A mum has shared how her dad saved her life after her fallopian tube ruptured during an ectopic pregnancy – after doctors allegedly "dismissed" her symptoms as IBS.

Becca Maberly, 44, from Balham, London, had no idea she was pregnant when she was hit by agonising stomach cramps in May 2017.

She had visited her GP multiple times but claims she was continuously told her painful symptoms were symptoms of IBS and indigestion.

Soon after her third attempt at getting help failed, Becca collapsed on her living room floor and was in so much pain she couldn't walk.

She didn't know it then but she was at risk of a gruesome death.

“I was in so much pain I was shaking and sweating and I couldn’t get off the floor," she told NeedToKnow.online.

“I rang the GP again and told him the pain was worse than labour and something was very wrong.

"I asked for a scan because something awful was going on and he said he’d try and get me an appointment in the next few weeks."

Panicked, fed up with her doctor and convinced something was very wrong, Becca called her dad, Roger Marwood, 75, an obstetrician and gynaecologist.

She said: “Dad had been on holiday so in the morning when he was home I called to tell him about the trapped wind diagnosis from the GP and how severe my pain was.

“He told me to take a pregnancy test, even though I had the coil – and it was positive.

"Everything happened very quickly after that. Dad rushed over to my house and after feeling my stomach – and having a quick chat with my brother, an A&E consultant – took me to hospital straight away."

Becca’s husband, Tom, 43, stayed at home with their children Wilfred, age six, and Gus, age four.

At the hospital, a scan confirmed her father and brother's fears: the mum was suffering an ectopic pregnancy and her abdomen was full of blood.

An ectopic pregnancy is when the foetus develops outside the uterus, typically in a fallopian tube.

She said: “I was told that I needed to go straight to surgery.

"I collapsed on the floor of the unit and the doctor pulled the emergency cord.

"Suddenly the room was full of people undressing me and putting me on a trolley.

"About 20 minutes after arriving at the hospital I was under general anaesthetic having my fallopian tube removed and a litre of blood drained.

"I was very lucky my dad knew what to do.”

In 2022, Becca still suffers with harrowing emotion whenever she recalls the "traumatic experience" – and wants to warn other women not to let doctors fob them off.

She said: “I have so many mixed emotions about this traumatic experience.

“The emotional side of it all haunted me for quite a long time. I was angry, sad and confused.

“I had nightmares about dying and leaving my boys behind.

“I kept thinking 'what if' - if I hadn’t called my dad would I have just bled to death at home?

"And what about other women who don’t have an experienced medical professional in the family?

“I also felt sad about the loss of a pregnancy but because I hadn’t known I was pregnant I didn’t know if I was allowed to be sad.

"I hadn’t wanted to be pregnant either as I knew my family was complete. It was a very strange emotion.”

Becca also made a formal complaint and met with her GP, who apologised.

The doctor who allegedly dismissed her symptoms has also committed to undertaking extra training.

She is now working with her local surgery to put new measures in place to prevent them missing an important diagnosis next time.

Becca said: He did apologise. I know he felt terrible.”

“I was not offered any further support after my experience.

"It has taken me a long time to come to terms with what happened to me but helping others definitely helps."

"I regularly get messages from women who say that my experience has saved their lives.

"GPs also thank me for refreshing their memory of the symptoms."

In addition to her work at her local practice, Becca has also partnered with the charity Ectopic Pregnancy Awareness, to spread the message about the symptoms women should look out for.

“The symptoms to look out for are irregular bleeding – which may be dark or watery, severe pain in your tummy, pain in your shoulder tip, feeling dizzy or faint and pain in your bottom or diarrhoea," she has warned her 50,000 Instagram followers (@motherplace).

“By talking about this kind of thing, like miscarriage, baby loss and other previously taboo subjects, we can help bring awareness around the topic.

"You might be able to help a friend, relative or colleague after reading my experience.

“I want women to know – please understand there is no right or wrong way to feel and most importantly you are not alone.”

ENDS

EDITOR'S NOTE: Digital press are kindly asked to include hyperlink to Becca's website: https://www.amotherplace.com/

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