My ectopic pregnancy is now behind me

Judy Karimi knows only too well that an ectopic pregnancy should not be reason for a woman to give up on having a normal pregnancy. Now, two months to her EDD and with an ectopic pregnancy behind her, she passes on a message of hope.

In 2007 I lost my baby at two months of pregnancy. I woke up with sharp pains in my lower abdomen. I thought it was the onset of my periods which are normally uncomfortable. The pains did not go away even after I took painkillers. In the late afternoon, my partner and I concluded that these were not normal periods so we decided to seek medication. I passed out before getting to the hospital, as I had lost too much blood. Scans were carried out and it was discovered that I had an ectopic pregnancy. I had lost my baby at its second month of conception. I was not even aware that I was expecting. I was devastated. I blamed myself. I hated myself. I kept saying that I should have been more conscious and aware about my body.

This episode was painful to say the least, but trying for another baby is something I was not afraid of. I made it a habit, through the help of my partner, to keep a diary and calendar to follow the progress of my cycle.

The pregnancy I carry
As a nurse, student and fashion designer, my schedule is quite busy and this pregnancy took me by surprise. My calendar showed that my period was six weeks late. A home pregnancy test kit showed I was pregnant. The happiness started setting in. I went to a doctor for a second opinion. The results were the same. I then decided to let my partner know.  Amid the joy, he requested that we go for an ultra sound and check out the progress of the pregnancy. It showed that the growing baby was in the uterus, where it should be.

The journey
I sometimes forget that I am pregnant. I do not have any morning sickness and neither do I experience mood changes. The only notable thing is that I crave arrowroots and pumpkins, a diet I never fancied earlier on.

When I first heard my baby’s first kicks, I was afraid. It felt like abdominal pains. I told my partner about it and he was also alarmed. We decided to consult my gynaecologist, who after hearing my symptoms smiled and told me that what I had felt were baby kicks. At almost the eighth month of pregnancy, I have added 8kgs. I need to add four more, according to my doctor.

My EDD is in the last week of February and I am ready to go through any birth option. The scans show that it is a breech. I plan to attend Lamaze classes: I hope this will help my baby turn and face down.

On exercise
I urge all women to exercise during their pregnancy. I did aerobics up to the second trimester with the guidance of my doctor and trainer. Exercise, I believe, has many qualities like ensuring that one does not gain excessive weight and also keep one from getting tired very quickly.

My friends keep telling me I am glowing and I attribute it to the exercise routine I embrace. My trainer advised though that the exercises need not be vigorous. My partner helps massage my back and also gives me foot rubs. It is very essential that a pregnant woman receives total support from their partner. I want him to be my birth partner.

Note: An ectopic pregnancy is one in which the fertilized ovum is implanted in any tissue other than the uterine wall. Most ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube (so-called tubal pregnancies), but implantation can also occur in the cervix, ovaries and abdomen. The foetus produces enzymes that allow it to implant in varied types of tissues, and thus an embryo implanted elsewhere than the uterus can cause great tissue damage in its efforts to reach a sufficient supply of blood. (Wikipedia)

(Ectopic Pregnancy was extensively discussed in Pregnant Issue 4 Pg. 32)

END: PG19/26-27