Episode 18: Ectopic Pregnancies, with Krisanne Orciel

KEY TOPICS: 2 births, miscarriage, ectopic, salpingectomy, infertility, IVF, elective caesarean, thrombophilia, pandemic

We welcome our first pregnant guest onto the podcast in this episode! Meet Krisanne Orciel, full-term with her second baby at the time of recording (February 2025).

Krisanne describes her decade-long parenting journey, including an ectopic pregnancy loss at nine weeks. The procedure to remove the affected fallopian tube was followed by repeated, unexplained early miscarriages over several years. A second ectopic pregnancy and salpingectomy procedure left Krisanne unable to naturally conceive, and she describes the intense feelings of hopelessness, believing she might never become a mother.

Krisanne and her partner qualified for fertility treatment through the Gibraltar Health Authority using a clinic in Spain. She explains the many tests involved, and how they finally discovered the treatable reason for her previous losses. After an unsuccessful first IVF cycle, Krisanne speaks about her mindset change for their second attempt, and - despite an additional risk factor - the couple were able to enjoy a healthy pregnancy before the elective caesarean birth of their boy in 2022! They underwent another cycle of fertility treatment the following year at a different clinic, and were lucky to become pregnant again with their second son. She speaks about the contrasting experiences at the clinics, and feels grateful she's had these opportunities to grow her family.

This is a story with an over-riding message of positivity in the face of adversity. Krisanne tells her story in such an engaging way, you’ll be gripped from start to finish. We’ve popped a little update at the end too, with a surprising twist on her second caesarean as well as her recovery journey. Thank you Krisanne for sharing your Gibraltar Birth Stories so beautifully!

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