Understand how to Recover from an Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy is a situation where in the fertilised egg implants in a different area of the reproductive tract than in the uterus. Here are ways in which you can recover from such a pregnancy.

In ectopic pregnancy, the most common location where the egg implants is the fallopian tube, but at times it has been found to implant in the ovary or abdomen. This sort of pregnancy is not viable and requires prompt treatment. Once it is complete, the patient begins the process of recovering from ectopic pregnancy.

Treatments

Two of the most common treatments that are used for helping a woman recover from ectopic pregnancy include the following:

•  Salpingostomy: a procedure that removes portion of the fallopian tube along with the egg and is recommended for those with larger eggs. This procedure can be performed by laparoscopy and will result in a smaller incision and a shorter recovery. Some patients even require larger incision which is known as laparotomy and this increases the recovery time by a number of weeks. Laparotomy is preferred when the fallopian tube has burst or is in danger of bursting.

• Ectopic pregnancies that are early and in which the egg is still small may not really require surgical treatment. The physician may instead try to see whether the body can eliminate the pregnancy on its own. A medication named methotrexate may also be given to patients to terminate ectopic pregnancy faster.

Physical Recovery Process

The time taken to recover from ectopic pregnancy usually depends on the specific type of procedure that was used. Here are two recovery processes:

•  After surgery with laparoscopy is done, the average time a woman takes to recover is 2 to 3 weeks, and post laparotomy, it takes up to 6 weeks for recovery. The patient can take prescription or over the counter drugs for the first few weeks so that she can manage the discomfort around the incision area. Women who have surgery by laparoscopy usually resume their regular activities within three weeks and laparotomy patients take one month to six weeks to return to their normal schedule.

•  There could be a little physical recovery for early ectopic pregnancies that do not require surgery; a patient will be monitored very closely so as to ensure that it resolves on its own.

Emotional Recovery

Patients have been found to be struggling with feelings of sadness and anger at the loss of pregnancy. This part of the recovery could be difficult and can take longer to heal. Keep the following tips in consideration:

•  Talk to someone you can trust like your friend or any family member who would listen to your grievance and support you.  You could joine the support groups where women talk about their loss in a safe environment.

•  You could also cheer yourself up to feel better by doing something for yourself like going to a spa or shopping.

•  You could also do some physical activities like exercising as it could be an effective way to minimise your sadness and regain all the energy that you have lost. Doing physical exercises releases the feel good hormones called endorphins into the body, and this acts as a natural mood booster.

You will have to be treated for ectopic pregnancy as that is the only way to make sure that you recover from it.

Read more articles on Problems during Pregnancy.