So you are pregnant ... now what? 

When you see that second line appear on the home pregnancy test, you will feel a mixture of different feelings.  Your first instinct is joy and happiness.  But for a woman who has a history of ectopic pregnancy, there is also fear and to some degree panic.

The first step is to call your doctor and make arrangements for an HCG test (blood work).  My doctor would put a stat order on all my blood work, so I wouldn't have to wait for more than a couple of hours to get the results.  This test should be repeated every two days, to make sure the HCG level is doubling.  As long as your numbers are rising accordingly, this is a very good sign in itself.

However, once you have reached 2000-5000* HCG level, your doctor should order an ultrasound.  Although some doctor's wait until you are approximately eight weeks along.

If at the time of the ultrasound, the gestational sac is seen, but no heartbeat can be detected.  They will order another ultrasound within a week or two.

The best news in all of this is, that most women do go on to have a normal pregnancy after an ectopic.

When you are thinking of a timeframe for all of this to occur, I can only tell you how long it took for me.  I tested on Friday afternoon, went for my first blood test on Monday and by the following Friday morning, I was over 3000.  I had an ultrasound that afternoon.  However, it was very early and they could not detect the heartbeat.  I was just relieved to see the sac in the right place.  About a week and a half later I went back, it was truly a beautiful sight to see that little heart beating away.

Although this can be the scariest part of your pregnancy, it should also be a happy event.  Stay positive and make sure you have someone you can talk to during this sometimes difficult time.  I can tell you from personal experience, it's worth every minute.  And remember the odds are in your favor.