What to Expect During an Ectopic Pregnancy

If you have an ectopic pregnancy, you'll certainly want to know what to expect. This is a scary situation, and one that will need to be taken care of by a doctor. You may wonder what the doctor will do to you. What type of examine will you have? Will you have to be in the hospital? There are many important questions that you'll certainly want to have answered about your ectopic pregnancy.

What You'll Feel

First, it's important to understand what an ectopic pregnancy feels like. For most women, it is similar to the feelings associated with a miscarriage. There is usually abdominal pain and a good deal of bleeding. If you have a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, then you may have more extensive symptoms. You'll have lightheadedness and dizziness and a clammy feeling. You may find yourself sweating and having a pale complexion. You may have pelvic pain that is painful enough that it keeps you from standing and a fast heartbeat that is over 100 beats to minute. Should you experience these symptoms, you'll need to call 911 and get immediately to the hospital.

What To Expect From Your Doctor

If you have an ectopic pregnancy, you need to go to the doctor. You may have arrived at the doctor thinking that you were having a miscarriage, and the ectopic pregnancy will be confirmed instead there. The doctor will give you a regular examine to determine that you do have an ectopic pregnancy and to determine where the pregnancy is developing. If you are experiencing severe pains or very heavy bleeding, they'll start an IV and may even give you oxygen. You'll have a pelvic exam and blood will be taken.

Once the Pregnancy is Confirmed

When the ectopic pregnancy is confirmed, you'll probably be given an ultrasound of the pelvis so that the doctors can pinpoint exactly where the pregnancy is developing. If the pregnancy is new enough that it isn't detectable by ultrasound, and you don't have heavy bleeding or abdominal pain, then the doctor will monitor your progress and give you blood tests every few days. Once the pregnancy has grown large enough to see on ultrasound, they'll do another ultrasound to pinpoint the source.

Medical Options

Sometimes, you'll be able to take medicine to get rid of the ectopic pregnancy, while other times you'll have to have surgery. If the pregnancy is in the fallopian tubes and is small, you can be given medicine to stop the tissue from growing. Most women experience stomach pains for the first few days of this medicine and vaginal bleeding like you would have for a heavy period. Every few days, the doctors will do a blood test to check that the medicine has been effective. Unfortunately, there are times when medicine will not be enough for an ectopic pregnancy. If the pregnancy is already large, or it has developed somewhere other than the fallopian tubes, surgery will be scheduled.

Surgery for Ectopic Pregnancies

At times, it is possible to do laparoscopic surgery for an ectopic pregnancy. This will include a small cut in the stomach and the removal of the tissue. Other times, however, the doctor will need to do a larger incision. Sometimes, as well, during a tubal pregnancy, the fallopian tubes must be removed. This is true if the tubal damage is severe.

Preventing Ectopic Pregnancies

Certainly, all ectopic pregnancies are not preventable. There are, however, certain ways to reduce your risk. If you have pelvic inflammatory disease, make sure to take your medicine consistently and to follow your doctor's orders. Be careful about not getting sexually transmitted diseases by using condoms and practicing safe sex.

Knowing what to expect from an ectopic pregnancy can certainly help to alleviate your fear. The more informed that you are, the better you'll cope with the situation and move beyond this experience to a healthy pregnancy in the future.