We can try again now?

Preparing For Your Next Pregnancy
1

Hi

I was taken into hospital on August bank holiday weekend. We had no idea that we were pregnant. I was experiencing severe pain and thought that it was likely something to do with my appendix. As it turns out, we were pregnant and it was the most beautiful shock of my life. However, unfortunately the pregnancy was ectopic and we lost our baby.

I am 31 and have always been maternal. However, my career has meant that my husband and I were waiting to try until we thought that it was a good time. Our experience has made us realise that there is never a ‘good time’. Now we are done waiting. My career can take a hit, this is all I have ever wanted and I can not ignore it now. My husband feels the same.

We had methotrexate and were told that we would need to wait for 6 months before trying again. However, the posts on this forum seem to suggest that we can start trying again now. Is that true? Six months wait would mean the middle of March. If we could start trying again now (which the advice on here seems to suggest), that would be incredible news! Here are the facts summarised:

  • I had the methotrexate injections on 31 August 2016;

  • By the end of September 2016, we were no longer pregnant, per my hormone levels. I was discharged from the hospital;

  • I haven’t been taking folic acid yet, as I didn’t realise that we could try again any time soon.

My questions are:

  1. Is this six month wait ‘old’ advice? Is it really only three months?

  2. Does the wait time (question 1) run from the date of the injections, or, the date of the negative pregnancy test per hormone levels?

  3. Does the fact that I haven’t yet been taking folic acid mean that we shouldn’t start trying again yet (assuming the wait is only three months)?

In short, can we start trying again now?

Feeling so hopeful!!!

Nikki

2

Hello Nikki, I’m really sorry to hear about your loss :frowning: I found out I was having an ectopic pregnancy in October and had to have methotrexate, although mine ruptured anyway just two weeks later and had to have my tube removed the early pregnancy unit told me that I had to wait three months from the day of having methotrexate to ensure it has completely left my system as it can be dangerous for the baby. I’m no medical expert though, I’m just going by what I was told. The hospital prescribed me folic acid whilst I was in hospital recovering from the surgery after it ruptured and they advised me to keep taking it, I’m assuming that’s because there was no baby there anymore and it couldn’t interfere with the methotrexate doing what it was supposed to. If I were you I’d get a second opinion from a specialist just to be safe. I really hope this helps and good luck :slight_smile:

3

I had my ectopic pregnancy earlier this summer, Nikki. It’s been now over 6 months and I’m still waiting.

Yes, in theory you are able to try after 3 months months, but I won’t risk it just yet. After all this time my body hasn’t gotten back to normal (e.g. my periods are irregular and I’m super gassy all the time).

I want to give myself the best chance of success. I really, really don’t want to go through another ectopic (who would anyway!), and one thing I can control is to make sure I’m healthy and that my hormones aren’t going crazy.

Also, this is something I can’t prove, but I believe I had my ectopic because my hormones were unbalanced after I had a miscarriage… I didn’t give myself enough time to recover. I won’t be making that mistake this time!

Good luck, brave ladies.

4

Hi Nikki,

Thought I reply with my experience to help you as i had a second Ectopic after 5 months of the first one. First in Feb 2016 and second one July 2016.

My husband and I also didn’t know I was pregnant with the second one as I had a four day heavy period and so I didn’t think anything of it. I now understand it was the bleeding of the ectopic.

The second ectopic was scary as it ruptured and was taken to hospital, it was very serious, I lost a lot of blood. I too was told I was pregnant at the hospital and the sad news followed.

The pregnancy was in the stump of the Fallopian tube which was removed on the first ectopic. Even doctors were shocked!

I’ve been told to wait a year before we try again. I wish I was told that the first time round!

We look forward to trying also! But this time with patience.

Hope it helps!

Veronica