Sharing my story to raise awareness of this life threatening condition

This August 1st is ectopic pregnancy awareness day, and I’m sharing my story to help raise awareness of this life-threatening condition.

In March, I was lucky to survive.

We were cautiously optimistic after an early pregnancy loss in January. The familiar nausea, irritability, and tiredness of my previous pregnancies were all there.

The night before my rupture, I had back and shoulder pain, but as a mom to two toddlers, I brushed it off. I think as women, we’re often conditioned to downplay our pain.

I woke at 5 am to a strange ‘pop’ in my stomach and intense nausea. It wasn’t just morning sickness; I knew something was deeply wrong.

My cousin had an ectopic pregnancy years ago, and a gut feeling told me that’s what was happening. My husband called for help, but we were initially told to wait. My condition deteriorated rapidly. I couldn’t stand, I was fainting, and I lost control of my bodily functions. After waiting over an hour for an ambulance, I was unconscious on the bathroom floor.

The last thing I remember was someone suggesting it might be a stomach bug and feeling a wave of relief that my baby might be okay.

I arrived at the hospital unresponsive, with no blood pressure, and was rushed to resuscitation while my husband was taken to a bereavement room. The A&E (accident and emergency) team was incredible; they saved my life.

I had five litres of blood in my stomach and needed six litres transfused. I was seconds from cardiac arrest and death. My surgeon later told me he’d only seen two cases as severe in his career, and those women didn’t survive. He was grateful I wasn’t another statistic.

Three things I believed saved me:

1. I knew I was pregnant.
2. I kept telling people I thought it was an ectopic pregnancy.
3. The A&E (accident and emergency) team acted decisively.

Know the Symptoms:
Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy can develop between the 4th and 12th week of pregnancy, visit Ectopic Pregnancy Signs And Symptoms – The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust for further information.

Trust your body & speak Up. You know your body better than anyone. If something feels wrong, do not be afraid to make your voice heard. It could save your life.

The aftermath can be long. Recovery wasn’t just physical. For months, I battled infections, pneumonia, and debilitating pain. Mentally, I was diagnosed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) – night terrors, panic attacks, and a constant feeling of being unsafe in my own body. Therapy has been essential in processing this trauma, but the grief for our two lost babies is a journey I’m still learning how to navigate.

How I believe you can help:

• Raise awareness of the signs of an ectopic pregnancy.
• Listen and be there. If someone tells you they are in pain, believe them.
• Offer practical support to those recovering – meals, childcare, or just a listening ear. The emotional recovery can take much longer than the physical one

They didn’t just save my life that day; they saved my whole family. I get to be here for my two beautiful children, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

 

 

Thank you to our contributor for sharing their experience. If you would like to share your experience of ectopic pregnancy, please visit our guide for more information.

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