Pregnant after Ectopic - Advice please

Pregnant After Ectopic Pregnancy
1

Hello everyone,

I hope everyone is keeping safe and well.

I am just coming on for a little bit of advice really from people who have been in a similar situation to me.

Last June, I found out that my pregnancy was Ectopic and I was treated with Methotrexate. I have still been getting pain since, like a raw kind of pain (not sure how else to describe it) on the side where the ectopic was as well as back pain etc. I went to the doctors several times, they could not find anything wrong on scans. My last scan was in February 2021 and I was advised that there was a cyst in my right ovary which was small and was told not to worry about it. They said it could be hormonal and can come and go throughout my cycle.

Fast forward to yesterday, and I have just done a home test and it has come back positive. The last few days it has been quite painful, feeling like I was due on my period. The pain I get usually is worse when I am due on but because my period was late I wanted to check if I was pregnant.

As much as I want to quietly get excited, I am worried that these pains now are telling me that this is another ectopic pregnancy. My hip / pelvis area hurt, my back is sore, plus the dull ache pain and every so often a sharp twinge pain.

I know that everyone is different but I was just wondering what other people experienced when pregnant again after an ectopic? I am 4 weeks and 6 days today.

Thank you <3

2

Dear 2020Lady,

Whispered congratulations on your pregnancy.

After an ectopic pregnancy, finding we are pregnant again can be a mix of emotions and I can completely understand your feeling nervous. It is perfectly normal to feel scared after the ordeal you have endured. I also felt twinges and aches after my ectopic pregnancy, particularly when I next felt pregnant. My mind started racing and I was only really able to relax to some degree after my early scan. It is a nerve-wracking time and you have a friend here who understands how you are feeling.

Although I do not wish to alarm you I am not medically trained and you are detailing quite specific pain and if it not settling or worsening, I would advice seeking urgent medical advice. In the UK this can be done by speaking to your GP or calling NHS 111 if it is out of hours. If the pain significantly worsens or you experience bleeding, shoulder tip pain, become dizzy or unwell please attend A&E or call 999.

Speaking from UK medical practice and standards, usually doctors carry out an internal transvaginal scan at around six weeks with subsequent pregnancies after an ectopic. This is because there is a reasonable chance of seeing an embryo around this six week mark. It maybe that at this stage it is too early too see anything on a scan but they can check for any internal fluid which maybe bleeding and also check serial hCG blood tests which although not diagnostic, can indicate what is happening to a pregnancy.

I hope I haven’t frightened you too much but pain is very subjective and I would rather you sought medical advice if you are concerned, even if just to put your mind at rest.

Sending much love and positive thoughts,

Karen x

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.

If we have been able to help you, are you able to help us with a small donation or by volunteering or fundraising?

Further information is available at ectopic.org.uk

Email us: ept@ectopic.org.uk

We provide a call-back helpline service: 020 7733 2653

Take a look at our newsletters and subscribe to our mailing list here: https://mailchi.mp/986bdd6091ee/ectopic-matters

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

3

Hi lady2020,

Congratulations on your pregnancy, and I hope everything will be fine.

I had an ectopic treated with Mtx also last summer. Currently TTC.

4

Thank you for your reply Karen.

I am trying to stay optimistic as the pains that I am feeling really aren’t much difference to the pains that I have felt throughout the last year since my ectopic, the only difference is now I have had the positive test so every little twinge is felt and I think my panic does not help.

I spoke to one of the nurses are my EPU and she has booked me in for a scan tomorrow morning. She said although it is earlier than 6 weeks when it is ideal, they should be able to see something.

I explained the pains, and she said that they could be quite normal so I have all my fingers and toes crossed. I will update you when I have had my scan tomorrow.

@sawisiwi, thank you so much for the kind words. I hope you get your BFP soon :slight_smile: How are you feeling? I still have pain from the ectopic, so I think it has always acts as a reminder for me, but I hope you are feeling ok x

5

Hi lady 2020,

I feel pain like you, as you described it. I feel disconfort every month after my ovulation until my period comes. But thank God. I am checking with a doctor every now and then and they always say that things are normal. Thanks for your words too.

6

Just a little update, after my scan this morning they found that the pregnancy is where it should be and all is looking well.

I am very relieved.

I understand that there is still a long way to go, being 5w1d, but it was a relief to see.

I asked the nurse about the pain again, and she said it is normal, well as normal as it can be. They said that it looks like the egg come from the left side (right side was ectopic) but didn’t make much of a difference. They said that everything else looks ok.

So I have a long way to go but that is one weight lifted.

7

These are great news. Hope everything will be fine. All the best and thanks for sharing the good news. This gives us hope.

8

Dear 2020Lady,

That is such good news, congratulations.

Thank you so much for sharing your news, you can already see what a positive impact it is having. We speak to do many ladies who experience pain when they next fall pregnant (myself included) and it is always so lovely to hear of a positive outcome.

Wishing you a smooth pregnancy and sending warm hugs,

Karen x

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.

If we have been able to help you, are you able to help us with a small donation or by volunteering or fundraising?

Further information is available at ectopic.org.uk

Email us: ept@ectopic.org.uk

We provide a call-back helpline service: 020 7733 2653

Take a look at our newsletters and subscribe to our mailing list here: https://mailchi.mp/986bdd6091ee/ectopic-matters

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

9

Hello, I am in a similar position to you, miscarriage September 2019, ectopic June 2020 and just found out im pregnant. I have a scan booked Monday morning but I will only be exactly 5 weeks, so not sure if they will be able to see anything. I really hope so as the anxiety, worry, stress is horrendous! Reading your story has made me a bit more positive, congratulations and I hope everything goes well for you!

10

Dear Samantha,

Whispered congratulations on your pregnancy,

I will be thinking of you on Monday and sending positive thoughts,

Karen x

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.

If we have been able to help you, are you able to help us with a small donation or by volunteering or fundraising?

Further information is available at ectopic.org.uk

Email us: ept@ectopic.org.uk

We provide a call-back helpline service: 020 7733 2653

Take a look at our newsletters and subscribe to our mailing list here: https://mailchi.mp/986bdd6091ee/ectopic-matters

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

11

Hi 2020Lady

I had the same thing with pains and twinges (ranging from mild to quite bad) on both sides since the ectopic, and again in my next pregnancy causing panic. In my case I also got in for a 5 week ultrasound and was able to find it was in the uterus too! Interestingly some pains stopped but some continued and it sounds similar to round ligament pain which I always thought came later in pregnancy, but which some people seem to get first trimester. Not sure how I got it when not pregnant but it does seem really similar description-wise. And of course I find follicles/corpus luteum hurt too!

Best of luck with your pregnancy