Conwy mum who had Mirena Coil fitted survives ectopic pregnancy

Lydia Ryan, 25, had a heart-breaking experience earlier this September.

The mum from Conwy had been enjoying an evening down at the beach with her family.

About 7pm, Lydia experienced "excruciating pain" in her lower stomach. She put it down to pulling a muscle and went home for a cold shower. 

She suffered sickness, dizziness, and hot / cold sweats that started to ease off about 12pm. She put it down to sunstroke but in the morning, she was hit by a  sharp piercing pain in her lower right stomach and an "unbearable cramping pain" in her shoulders.

Lydia and Sam (Image: Lydia Ryan)
Lydia's partner Sam Sinkinson thankfully "dragged" her to Glan Clwyd Hospital's A&E the next morning, something she would forever be thankful for. 

Lydia, who has a three-year-old daughter called Billie, said: "The cramps lasted all night until Sam decided to unwillingly drag me to A&E at 11am the next day [on Saturday, September 9].

"I arrived at A&E and was immediately rushed through to triage. Within minutes the nurse was explaining to me that I was pregnant, something I firmly disputed because I had been sensible and had a ‘Mirena Coil’ fitted which was supposed to be a 99.9 per cent successful contraceptive. I was confused, scared, and in a world of pain. They placed me on a bed, pumped me with morphine and told me that the baby, I had just learnt was inside me, was in fact ectopic and had zero per cent chance of survival. They told me that whilst the coil had prevented the pregnancy reaching my womb, it hadn’t stopped me getting pregnant. I had been pregnant between eight and 16 weeks and it had been growing inside my fallopian tube. It’s an uncommon side effect of a coil they told me… I had no idea it was a possible side effect."

Lydia was sadly informed the baby had reached its maximum growth.

"It sadly ruptured my tube and had died," Lydia said.

"This left about two-litres of blood free flowing internally around my stomach, which could’ve caused me to die.

"This is where I count my lucky stars and thank the staff, surgeons, doctors, nurses, and Sam, for saving me that day. They told me if I had walked through that A&E door an hour later, I’d be dead.

Lydia, Sam and Lydia's daughter Billie (Image: Lydia Ryan)
"They rushed me into surgery and saved my life. Something I am forever grateful for.

"That day we lost a baby I lost a fallopian tube, and nearly lost my life."

Lydia wasn't aware that a Mirena Coil could cause such an outcome. She had the hormone-releasing birth control fitted in May.

"I wish that I had been given all the information before I had it," she said.

"I also had no idea what signs and symptoms to look out for when experiencing an ectopic pregnancy. I was only advised to check to make sure it was still in place, which it was, and that it is 99.9 per cent effective but doesn’t protect you from Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

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"If I can take any silver lining from this, it is to raise awareness to all girls out there that the coil does not stop you getting pregnant. Please ask your doctor or nurse for all the information before considering it as a contraceptive.

"Secondly, ectopic pregnancies happen to one in 90 pregnancies. If you’re experiencing stomach pains, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or an unusual sharp cramping pain in your shoulders, I'd say please go to A&E and get checked over immediately. It could save your life."

Lydia wanted to stress how fantastic all the staff were with her at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan. She mentioned nurses, surgeons, health care assistants, triage nurses and the consultants. 

"I hope they know how amazing their staff are," Lydia said.

"In particular Dr Bril who discussed our options about cremation and burial afterwards.

"He was with me throughout the entire time during the operation and afterwards."