Something Doesn't Feel Right With My Pregnancy

If you have just found out that you are pregnant, you probably have a million things to consider. But one thing you may not have given much thought to is where the pregnancy is taking place. Most of the time, the fertilized egg makes its way to the uterus, which is where it is supposed to be. However, in roughly 1 in 50 pregnancies, the egg gets stuck in the fallopian tube or somewhere else outside of the uterus. In this case, it is referred to as an ectopic pregnancy, meaning that you must seek medical help as soon as possible.

What actually happens

When the pregnancy develops outside of the uterus, it is unable to develop normally. The fallopian tube cannot accommodate the embryo and, therefore, it can stretch and rupture. This is a very dangerous situation that can lead to internal bleeding and complications that require immediate medical intervention.

Ectopic pregnancies may not always produce evident early signs. A common pregnancy test will show a positive result in case of both normal and ectopic pregnancy, due to the fact that the hormone hCG is present in both cases. That is why a positive test does not tell you whether you are experiencing a normal or ectopic pregnancy.

Ectopic pregnancy signs to look out for

Some early signs overlap with normal early pregnancy signs, leading to confusion. Nevertheless, some signals are significant enough to be aware of:

• Severe pain on one side of your pelvis or lower abdomen

• Bleeding from the vagina that is different from a normal period (often lighter than a normal period or flow)

• Shoulder tip pain, which may indicate bleeding in the body affecting the diaphragm

• Feeling faint, dizzy, or light-headed

• Nausea and vomiting not limited to typical morning sickness

• Pain during bowel movements or urination

The symptoms may occur suddenly or gradually at different times. Pain in your shoulder tip, fainting, or excruciating pain on just one side of your abdomen may suggest that there is a rupture. If you encounter any of these symptoms, you should immediately get to an emergency room or call 911 for help.

Some women with ectopic pregnancy do not exhibit all the warning signs listed above. Some women do not experience any symptoms early on. Nevertheless, if you feel that something is not right, get checked.

Is it necessary to have an early ultrasound?

You may know that you are pregnant thanks to the pregnancy test that reveals the presence of hCG. However, the test cannot show where the pregnancy has occurred. An ultrasound can give you an understanding of where the pregnancy is situated.

A limited OB ultrasound can provide assurance that the pregnancy is developing in the uterus. And if there is no pregnancy in the uterus despite having tested positive, your provider can carry out further evaluations to identify the ectopic pregnancy. This is highly important because early detection allows doctors to take action in many ways to help people and reduces the risk of complications.

At Crossroads Resource Center, we offer limited OB ultrasound at no cost. The ultrasound checks for pregnancy viability, gestational age, and fetal heartbeat, and it helps rule out ectopic pregnancy. If you have not confirmed your pregnancy yet, we also provide no-cost, lab-quality pregnancy testing at our Moses Lake location.

If you experience any symptoms now

If you have severe symptoms such as intense abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, shoulder tip pain, or fainting, go to the emergency room right away. A ruptured ectopic pregnancy is a severe condition that requires immediate medical attention.

If your symptoms are mild, or you just have a gut feeling that something is wrong, get checked anyway. Confirming where the pregnancy is located matters most in the earliest weeks.

Seeking help

It is important to get answers on how to understand the location of the pregnancy. Don't hesitate. An ultrasound provides clarity, and here it costs you nothing.

Call or text us anytime at (509) 765-4425. Crossroads Resource Center is at 1555 S. Pilgrim St., Moses Lake, WA 98837, open Monday through Thursday from 11:00am to 4:00pm.