Thanks to the Facebook memories app, I've been reminded recently of early 2012. It was an awful start to the year.
I had severe abdominal pain. Stabbing pain. Doctor's visits. Hospital visits. More pain. Tests. Poking. Prodding. More pain. Scans. Medication. Stress.
And then.
"You are pregnant."
Surprise. Happiness. Then.
"We believe your pregnancy is ectopic."
Fear. Constant fear for my baby. Someone I loved so intensely despite never having met them.
I was sent home. To wait. Was there a baby growing inside my womb? Safe and protected. Or was it growing somewhere else? Somewhere it could not thrive, somewhere dangerous for both of us?
I tried to convince myself that it did not matter. That what would be, would be. That everything was part of God's amazing plan for me. At this stage it wasn't a baby, not really. Not even the size of a pea. We could try again.
But I was lying.
Thankfully, my story has a happy ending. It was a rocky, uncertain and scary road, but for us it was OK and later that year, Lily was born.
I'm not really sure what has prompted me to write this post. Part of it has been cathartic for me. I found the situation incredibly frightening and stressful. The feelings continued throughout pregnancy, with bleeding and constant fear of miscarriage. It was there during birth when Lily's heart rate dropped and surgeons were prepped for theatre. In some ways, it has never gone away, even another child later. Writing this has helped. Putting pen to paper. Fingers to keys.
But the other part is for women, friends who are suffering right now. Who flit from daring to dream to abandoning hope.
My experience has made me empathise strongly with women who were not so fortunate as myself. Those who have suffered the terrible grief of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
There is often an assumption that mums who have not suffered miscarriage can never understand what it is like. I disagree. We all fight our own battles. Face our own fears. The experience of pregnancy loss is different for everyone. I may not be facing your struggle, but if you're hurting right now, I'm here for you.
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Such a scary experience! So glad everything turned out okay!! #fartglitter
Sounds like a very scary experience. I remember very early in my pregnancy, my levels of HGC were really low and that can be a sign of early miscarriage. My pregnancy was a huge surprise but when they told me about those low levels I instinctively felt protective and desperately wanted my baby to be OK. Thankfully he was, but it does give you a glimpse into what people who weren't so lucky have to go through.
I'm glad your story had a happy ending :) xx #fartglitter
I lost a twin during my son's pregnancy. I wonder if people who haven't had scares during their pregnancy feel terrified all the way through too.
#fartglitter
It was so scary, I'm so grateful it turned out OK, I know so many people who haven't been as fortunate and it is heartbreaking.x
It does give you a glimpse into other people's experiences doesn't it? It's still nice to hear about happy endings though. x
That must have been awful, I'm so sorry. I think the majority of women still get scared even if they haven't experienced loss, it's a very scary time isn't it? x
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