Pregnancy by itself can be a very stressful time for the mother-to-be. Add to that, all the complications that can occur during the gestation period, and it all becomes too much to handle! One complex situation that can arise is an "ectopic pregnancy" or a "tubal pregnancy", which if left untreated for long, can prove to be a life-and-death situation for the mother with child.
Neither of the couple is responsible for the ectopic pregnancy; it is just a mysterious quirk of nature. The pregnancy has to be terminated and this news brings grief to all concerned - the parents-to-be, other family members, relatives and friends. All the same, it is important that proper care is taken to ensure that the woman continues to remain healthy and fertile.
But before we go into the details of uncommon symptoms to watch out for, let us define an ectopic pregnancy, at least for the benefit of first-time pregnant women. When the egg is fertilized, it has to naturally implant itself in the uterus. In this case, it gets implanted either in the cervix or ovaries or fallopian tubes. The commonest 'outside place' for the fertilized ovum is the fallopian tubes; hence, another name for ectopic pregnancy is "tubal pregnancy".
This unusual condition can herald problems even before the woman is aware that she is carrying a child. For instance, she can experience such intense abdominal pain that she has to rush to a doctor for treatment. Other signs she can present with are low back pain, dizziness, and breakthrough bleeding or spotting. A sample of her urine is therefore taken to test for different hormones and chemicals present in the body. This is sufficient to reveal a positive pregnancy.
Now that the doctors know that the woman is pregnant, they have to look for the cause of her present symptoms. A pelvic exam is in the offing. An ultrasound can only be attempted after one and a half months or after six weeks. Of course, once the doctors suspect an ectopic pregnancy, the patient is put under close surveillance for they are well aware that the mother-to-be could lose her life if she is not careful, or possibly lose her fertility. A live birth is simply not possible! It is therefore imperative that close family members and friends understand the mother's agony and treat her with utmost respect.
As far as treatments go, the advancement of medical science has made ectopic pregnancy easier to deal with. Depending on how far advanced the pregnancy is, a suitable method of treatment is chosen.
If the problem is detected early, an injection is given to dissolve the fertilized egg; it is then reabsorbed into the woman's body. The reproductive organs are neither harmed nor scarred, ensuring that fertility is left intact. Surgery may be warranted for a long-term problem. Laser treatment is popular today as it can lessen the damage caused to the pregnant woman's body. Even after treatment, the patient's hormone levels are monitored for at least 3 months to ensure that no signs of an ectopic pregnancy have remained.
An ultrasound that shows a heartbeat between 7 - 11 weeks, the chances of continuing the pregnancy are better than 90%