5 Effective Ways To Recover Emotionally Post An Ectopic Pregnancy
By Catherine M, Staff Editor
Last Updated on March 6th, 2023 / Published on October 4, 2018
5 effective ways to recover emotionally post an ectopic pregnancy
Pregnancy is a life-altering experience, and expectant parents go through a wide range of emotions through the nine months of the gestation period. Pregnancy is never uneventful; there are high chances that some unforeseen complications can arise, and these complications can range from mild to severe. Doctors usually inform their patients about the problems that can arise during the pregnancy, and this prepares couples for such situations.
Complications during pregnancy are inevitable, but when the pregnancy itself becomes a complication, there are several unpleasant situations that one is forced to face. One such condition that causes great distress to the expecting parents is an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg attaches itself to any part other than the uterus. Here, the fertilized egg may attach itself to the fallopian tube, which carries the eggs from the ovaries to the uterus, instead of the uterus itself. At times, ectopic pregnancy can also occur in other areas of the body, such as the abdominal cavity, the ovary, or the lower part of the uterus which connects to the vagina.
Ectopic pregnancy can cause severe physical and emotional distress as it becomes imperative to terminate the pregnancy. This situation can be devastating for couples who had been trying to conceive for a long time. Emotions run high, and it becomes difficult for them to cope with the condition.
Read on to learn about some effective ways to cope with the surge of emotions that affects women after undergoing treatment for ectopic pregnancy.
Accept these feelings: Ectopic or not, terminating a pregnancy in the initial days can cause a great deal of distress to women as nothing could prepare them for this situation beforehand. Women often end up overthinking and stressing due to several questions like “What’s wrong with me?” or “Why did this happen to me?” which start cropping up in their minds. Moreover, their hormones go haywire which can give rise to symptoms of depression. In such circumstances, it is necessary for women to come to terms with the situation and accept these feelings, even if they aren’t pleasant. Acceptance is the first step to recovery after an ectopic pregnancy.
Talk to friends and family: After undergoing treatment for an ectopic pregnancy, women tend to recede into a shell and refrain from communicating with anyone. It’s completely alright if they aren’t ready to face the world after experiencing such a huge loss, but shutting out friends and family isn’t advisable. They will acknowledge your loss and provide some much-needed support during this difficult time.
Opt for counseling: Another effective way that women can deal with emotional upheavals after the termination of an ectopic pregnancy is through therapy. A counselor might be the right person they need to talk to. In fact, it would be better for the couple to go in for counseling together. Contrary to the widespread belief, even men undergo a great deal of emotional turmoil when a pregnancy is terminated. The only difference is that they grieve differently than women. So, opting for a couples therapy session will yield more positive results.
Find a support group: There are many women out there who might have gone through an ectopic pregnancy at some point in their lives, and they can empathize with those who have faced this stressful procedure recently. The very feeling that they are not alone in this misfortune, and that they can overcome this event and get on with life is reassuring. So, finding a support group of people who went through similar circumstances can help women face the situation with a renewed sense of hope.
Treat oneself with kindness: After undergoing such an emotionally draining situation, there are chances that women might hold themselves responsible and might feel like the ectopic pregnancy was their fault. However, there are a variety of factors at play which results in an ectopic pregnancy. So, instead of being hard on themselves, women should treat themselves with kindness. In fact, they should take a few days off to relax and recover from this condition. Ectopic pregnancy is emotionally and physically exhausting, and treating oneself right ensures that one recovers from this unfortunate situation sooner rather than later.