Ectopic Scare

I saw the positive pregnancy test and even though I knew I couldn’t get my first appointment until around 8-ish weeks, I still wanted to message my PCP to let them know the news. I also let them know that I was suffering a bit from sharp cramps, sometimes to one side. There were a few times that I felt like stabbing pain and was a bit nauseous. I had read that it could be normal and they might be implantation cramps but still good to let your doctor know. I had messaged my PCP through the online portal on a Friday and was excited to hear back.

I ended up getting a call back on a Monday while I was at work. I didn’t answer it right away and went to a small private room to call them back. They said that they wanted me to go to the emergency department. Although I wasn’t experiencing any other symptoms (like spotting or bleeding), they wanted to verify if it was an ectopic pregnancy. For those of you who do not know, an ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilized egg implants and grows outside of the uterus. It can cause fallopian tube to burst or rupture.

My eyes started to well up with tears. I did not realize how scared I would be hearing this news. I decided to take one more work call (with my camera off because I could feel I was unstable) and then drive to the emergency department. I remember getting to the emergency department around 2 pm and I didn’t end up leaving until 8 or 9. It was hard not to cry. I found myself runny nosed and eyes welled up in the waiting room thinking just how I was so excited this past weekend of the happy news and thinking how quickly it could go bad.

After waiting in the waiting room for hours, there was more waiting in the ED room to have an ultrasound to see if it was ectopic or not. When the time finally came, it took a while to see anything but the tech said that they thought they saw something that resembled a sac within the uterus. I was feeling more hopeful but I knew I still had to go back to the room to wait to hear more.

The doctor came and in and told me the same thing as the tech - that it is still early but the ultrasound showed what resembled a sac within the uterus. He said that some cramping was normal but if I had sharp cramps, especially on one side and any bleeding, to come back to the ED immediately. I left the ED feeling hopeful but also anxious for the 8 week ultrasound to hopefully see progress and a heart beat. I wondered if I caused concern when there wasn’t really any and felt bad for taking up the all the medical staff time. But I realized that I had no idea what was “normal” or not with new symptoms of pregnancy so it was probably still good that I let them know and be safe.

As soon as I got a positive pregnancy test, I told one of my female coworkers because we had been talking about my trying to conceive (TTC) journey. I wasn’t sure about when was the “right” time to tell people but she gave me good insight that you can tell anyone you want whenever you want about your pregnancy but just feel comfortable if you have to tell them bad news too. I liked that advice because I was so excited about the news that I couldn’t help but tell a few close friends and coworkers. I was hoping to tell a few coworkers later on around 8 weeks but I decided that I have known them for a while and I needed their moral support during this time. I knew they would be able to tell I was off, so I ended up sharing the news of my scare. I was so glad I did because it really did help.

I know issues can still come up before 20 weeks, but each progress appointment makes me more and more excited. I decided to share my news to coworkers and friends after out 8 week appointment and on social media after our 12 week when we received the NIPT test results.

Pregnancy complications are scary. For all of you who have had to experience loss or complications, I am thinking of you.