Heather's Story
It was March 11, 1998, when I had my first miscarriage. I had just met Corey, and did not know that I was pregnant until I started having very bad abdominal pains. I was rushed to the hospital only to find out that I was 7 weeks pregnant. We weren't ready for a baby, but when you find something like that out, you want it whether you are ready or not. The doctors prescribed Advil and sent me home. I was only 18 at the time, and didn't know any better but I was told they should have done a D&C on me. Well, I figured doctors know best.
Two years later, Corey and I decided to start a family. Young, I know, but we were very happy. On March 22, 2000, I found out I was pregnant again. We were both so happy and we told everybody. This was two years and 11 days exactly to the miscarriage. I found out March 22nd (Wednesday) and by that following Sunday everybody knew. I told my mother Sunday morning and by 3:00 P.M. Sunday afternoon I started bleeding.
It scared me so much. I cried saying, I didn't want anything to happen to this baby. It was something I was looking forward to-Corey and I both. I had a lot of people frown upon me for wanting a baby so young but it is OUR life. Well, I went to the hospital and they told me spotting was usual in the first three months and to stay off my feet and not to worry. I wasn't having any abdominal pain or dizziness, just bleeding. My Doctor took HCG (pregnancy hormone) every three days. I was told that it was supposed to triple every day. Mine wasn't-it was 97 then 120 then 140 then 105 then 160 then 145. Just like that-it kept jumping up and down a few points.
In the few days of those tests, I passed two tiny pieces of tissue, later to be told that it was the baby. Still bleeding, and HCG level not going down or up. Hanging in limbo. My doctor scheduled a D&C thinking maybe there was just tissue left inside. It was April 14th. Almost a month of worries and tears and hopes and dreams. I was going to have a D&C done that morning. I woke up and was bleeding so bad-it was everywhere. I knew I was still pregnant, but doctor knows best right?
After the anesthesia, I woke up they told me I was 4 1/2 weeks pregnant and it was in my left tube. I have had an Ectopic Pregnancy. They had told me if I hadn't had surgery that day I would have died. I asked the doctor about those pieces of tissue and she quickly said that was the placenta and the yolk sac. I've since been wondering-don't hospitals have labs for testing pieces of tissue like that? Should they have sent that to the lab for testing? If so, then why didn't they? Maybe that would have told them sooner that it was ectopic and the could have saved my left tube.
Now the rest of my life depends on my right tube. They hardest part is trying to get past the "what if I would have..." There are so many things that can go through a woman's head and heart at a time like this. During this hardest part of my life, my family was there but after I came home from the hospital it was like I was on my own. Everybody went on with their lives, but everyday of mine, I get up thinking this could have been one day closer to the delivery of my child. Something so precious that no one will ever feel unless they have the privilege of going through it.
Will I ever be able to experience the privilege to have a baby? This has been a question on my mind since the first miscarriage and I thought it was going to be answered, but I was only to be hurt so badly again. I feel very empty inside, and this is something that is very hard to understand and get past.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. It is nice to know that your not the only one going through one of the hardest times in your life. To all whose had a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy (or in my case, both), good luck. You have my thoughts and prayers.