Nicole's Experience with an Ectopic Pregnancy
Manage episode 324177887 series 3304523
Content Warning: Ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy loss, trauma, medical procedures, surgery, a near miss and grief.
My guest today is Nicole Leijh, RSSW who is a perinatal therapist in private practice in Muskoka Ontario. Over the past few months, we’ve gotten to know each other and become friends and I was so honoured when Nicole agreed to share her experience with an ectopic pregnancy. Nicole endured a lot last year and shares her story in order to raise awareness about ectopic pregnancies and to advocate for more education and better care for people experiencing pregnancy loss.
You can find Nicole at https://lynxlakecounselling.ca
Highlights:
3:20 - What is ectopic pregnancy?
4:35 - Nicole’s story
5:47 - Signs of a miscarriage
7:15 - Ultrasound confirmed ectopic pregnancy
8:48 – Told to go to the E.R.
11:14 – Medication to treat the ectopic pregnancy
17:11 – Experiencing pain and returning to hospital after some hesitation
24:47 – Talk with surgeon, advised that Nicole would need emergency surgery
27:23 – Leaving her son for the first time since his birth
28:29 – Realization that Nicole had postpartum depression and anxiety
30:08 – Having to stop nursing because of the medication
32:05 – Surgery
36:25 – Nicole’s husband experience of being in the parking lot during her surgery
40:43 – Discharge, after-care and recovery
46:12 – Post-trauma symptoms
46:53 – Support system
50:35 – Emotional/mental recovery
52:14 – The Due Date
54:28 – Difficulty in finding external supports
56:30 – Raising awareness about ectopic pregnancies, sharing information about ectopic pregnancies
1:02:55 – Where Nicole is at today with her healing
1:03:35 – Advocating to hospitals to make positive changes to ectopic pregnancy care
1:05:40 – What would Nicole have needed during her experience
1:12:19 – What does Nicole want to see change in this space
Resources:
You can find Nicole at https://lynxlakecounselling.ca
Information about Ectopic pregnancies
https://www.babycenter.ca/a549381/ectopic-pregnancy
Support at PAIL Network
https://pailnetwork.sunnybrook.ca/support-for-families-menu/
Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Trainings https://www.canadianperinatalmentalhealthtrainings.com
Pregnancy Loss Support at Postpartum Support International
https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/loss-grief-in-pregnancy-postpartum/
You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca
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