Sarah Ferguson longed to be a mum but had difficulty conceiving naturally. After years of trying for a baby, she and her husband decided to go down the IVF route.
The couple had two embryos implanted and one of them developed into a successful pregnancy.
In an article for PopSugar Moms, Sarah explained: “Fast forward to testing day, and yes, I totally cheated and took a home pregnancy test the day before — and it was positive!
“You can imagine the relief and excitement. Then we were off to the doctor, where blood tests and a scan confirmed there was one fabulous little bun in the oven ready to cook”.
Sarah and her husband had an early scan at six weeks and were excited to see their baby’s heartbeat. However, at her final scan with their fertility specialist a week later, “it all unravelled”.
The doctor imparted heartbreaking news to Sarah: "No heartbeat, not viable, the baby has arrested, very sorry, I'll send you through to the nurse and she'll explain the options from here”.
“Feeling numb, we listened as the nurse said we could either wait for ‘it’ to happen naturally or they could arrange for a dilation and curettage procedure (D&C)”, Sarah wrote.
Sarah was heartbroken but couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something not quite right with the diagnosis.
“That week was full of grief, but in the back of my mind, I couldn't shake still feeling pregnant. When more blood tests came back with increasing hormone levels, I questioned the nurses, but they said, ‘Sometimes that happens’ ”, she explained.
Sarah was referred to a miscarriage clinic at her local public hospital. She had asked her specialist for a second scan but he was adamant that he was right.
“I'll never forget reading the words on his referral letter requesting an ‘immediate evacuation of the uterus’ because I wasn't ‘coping’ ”, she revealed.
However, before having a D&C, Sarah was determined to have another scan at the public hospital.
"I remember saying, "I think we're probably just confirming the inevitable but I need to check," as I handed over the referral documents.
“She started scanning. A couple of minutes later she stopped, cocked her head a little, leaned into the screen, scanned more, looked closer, and then turned to me and said: ‘I don't know what he was looking at, but what I see here is a perfectly viable baby with a good heartbeat. And it appears to be measuring ahead of expected’ ”.
“I felt my heart drop. WHAT? She reread my notes and asked if I would wait for a moment while she went to get her boss”.
The head of the department came in to scan Sarah again and confirmed that she was still pregnant with a healthy baby.
Sarah was anxious throughout the rest of her pregnancy but thankfully, her baby girl arrived safe and healthy.
She now urges other mums who may find themselves in the same position to get a second opinion if they are unsure.
“I know that most of the time a miscarriage is just that and my situation is rare, but if you find yourself in this terrible, heartbreaking situation, don't rush into a decision. Please always get a second opinion, and trust yourself”, she advised.
