Previous Ectopic - Anxious About New Pregnancy :-(

Hi All,

I suffered an ectopic pregnancy back in 2010 where my tube was removed. I fell pregnant again in 2011 and gave birth to a healthy little boy who is soon to turn 5. In November 2015 I suffered an early miscarriage and now discovered I’m pregnant again. I should be happy but am just so anxious thinking it will end in a loss. This is day 27 of my menstral cycle (so I’m not even late) and I had a positive test on day 24. So in theory 4 weeks pregnant. My GP is due test my hcg levels tommorow. How often do these need to be tested to show increase and rule out ectopic? Also how soon can the yolk sac be seen in the womb? Thinking of going to A&E . My head is just all over the place atm :frowning:

Hi upanddown, I’m so sorry you’re having such a tough time. When my hcg was being monitored it was every 48hrs and they were looking for the figure to approximately double in that time.

I’ve been told that if I fall pregnant again I’ll be scanned at 6-7 weeks to make sure it’s in the right place. Give your local early pregnancy unit a call or ask the doctor to refer you when you’re there for bloods. It’s unlikely a&e will do anything as you’re not bleeding heavily or in severe pain.

I really hope your blood tests show good rises and you’ve got a healthy bean in the right place.

Try and rest and most of all be kind to yourself x

Dear upanddown,

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. When I found out I was pregnant again, 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.

In the UK it is usual practice for 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 at six weeks of seeing an embryo around this six week mark. We advise you to contact your local EPU to inform them and book in for an early scan at around six weeks. Remind them of your previous ectopic pregnancy. This self refer route is the best route in our view. Hopefully you will have some comfort to know you are under the radar of medical professionals right away.

If scans are inconclusive, doctors would carry out a series of blood tests to check hCG levels to see if the numbers are rising as expected.

Sending warm hugs and positive thoughts,

Karen x


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Thank you for your replies. I am feeling so anxious at the moment. I had a hgc blood test yesterday (day 28 of cycle) and my levels have come back at 185. My GP is going to test my bloods again tommorow (48 hours later and day 30 of cycle) to see if the levels double.

I know this is positive but I’m having really bad menstral like cramps and aching legs and lower back pain. I have had no bleeding /spotting tho. Is it normal to get these menstral cramps in a normal pregnancy?

Just keep thinking everytime I go to the toilet there will be blood and if it’s ectopic I will die and leave my son without a mum, i know this sounds very irrational but I’m in such a state, it’s going to be a long 3 weeks to get a scan x

Ah I can’t imagine how anxious you are.

Not irrational thoughts at all. The things that have crossed my mind since my ectopic have been similar.

How did you get on? Really hope it all went well xx