Alice Muya my pregnancy-In the wrong place

It was exciting when I conceived our second born. I went to see my gynaecologist for my first antenatal visit. My doctor sent me for many different tests among them a scan to be done two weeks later, as the pregnancy was only five weeks.

I went home a very happy mum, more than ready to carry the pregnancy. One week later, I got bad nausea. I felt weak and completely lost my appetite. I vomited after having supper after which I felt very weak, cold and couldn’t walk. This went on for some days which saw my sister and husband walk me to bed, cover me with many blankets and turn the heater on. Sleeping was another problem; I’d lose sleep often.

One day in the office I noticed I was spotting.  I immediately asked for permission and dashed to my gynaecologist. I was given an injection which he said would stop the spotting and in case it continues I was to go for another injection.

The spotting ceased by the next day. He had also given me same medicine to relieve me from the crazy nausea. The medicine helped but I still felt very weak. I assumed it’s because I wasn’t eating well.

This was strange. The nausea in my first pregnancy had been very mild. I actually did not vomit. Well, I kept going to work and encouraging myself that it would be over in no more than three months.

My hubby and I were getting ready to leave for work one morning when I noticed I was spotting again. We immediately changed direction to the doctor’s, actually realizing our two-week appointment for the scan was due. We therefore started with the scan to make his diagnosis more conclusive. I was nervous and weak.

The worried look on the radiologist’s face made me feel worse. He twice asked if I was in pain. I told him, ‘No: Then he let it out that I  was having an ectopic pregnancy. My heart just sank because I’d read and heard that it was life threatening and that once it bursts one has a lot of pain. He explained to us that it had started rupturing; the reason I was spotting. He said I’d bled a lot internally and immediately called my doctor recounting the report to him. The next stop was at hospital’s theatre.

Things were happening too fast I thought I was watching ER. My blood level was found to be very low because I’d already lost a lot of blood. My doctor reached the hospital about 10 minutes later not hiding the fact that the ectopia would burst any time causing unbearable pain. Thankfully, the theater was ready and I went in for the surgery known as laparoscopy. Within one hour I was out. I got some blood transfusion and the next day I went home but I was still very weak and had no appetite.

Within a week, I was well and back to work. My normal appetite, strength and weight followed two months later. I thank God.

Now, I was very anxious and ready to try for another baby. So I asked my doctor when I could start trying and he told me after three months. I wished I could fast-forward the three months. So no sooner were they behind me than I started trying. I conceived immediately-I thank God again. A trans-vaginal scan, which the doctor advocated for confirmed the baby was fine and in the uterus.

The pregnancy went so well and the delivery was normal and God, blessed us with a beautiful baby girl. And as you can see. I have been blessed again regardless of the notion that it is difficult to conceive after an ectopic pregnancy.

PS: Do not take spotting lightly, seek medical attention immediately.

END: PG 36 /16-17