I had to have surgery to remove a cornual ectopic pregnancy Tuesday, and on tues - thurs I didn’t have much bleeding, only a little (a standard pad would last 3 days, that’s how little) but now I am bleeding like I do with a period. I’m not saturating my pad or anything like that, but it is bright red, like really bright red with some clots. The hospital said as long as I’m not soaking a pad every hour then it is normal and means my body is getting back to normal. Is that right? I’m worried as it also says if I’m bleeding or have pain then I need to go in as I may have an infection and I do have pain which i suppose is normal because I only had surgery a few days ago
Dear tryagain92,
I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy and loss,
It is not unusual for women to bleed after treatment for ectopic pregnancy. This first bleed after treatment is a response to falling hormone levels and involves shedding of the uterine lining and is not classed as a period. The length of the bleeding can vary from woman to woman and some women do report spotting and bleeding for up to around six weeks after an ectopic pregnancy.
While this is usually nothing to worry about, if you find that the bleeding increases so that you are soaking more than a pad in an hour or have offensive smelling discharge or body temperature of more than 37°C, please do get medical attention.
You should take it very easily for about six weeks after surgery. Your body will be using its energies to heal internally. It is normal to feel physically and emotionally exhausted during this time and please do be kind to yourself. Recovery can take time and some days will be better than others, one day you maybe ok and the next you maybe in discomfort or more emotional. This is perfectly usual and the healing process will go back and forth in this way for however long you need. It is important to listen to your body’s signals and pain and feeling tired are your body’s signs to tell you to rest. We suggest keeping a healthy balanced diet, drinking lots of water and resting. Once your wounds have healed, very gentle exercise such as a short walk can help, but please do take this slowly.
Having said this, if you are concerned by your bleeding or pain, do seek medical advice.
Sending much love,
Karen x
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
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