Could this be an entopic pregnancy?

[RainboxFX]

First of all, as a background, I lost my son to extreme prematurity earlier this year so am already very anxious about being pregnant again.

I found out on Saturday I am expecting again, which I am of course really very happy about. My last menstrual period would date me as 6 weeks on Thursday but I didn't ovulate until day 21, so I think I am really more like 5 weeks.

Since Sunday I have been having moderate stitch like pain in my left side. Sometimes sharp enough to make me catch my breath, but most of the time just dull like bad period pain. I also feel quite constipated, sorry if TMI! No bleeding, but a lot of nausea. Not sure if this is early pregnancy symptoms or nerves.

I have a doctors appointment on Thursday since I do a physical job and this pregnancy is going to be classed as "high risk" anyway.

Is an appointment in two days enough? What symptoms should I worry about and treat as an emergency? I don't want to be the hysterical woman who makes a massive fuss over nothing, but I am also really worried.

Hi Rainbow, sorry that you've had an awful pregnancy experience and lost your son last year. It's no wonder that you're hyper sensitive to pain and other symptoms.

I had an ectoptic pregnancy a few years ago, I was about 6 or 7 weeks pregnat - I had SEVERE pain along one side which meant I rushed myself to hospital. I was operated on immediately (lost the tube).

I'm not sure if the pain you're experiencing is something serious to worry about or not (sorry, unhelpful I know). If you are really worried can you ring your GP to get an emerg appt? For me the pain was so severe I went straight to A & E - there was no fannying about.

As an addendum, even though I lost the pregnancy and tube I did go on to have my now 5 yr old dd. Don't know if that helps.

Congratulations on this pregnancy anyway, fingers crossed that all is fine

I don't know a great deal about ectopics, but I think that 2 days is quite a while to wait if you're a) in pain and b) worrying. If it were me I'd get an emergency GP appointment- hopefully they can send you for a scan and put your mind at rest. And if anything is wrong, better to find out sooner.

Hope all is ok.

I'd get an emergency appointment and a referral to EPU.

My ectopic never hurt much. Just niggled. I had to tell the dic to refrr me. I just knew something was very wrong.

Good luck.

With my ectopic the pain of it starting to rupture (at about 6 wks 2 days) was not one-sided. It was just abdominal pain, not exactly the same as a period. It got gradually worse and there was no ignoring it or sleeping through it so it had to be looked at.

However, thinking back to 4-5 weeks pg I did have some sharp stabbing pains on the side with the ectopic. I also realised I didn't have any of the crampy uterus stretching pains of early pregnancy.

Your symptoms are definitely worth checking out in case of ectopic, but there is also a good chance it won't be. I think you can keep your Thursday appointment (unless you can bring it forward at all) and just monitor things until then. If the pain worsens or you get bleeding, I would probably advise a visit to A&E just in case.

In the end, whether you see your GP or go to the hospital, psych yourself up to be assertive. It is common for them to try and fob you off and send you home. What you really need if the symptoms persist is an ultrasound scan.

Thank you all, I really appreciate all the advice. I am also apparently so anxious I can't spell. I of course meant ectopic.

I think my current plan is monitor things til Thursday, and go to a and e or at least call NHS24 if I feel worse before then. Sorry if this is drip feeding, I do also get IBS like pain from time to time and I honestly can't remember if this is what that feels like . I am such a wound up bag of nerves atm!

There is really useful information on the nhs website of what symptoms to look out for and it highlights the severe ones. Sorry can't link, but google will bring it up. My pain felt like cystitis and I had a heavy bleed first. Agreed that you should go with your instincts and phone nhs 24 if needed.

Do you have a local early pregnancy unit? Usually you can self refer for an early scan if you're in pain. I didn't have any pain with mine, and then a strange ache in my thighs(!) when it ruptured. Luckily I was in hospital as I'd had bleeding as the first real symptom was feeling dizzy when lying down. Get it checked out asap if you're worried.

If you have any worries about ectopic don't wait 2 days. I had to be resuscitated in an ambulance when I had mine and I also had thought the pains were related to my coeliac disease. If in doubt, please get checked out at EPU. They will understand your anxiety with your history.

Really sorry to hear about your loss, really big hugs to you

If your worried go and get checked out because the stress isn't good for you!

I lost my baby boy at 23 weeks in April and anothes at 6 weeks in August and im now 5 weeks pregnant so i know how you feel.

I had a 24 hour sickness bug yesterday, had bad shoulder and abdominal pain too but i think its just in my head because im so worried!

Make sure you get checked out soon because if it is an ectopic then 2 days might be too late. x

The odds are that your pregnancy is not ectopic.
I get the symptoms you describe in a normal early pregnancy - I think it comes from being a bit constipated. And I have had two pain free ectopic pregnancies ( which is not the norm!)

You are worried, so I reckon you should get checked over. At this stage if your pregnancy is developing normally they should be able to see a sac on a scan. Have you an EPAU you can go to without a referral?