June 15th, 2024, when joy turns to concern
On Saturday, June 15th, 2024, my husband Sarangan and I found out I was pregnant. We were overjoyed; it felt like the start of a beautiful new chapter. But just five days later, on June 20th, I began experiencing cramps and spotting. I went to hospital for what I thought would be a routine check-up.
Instead, I was rushed into emergency surgery. The pregnancy had ruptured inside my left Fallopian tube, which had to be removed. I came home the next day, physically fragile and emotionally heartbroken, but focused on healing.
July – Something still felt wrong.
Two weeks after surgery, I saw a faint positive on a pregnancy test, but I dismissed it, assuming hormones were still in my system. Emotionally, I couldn’t face the idea of testing again.
But by July 23rd, I still didn’t feel well. I took another test: brightly, unmistakably positive. It wasn’t a new pregnancy. I hadn’t been sexually active.
My HCG (the hormone produced in pregnancy) levels were still high, but the scans showed nothing. A follow-up was booked for July 29th.
July 29 – So many theories, no clear answers
At the hospital, I was told that no pregnancy tissue had been found in my left Fallopian tube after the first surgery. One theory was that the ectopic pregnancy had been in my right Fallopian tube all along. Another, I may have been carrying twins, one in each Fallopian tube. Another, the tissue had ruptured into my abdomen. There were many possibilities, but no certainty.
I was given Methotrexate, a drug used to stop ectopic pregnancies from developing. I took the injection that evening, hopeful it would bring things to a close.
July 30 – The night everything collapsed
That night, I was in excruciating pain. By the early hours of July 30th, I was vomiting, doubled over, and screaming in agony. At A&E (accident and emergency), they suspected internal bleeding.
A consultant saw me at 8:45 a.m. and made the call to rush me into surgery immediately. He skipped further scans, he knew what he was seeing.
In theatre, they discovered 2.5 litres of blood in my abdomen. My blood pressure had dropped to unrecordable levels. I was told I was minutes from death.
They found suspected pregnancy tissue near my bladder and ruled out any issue with the right Fallopian tube. The bleeding may have been caused by the Methotrexate, but the exact cause remains uncertain. I was left with a long vertical scar, a painful reminder of everything my body endured.
August 3 – Home, grateful, and healing
I returned home on Saturday, August 3rd, physically weak but deeply grateful to be alive. Recovery has been slow, with lingering pain, exhaustion, and many unanswered questions. But I am healing, day by day, emotionally and physically.
What I do know is this:
I went through two major surgeries. I lost a Fallopian tube. I lost a pregnancy. I nearly lost my life. But I’m still here.
I am stronger than I’ve ever been, not just in my body, but in my resilience, my perspective, and my gratitude.
And I owe my life to the NHS (national health service), whose incredible care, quick decisions, and compassion saved me. Thank you to the consultants, nurses, surgeons, and everyone who stood by me in my darkest hour. I will never forget it.
This isn’t the ending I imagined, but it’s a powerful beginning to whatever comes next.
If I could say one thing…
There’s no single path to motherhood. Cherish the life you have and keep moving toward the one you hope for.
Thank you to our contributor for sharing her experience. If you would like to share your experience of ectopic pregnancy, please visit our guide for more information.
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