A Real Story of a Mother, Her Pain, and the Life She Fought For
Motherhood rarely leaves room for rest. For this 28-year-old woman—married for a few years and raising two energetic children, aged six and eleven months—life was a whirlwind of school drop-offs, cooking, cleaning, and caring for a toddler just learning to walk. Days blended into nights, laughter mixed with exhaustion, and like many mothers, she hardly ever paused to think about herself.
So when her period arrived late, she didn’t panic.
Stress, she thought. Lack of sleep. Hormonal changes after the second baby.
It was easy to ignore… until it wasn’t.
Five Days Earlier: A Warning She Didn’t Recognize
It began as a dull ache in her lower abdomen—stronger than usual but nothing she found alarming. After all, her cycles had been irregular since her second child. When light bleeding started, she assumed it was just her period arriving late.
But this time, her body was trying to warn her.
Day 5: The Pain That Demanded Attention
On the fifth morning, the pain turned sharp—waves of stabbing sensation rolling through her left lower abdomen. She tried to push through, finishing her household tasks, but the discomfort intensified until she could hardly stand.
Nausea, dizziness, and a throbbing ache began taking over.
Realizing something was very wrong, she rushed to a nearby clinic.
The First Stop: A Missed Window
At the clinic, she received symptomatic treatment and was kept under observation. But within a few hours, her blood pressure dropped dangerously low.
She was immediately referred to a higher centre.
Arrival at the Emergency Department
By the time she reached the Emergency Room, her condition had worsened.
She looked pale, drowsy, and in severe abdominal pain.
Vital Signs on Arrival
- BP: 70/30 mmHg
- Pulse: 160/min
- Respiratory Rate: 30/min
- GCS: E3 V4 M6
- GRBS: 531 mg/dl
Examination Findings
- Diffuse abdominal tenderness, worst in the left iliac fossa
- Guarding and abdominal distension
- Drowsy but responding to verbal commands
Investigations
- Urine pregnancy test: Strongly positive
- ABG: Metabolic acidosis (pH 7.15), Hb 6.3
- Serum β-hCG: 4786 IU/L
- Ultrasound:
- Gross ascites with internal echoes
- Heterogeneous left adnexal lesion—likely hematoma
- Small adnexal cyst
Diagnosis: A ruptured left tubal ectopic pregnancy.
When she heard the words, her voice trembled:
“Does this mean I’m losing the pregnancy?”
Her doctors gently reassured her—nothing was her fault, and they had identified the condition in time to save her life.
Emergency Management
She was immediately stabilized with:
- IV fluids
- Oxygen support
- Pain management
- Emergency blood transfusions
But given her unstable condition, surgery could not wait.
Laparoscopic Surgery: A Life Saved
She underwent emergency laparoscopic left salpingectomy—a minimally invasive removal of the ruptured fallopian tube.
Inside her abdomen, doctors found 1200 mL of blood, confirming a severe internal bleed.
The surgery was successful.
Recovery: Healing Her Body and Heart
She recovered well post-operatively and was counseled about the future.
Her biggest fear was whether she could conceive again.
Her gynecologist reassured her that many women go on to have healthy pregnancies with just one fallopian tube.
She was also referred for emotional support—an important but often overlooked part of recovering from pregnancy loss.
Two days later, she walked out of the hospital—grateful she had sought help, thankful she was alive, and determined to stay more aware of her body.
Discharge Advice
- Early scanning in future pregnancies
- Recognizing warning signs
- Routine follow-up
Pitfalls: What Almost Cost Her Life
Her case highlights the common mistakes that delay diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy:
- Mistaking spotting for a normal period
- Attributing abdominal pain to stress or digestive issues
- Underestimating symptoms until they become severe
- Relying solely on the absence of heavy bleeding
- Assuming low risk due to lack of obvious factors
- Delay in urgent ultrasound interpretation
- Missing subtle signs of internal bleeding
- Ignoring emotional trauma associated with pregnancy loss
Dr. Anjum Akbar Mujawar
MBBS, MEM, FEM, PEM, CCEBDM
Consultant – Department of Emergency Medicine
Prakriya Hospital
With Thanks to
Dr Shalabha Vinod
Physician Assistant – Department of Emergency Medicine
Prakriya Hospital
