Kizzi Woodman was told her child’s organs were developing outside his body and received the devastating news that he had passed away, amid a warning over the danger of high-street baby scan clinics
A woman tragically lost her baby son despite THREE private ultrasounds confirming her unborn child was healthy. Kizzi Woodman received reassurance from high street clinic staff that her son was developing normally during her first pregnancy.
Yet when she attended her 12-week NHS scan, medical professionals delivered devastating news that her baby had serious health complications.
During a follow-up scan just one week later, Kizzi discovered her child had passed away from one of these conditions, which had caused his organs to form outside his body. She then had to take medication to induce a miscarriage, describing the ordeal as deeply traumatic.
The 27 year old from London reflected today: “It was the worst week of my life.”
This heartbreaking case emerges as the medical profession raises alarm bells about private ultrasound services. The Society of Radiographers (SoR) issued a warning this month that expectant mothers are receiving potentially harmful misdiagnoses from dodgy clinics, reports the Mirror.
Kizzi believes all practitioners conducting private baby scans should be qualified sonographers – something that isn’t legally mandated in the UK. The call handler, who suffered the ordeal in July, recalled: “They (NHS sonographers) instantly told me there was a problem. They told me that my baby’s organs were developing outside of their body.”
The information clashed dramatically with what the young woman had been informed at the private clinics, leaving Kizzi deeply worried.
She revealed: “I was absolutely shocked, because I’d had the previous scans, and it was the first time that I genuinely didn’t feel anxious because the private scans had said everything was fine, and I had confidence in that. So when I heard the news I just couldn’t believe it.”
Kizzi was subsequently informed that the baby had passed away, once again following a consultation at an NHS hospital in the capital. In light of recent cases like Kizzi’s, the Society of Radiographers (SoR) is campaigning for sonographer to become a protected job title, similar to dietician and radiographer.
Kizzi emphasised she doesn’t wish to portray private scans in a “bad light”, explaining they can be genuinely beneficial for those wanting to confirm a baby’s heartbeat or determine how advanced the pregnancy is.
Nevertheless, she encouraged expectant parents to conduct thorough research before arranging a private baby scan, and to approach results with a “pinch of salt” if staff lack proper sonographer training.
“I know that they do help some people, and they can be helpful, but I think people need to definitely do their research on the place that they’re going to before they get the scan.”
Kizzi, who shares her life with partner Wayne, 24, is expecting again and is currently 11 weeks pregnant. She has chosen to undertake comprehensive research before determining whether to pursue another private scan.
“In my first pregnancy, I was absolutely clueless but now I’m pregnant again, so I’m doing proper research if I ever decide to go for a private scan again.”
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