April 2, 2008 12:23 PM
Possible ectopic pregnancy - please pray for Rachel
Rachel needs our prayers!
For three years, through her comments here and emails we've exchanged, I've known Rachel. Though I'm old enough to be her mom, as a mom who still is growing, I feel like we've grown together through the good times and bad. I've admired Rachel's transparency and willingness to open up the not-so-perfect parts of her life in order to help others.
Now, I feel a mother's sadness/concern/yearning to help as Rachel is going through a time of trial. Will you pray for her like a sister?
I am the mother of three kids, and currently pregnant with a much-hoped for #4. I prayed that God would bless me with another child, and he has.I found out on Easter morning that I am expecting again. My happiness was short-lived, as I was experiencing some bleeding. I went to the doctor the very next day, and he told me that he believed I was miscarrying. I was to come back in a couple of days to see if my lower than normal hcg and progesterone levels went up or down. He expected them to go down, because he believed I was having an early miscarriage.
When I went back, my levels had actually went up. He still had little hope, and I was to go back for more blood tests a few days later. Over the course of the week, my levels continued to rise slowly, but my doctor continued to believe that I was miscarrying. He sent me for an u/s, but they couldn't see a gestational sac or anything else. He told me he was sorry, but there was no longer a pregnancy.
I had a hard time accepting it, and he told me I could come back once more to have my levels checked. During all of last week, I was very emotional. I was alternately grieving my baby and holding on to hope that my baby was still alive.
Monday afternoon, I had blood drawn for one final check, and Monday evening I began bleeding. I tried to accept that I really was losing my baby.
Tuesday morning, I woke up to more bleeding and intense pain. I finally told myself that it really was over. I was no longer even worried about my lab results. When I called the doctor's office, I asked for instruction on what I could do for my pain, and told them I assumed it was really over.
Instead of confirming this, the doctor told me that my levels had again went up, and it looked like I was still pregnant. He was worried about my pain, and feared it could be an ectopic pregnancy. After spending yesterday evening in the ER getting more blood work and an ultrasound, they have told me that I am not miscarrying. The doctor told me that I do have a viable pregnancy, but they are just not sure where it is. They could not see anything in my uterus, but it was possible that it was just too early to see. They did, however, see something on my left side where I was experiencing the most intense pain, and he said it could be an ectopic pregnancy. I got the feeling that was what they really suspected. I am to see an OB today, and I should learn more at that appointment.
My request is for as many people as possible to pray for me. I need a miracle. I believe that God is bigger than this situation. I believe that He is powerful and He is able to let my baby live if he wishes. He created this child inside of me, and I know that He had a purpose in that. That purpose may very well be just to make my faith stronger in my baby's death, but, until I know that for sure, I am asking Him for a miracle. I know that if He wanted to move my baby to the safety of my womb He can do that. I know that He is bigger than the knowledge we already have. I know that He holds life and death in His hands. I ask you to pray for me and my baby.
Ectopic pregnancy can not be fixed. If the baby is in my fallopian tube, it cannot survive there. Normal procedure is to remove the baby before it bursts my tube. I value my baby's life. I don't want to have to face that decision. I want God to take care of it. I know He can if he wills. I covet your prayers, friends. If you have a blog and would be willing to ask your readers to pray, I would appreciate that more than words could say. I know God hears our prayers. I know He wants us to make our requests known. Please pray for me and my baby.
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Picture: The Prayer by William-Adolphe_Bouguereau - reminds me of approaching God as a child.
Posted in Prayer needs | Permalink
Comments
As one mom at the other end of her 4th pregnancy, I feel Rachel's pain. I will be praying for her today. Our God is BIGGER than anything we will ever face and He still does miracles all the time.
Hugs, Rachel!
Posted by: Ceci | April 2, 2008 1:37 PM
Dearest Rachel,
I am praying for you and will not stop. I will pray for your miracle. I will pray that no matter what happens, God's will shall be done, and that you will be able to find His peace there.
Posted by: Greta | April 2, 2008 1:54 PM
My heart goes out to you, Rachel. Facing an ectopic pregnancy is one of the hardest things a mama can endure---simply because of the "cure" for it...I am so sorry.
I do believe God can do miracles. I know that whatever the outcome, He will hold you close.
I just miscarried for the fourth time, and I don't understand it. It's a struggle. But I will pray for you, Rachel. Please keep us updated.
Posted by: gretchen from lifenut | April 2, 2008 2:22 PM
I will pray for you. I'm a mom of 3 hoping for a fourth and know that God is the author of miracles! May His peace surround you!
Posted by: Cherie | April 2, 2008 2:24 PM
Barbara,
Thanks so much for posting this and for loving my precious friend.
Posted by: Amy Maxwell | April 2, 2008 2:48 PM
oh how scary! I will most certainly pray.
Posted by: Tara R | April 2, 2008 3:16 PM
I am unfamiliar with the teachings of other denominations, but the Catholic Church only allows a procedure to be done that doesn't directly attack the life of the child, but removes the portion of the tube where the baby is. This distinction and reasons for it are explained in detail on this webpage.
http://www.cuf.org/Faithfacts/details_view.asp?ffID=57
Posted by: Judy | April 2, 2008 4:18 PM
I recently called the National Catholic Bioethics Center about a medical dilemma. A wonderful ethicist called me back and spent 20 minutes listening to me and explaining the Church's teaching with clarity and compassion. Rachel, I'm sure they would be glad to talk to you and help you, no matter what your faith. No doubt they frequently have to address this heartbreaking situation.
I copied this info from their website.
If you have an emergency, or a specific time-sensitive question,
please call the Center directly:
Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm EST
at (215) 877-2660.
God bless! Judy
Posted by: Judy | April 2, 2008 4:28 PM
I'm praying for you Rachel. As a mom of 3 here on earth and 2 that I didn't get to meet, I can definitely empathize with you.
~hugs~
Jenny
Posted by: Jenny | April 2, 2008 7:29 PM
I am praying for you and the baby, Rachel! And that God would grant you amazing peace of mind.
Posted by: Andrea | April 2, 2008 7:45 PM
Rachel,
As someone who has had a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, they didn't catch it in time. I understand your pain, both physically and emotionally. It took me weeks to recover physically and months longer emotionally. I will be in prayer for you, you are facing a difficult situation, walk with God, He was the only thing that got me through.
Christina
Posted by: Christina | April 2, 2008 8:37 PM
