Hi Sol_x,
I’m so sorry to hear you are experiencing an ectopic pregnancy and loss. This can leave us with many questions, and I will do my best to help answer your questions.
First, please know that these boards are filled will women and men who have experienced the physical and emotional trauma of ectopic pregnancy. They are a safe space for you to share your feelings, ask questions or just vent. There is nothing you did to cause an ectopic pregnancy nor anything we can do to prevent it. Right now, the most important thing is your health. It is very good that you are being monitored by medical professionals and over the next while, looking after yourself will be an important priority.
With treatment for ectopic pregnancy through expectant management, which is waiting to see if the body resolves itself, the whole pregnancy sac including any cells that might have grown into a baby is usually reabsorbed by the body. This is normal and happens in many cases of miscarriage. This process can take weeks and sometimes months. There is no time frame for how long this takes. Sometimes the tissue can separate and be passed through the vaginal bleeding that occurs. However, your doctors might decide to follow up with a Methotrexate shot in order to dissolve the pregnancy. While there are side effects of the shot, it is also an important tool in managing ectopic pregnancies.
The bleeding that follows an ectopic pregnancy can be very heavy and clotty and result in the passing of what we call a decidual cast. This decidual cast is the lining of the uterus when we are pregnant. The sudden drop in hormones can cause the material inside the uterus to be shed in layers and the material that is passed can be grey, pink or white as well as appear like a clot or dark or frank red blood. Women can often mistake it for the tissue of their baby which can cause worry but it is important to remember that it is a normal process for the uterus lining to be shed. This process involves vaginal bleeding - it can be clotty or like one of your usual periods and some women have bleeding/spotting for up to six weeks.
There can be much anxiety caused by ectopic pregnancies and waiting. If you have help nearby, I encourage you to reach out to family and friends to help with your girls. It might relieve the burden on you. There is nothing to feel shameful about an ectopic pregnancy. It’s an important medical condition and not something to be handled alone.
I know waiting for hCG levels can be an anxious time, and while I don’t want to worry you, there remains a chance of rupture until you are at the non-pregnant levels (below 5mIU/ml). For these reasons, it is important to stay alert to any symptoms of pain, particularly abdominal or shoulder tip pain, or heavy bleeding. In these cases, you will want to be seen at the A&E.
These boards are a safe space for you, and we are here for you for as long as you need.
With good wishes,
Michele
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
Registered Charity Number: 1071811
Ectopic pregnancy patient information suite: Highly Commended in the 2019 BMA Patient Information Awards
During the coronavirus outbreak, The EPT team is still working hard to provide crucial information and support to women and families experiencing ectopic pregnancy as quickly and efficiently as we can.
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Further information is available at ectopic.org.uk
Email us: ept@ectopic.org.uk
We provide a call-back helpline service: 020 7733 2653
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Detailed medical information can be found on our website. Please remember online medical information is NO SUBSTITUTE for expert medical advice from your own health care team