AN expectant mother said she was heartbroken after being told while attending a scan alone that she had miscarried.

She was at her 12-week scan when she got the devastating blow that one of her twins had died at seven weeks, but due to current hospital guidelines, she was alone when hearing the news.

In East Lancashire hospitals, expectant mums must attend antenatal clinic appointments and scans alone, in line with national guidance, with the exception of the 20-week scan.

The mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “I had nobody to share my devastation that I had lost a child with but also my elation that one baby was still OK.

“I was left to make the call to my husband to tell him through my tears the very bittersweet news.

“This news took me days to even begin to digest and to have to be alone when being told this news was just utterly devastating and heartbreaking.”

At five weeks, the mother-to-be found out she was pregnant with her second child but two weeks later she lost lots of blood and she and her husband were devastated, assuming they had lost their child.

She was told by the hospital to take a test a week later and go ahead as normal with her midwife appointment.

At her nine-week scan she got the news that she was still pregnant but was told she had a bleed in her womb and a 5cm cyst on her ovary, before being told about her miscarriage at the 12-week scan.

She added: “I wouldn’t wish this upon anybody and find myself wishing the time away.

“What should be such a special time for families has actually been turned into a living nightmare.”

The mother-to-be said that the sonographer at the 12-week scan was surprised the other baby had been missed at the nine-week scan.

A spokesperson from East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We respect our patients’ right to confidentiality and we would not publicly comment on individual cases whether anonymous or not. We would urge anyone who is not satisfied with their care to contact the Trust directly.

“We know that this is an extremely anxious and stressful time for our expectant parents, and we empathise with them. We assess each case on an individual basis, giving any additional support and guidance as and when needed.

“We are following the national guidance that has been put in place to protect expectant parents, their families, their babies and also our staff, to keep them safe.”

On Monday the Trust began allowing two nominated birth partners to accompany a person in active labour.

At Burnley General Teaching Hospital, one nominated partner will be able to visit mothers and their babies on the post-natal ward for two hours per day, between 5pm and 7pm.

The mother should identify their nominated partner upon admission to the ward and inform staff of the relevant details required.

However, at all other East Lancashire hospitals, current visitor restrictions still apply.