital. The doctor seemed to be annoyed about this decision and responded do we really want to drive 2 hours and then sit in emergency for hours just to get told the same information? Who will look after our other child during this time? After repeatedly pushing the issue to go to the other hospital, I felt the doctor conceded and said a report would be prepared for us to take with us. We felt extremely pressured to go along with the diagnosis and not seek a second opinion and we had to push multiple times to leave Bunbury Hospital in order to do so.

The following day we attended emergency at the other hospital and were seen almost immediately. I was taken for a scan with sonographer and a doctor. After a thorough scan both were very clear that the findings do not support premature rupture of membranes.

The Consultant at the other hospital informed us that the scan had showed a haematoma but that we had very little to worry about given how common this is. The consultant explained that unless I experienced any further bleeding, in which case I would need to be examined, the pregnancy could continue as normal.

I am now 27 weeks pregnant with no further bleeding or fluid loss. All our scans have showed an extremely healthy baby who is meeting all developmental expectations, and the haematoma has since been reabsorbed.

We are both extremely disappointed with the level of care we received at Bunbury Hospital, and we are horrified at how easily I believe they would have terminated a completely healthy pregnancy, had we agreed to it. Based on my experience, I wonder how many other families have terminated healthy pregnancies because they weren’t confident enough to get a second opinion or believed that the doctors would be 100% certain before suggesting that course of action?

Not once were we offered any alternative diagnosis, not even when we asked outright if the scan could be showing something else. Not once were we told that they’re not 100% certain, they recommend we get a second opinion by a more experienced doctor before going ahead with a termination.

The stress this caused me at the time, and also for the remainder of my pregnancy, has had a huge impact on my ability to both enjoy this pregnancy and function normally in my everyday life. I am constantly worried about something going wrong. The same can be said for my partner who was told to either terminate their baby or risk losing me.