Ruth Walne
EPT London Marathon Team
Fundraising for The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
Story
Hi I’m Ruth, I’m 43 and I’m running the London marathon AGAIN! I was only ever going to run a marathon once, however the events of 2020 lead to me partaking in a virtual solo marathon. So here we are 2 years down the line and I am once again starting my training to run another marathon.
And here’s why ………….
Back in 2010 we decided to expand our small family and try for a 3rd baby, I had had 2 previous pregnancies which were uneventful so presumed as most people do that this would be like the others.
We’d planned when we wanted the new addition and were over joyed when the pregnancy test produced 2 blue lines on Saturday 3rd October 2010; devastatingly this was short lived. A panicked telephone call to the Out of hours Drs who’s only advice was that I was likely to be miscarrying and to see my own GP as there was nothing he was able to do on a Sunday. Monday morning came and my own GP booked me into the early pregnancy unit for the next day and sent me home to rest.
Tuesday October 5th 2010 we sat nervously in the early pregnancy unit, unsure of what lay ahead and after blood tests and a scan we were told my bloods were showing low levels of BcHg but the scan was not showing a pregnancy. I was given a leaflet on pregnancy of unknown location. I was to return in 48hours for more blood tests. For the next week I went back and forth having blood tests and scans until it was decided that I needed to have a Methotrexate injection as it was likely I had an ectopic pregnancy (they were still unable to find the location) and on the 14th October I signed my consent. I had follow up bloods on day 4 and 7 post injection which showed a reduction in BcHg which we were told was the pregnancy dissolving and discharged from the service. We presumed this was the end of the nightmare.
However I started experiencing horrendous abdominal pain the evening of 28th October (2 weeks post injection.) I collapsed at home and was rushed to A&E where I was kept stable overnight before an emergency scan the following morning revealed a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. I had to undergo emergency surgery resulting in the loss of my fallopian tube and a large amount of blood.
For the weeks that followed as my physical wounds healed I found myself struggling with the emotional side. One evening after a particularly dark day I stumbled across the ectopic pregnancy trust website. I found vast amounts of information, an online forum of women who knew exactly how I felt, and I was no longer alone. I want to give back to this amazing charity whom without I do not know where I would be today.
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust strives to provide information, education and support to those affected by early pregnancy complications and to the health professionals who care for them. Ectopic pregnancy is a common, life-threatening condition that is the leading cause of maternal death in the first trimester of early pregnancy. The condition affects 1 in 80 pregnancies in the UK and occurs when an embryo grows outside of the womb. The EPT believes that the deaths and trauma associated with ectopic pregnancy should be prevented. We seek to relieve the distress associated with the experience and provide ongoing support through their treatment and beyond. Please support our passionate runners who will be training hard to pound the streets of London raising crucial funds and awareness for ectopic pregnancies.
And here’s why ………….
Back in 2010 we decided to expand our small family and try for a 3rd baby, I had had 2 previous pregnancies which were uneventful so presumed as most people do that this would be like the others.
We’d planned when we wanted the new addition and were over joyed when the pregnancy test produced 2 blue lines on Saturday 3rd October 2010; devastatingly this was short lived. A panicked telephone call to the Out of hours Drs who’s only advice was that I was likely to be miscarrying and to see my own GP as there was nothing he was able to do on a Sunday. Monday morning came and my own GP booked me into the early pregnancy unit for the next day and sent me home to rest.
Tuesday October 5th 2010 we sat nervously in the early pregnancy unit, unsure of what lay ahead and after blood tests and a scan we were told my bloods were showing low levels of BcHg but the scan was not showing a pregnancy. I was given a leaflet on pregnancy of unknown location. I was to return in 48hours for more blood tests. For the next week I went back and forth having blood tests and scans until it was decided that I needed to have a Methotrexate injection as it was likely I had an ectopic pregnancy (they were still unable to find the location) and on the 14th October I signed my consent. I had follow up bloods on day 4 and 7 post injection which showed a reduction in BcHg which we were told was the pregnancy dissolving and discharged from the service. We presumed this was the end of the nightmare.
However I started experiencing horrendous abdominal pain the evening of 28th October (2 weeks post injection.) I collapsed at home and was rushed to A&E where I was kept stable overnight before an emergency scan the following morning revealed a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. I had to undergo emergency surgery resulting in the loss of my fallopian tube and a large amount of blood.
For the weeks that followed as my physical wounds healed I found myself struggling with the emotional side. One evening after a particularly dark day I stumbled across the ectopic pregnancy trust website. I found vast amounts of information, an online forum of women who knew exactly how I felt, and I was no longer alone. I want to give back to this amazing charity whom without I do not know where I would be today.
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust strives to provide information, education and support to those affected by early pregnancy complications and to the health professionals who care for them. Ectopic pregnancy is a common, life-threatening condition that is the leading cause of maternal death in the first trimester of early pregnancy. The condition affects 1 in 80 pregnancies in the UK and occurs when an embryo grows outside of the womb. The EPT believes that the deaths and trauma associated with ectopic pregnancy should be prevented. We seek to relieve the distress associated with the experience and provide ongoing support through their treatment and beyond. Please support our passionate runners who will be training hard to pound the streets of London raising crucial funds and awareness for ectopic pregnancies.
