All About Ectopic Pregnancy
Most of the time, when an egg is fertilized it implants inside the uterus where it can safely become a pregnancy. Sometimes however (but rarely, about 1 out of 100 pregnancies), the fertilized egg will try to make a home outside the uterus: in fallopian tube (most common), on the ovary, in the cervix, or anywhere inside the pelvis or abdominal cavity. these are called ectopic pregnancies.
It’s important to understand that an ectopic pregnancy CANNOT develop into a normal, healthy pregnancy—only the uterus is equipped for that. If the growing pregnancy were to break open (ie: ruptured ectopic), it can cause severe internal bleeding. People who experience a ruptured ectopic require surgery, sometimes leading to the removal of fallopian tubes or ovaries. If a person with a ruptured ectopic can’t access healthcare, they can die from internal bleeding.
You can confirm that you do NOT have an ectopic pregnancy by getting an ultrasound or series of blood tests. It is recommended that pregnant people have an ultrasound any time after 6 weeks LMP to confirm the location of the pregnancy—anytime before 6 weeks can be too early to tell where the pregnancy is located. If you are pregnant and experience any of these warning signs listed get checked out quickly!
sharp, stabbing, persistent, worsening pain on one side of the pelvis
sudden bright red, heavy bleeding from the vagina
sudden shoulder pain (this is from a nerve that extends throughout our torsos—internal bleeding can irritate the nerve and cause shoulder pain)
dizziness, lightheadedness, passing out
Ectopic pregnancy is a great example of why access to reproductive healthcare and knowledgeable medical professionals is essential. Some politicians have suggested that ectopic pregnancies can somehow be “saved”, or that ending an ectopic pregnancy should be illegal. These politicians don’t understand reproductive healthcare, which has cost people their lives by making care harder to access. If you need another reason to defend reproductive healthcare, this is a good one!
Looking for other ways to connect with your weird & wise body?
Somatic support is just a fancy way of saying “support for your body.” It differs from talk therapy in that we don’t need to talk or tell a story with our logical thinking brains—instead, we are learning to hear the story that the body tells through different physiology (tension, heart rate, shallow breathing, shaking, sighs, yawns, etc.). We tend to the STRESS & TENSION in the body (not so much the reasons why the stress is there—while this piece of the puzzle is important, sometimes it’s more useful to deal directly with the stress / tension itself first!) through different practices, modalities, time, patience, and presence.
If this kind of support feels interesting to you, please set up a consult call with me here to learn more! Available for virtual support or in person support in Madison, WI.