Mother who fell pregnant despite being fitted with a COIL refused a termination despite losing so much blood she needed a transfusion - and gave birth to a 'little fighter' at 23 weeks

  • Rebecca Shephard, 27, had a 10-year copper coil fitted deemed 99% effective
  • Mother-of-one realised she was pregnant with partner of a year Jack Luckings
  • Dramatically the coil couldn't be removed as it was too close to the unborn baby
  • Refused to terminate pregnancy despite bleeding heavily throughout pregnancy
  • She gave birth to Charlie at 23 weeks pregnant, he weighed just  1lb 4oz

A mother who fell pregnant despite being fitted with a contraceptive coil proceeded with the high risk pregnancy despite being warned she had a 50 per cent chance of miscarriage.

Care home deputy manager Rebecca Shephard, 27, of Dagenham, Essex realised she was expecting when she recognised signs of morning sickness, despite having a 10 year copper coil or IUD - deemed 99 per cent effective as a contraceptive - fitted.

Doctors told Rebecca the coil was too 'dangerously close' to the baby to remove it, and she was given the opportunity to terminate the pregnancy. 

Although the pregnancy had come as a surprise, Rebecca and her partner, Jack Luckings, 26, who works for his family's timber business, were both determined to go ahead.

However, Rebecca suffered a traumatic pregnancy and ended up bleeding so heavily she needed a blood transfusion, yet she still refused repeated suggestions by doctors to terminate.

Eventually she gave birth to Charlie at 23 weeks, weighing just 1lb 4oz, in December 2017 and he was finally able to come home from hospital in April this year. 

Rebecca Shephard, 27, of Dagenham, Essex, has spoken of her shock when she fell pregnant while on the copper contraceptive coil, which nearly killed her and her unborn child (Clockwise: Jack Luckings, 26, Rebecca, little Charlie)

Rebecca Shephard, 27, of Dagenham, Essex, has spoken of her shock when she fell pregnant while on the copper contraceptive coil, which nearly killed her and her unborn child (Clockwise: Jack Luckings, 26, Rebecca, little Charlie)

Scans showed the coil was too close to the baby in the womb for it to be removed without causing Rebecca to miscarry, but she refused to have a termination

Scans showed the coil was too close to the baby in the womb for it to be removed without causing Rebecca to miscarry, but she refused to have a termination

Speaking about their traumatic journey, Rebecca explained: 'My pregnancy was incredibly high-risk and we are so lucky that our son, Charlie, survived against the odds.

'I lost so much blood I had to have blood transfusions and we were told time and time again that I would probably miscarry.'

After having her daughter Bonnie, now eight, Rebecca wasn't ready for more children and had the IUD fitted, which works by releasing copper, rather than hormones like other coils, into the womb. 

The copper alters the cervical mucus, which makes it more difficult for sperm to reach an egg and survive and can also stop a fertilised egg from being able to implant itself.

Rebecca's daughter Bonnie, eight, (right) and Jack's daughter Ava, six, (left) were excited about their new little brother (seen showing off the scan)

Rebecca's daughter Bonnie, eight, (right) and Jack's daughter Ava, six, (left) were excited about their new little brother (seen showing off the scan)

Rebecca suffered a traumatic pregnancy, bleeding so heavily she needed a blood transfusion, and eventually gave birth to little Charlie at just 23 weeks pregnant, who weighed just 1lb 4oz

Rebecca suffered a traumatic pregnancy, bleeding so heavily she needed a blood transfusion, and eventually gave birth to little Charlie at just 23 weeks pregnant, who weighed just 1lb 4oz

When she met Jack through friends in 2016, they were happy together but it was too soon for them to start trying for children.

But nature stepped in and Rebecca said: 'I started to feel sick in the morning and I just knew I was pregnant. I did a test and although it was a surprise, we were really happy. We weren't planning to have a baby at that point, as I already had Bonnie and Jack is a dad to Ava, six, but it was really exciting.

'I went to my doctor and mentioned the coil. I didn't know anyone who'd had a coil pregnancy and wanted to know if there were any risks to the baby. My GP wasn't sure, because it is so rare, so he recommended an early scan at seven weeks.'

Seeing her baby for the first time, initially Rebecca was told by the sonographer that she could see no sign of the coil, so it had probably fallen out.

Rebecca's first scan at seven weeks which shows the coil was too close to little Charlie to remove from Rebecca's womb

Rebecca's first scan at seven weeks which shows the coil was too close to little Charlie to remove from Rebecca's womb

Rebecca went into labour early and at just 23 weeks and three days in Rebecca's womb, little Charlie was born on 17 December 2017, weighing just 1lb 4oz -the same size as a tub of butter

Rebecca went into labour early and at just 23 weeks and three days in Rebecca's womb, little Charlie was born on 17 December 2017, weighing just 1lb 4oz -the same size as a tub of butter

Charlie spent 116 days in hospital, battling a range of conditions including sepsis - a rare reaction to an infection, causing the body to attack itself,- and breathing difficulties

Charlie spent 116 days in hospital, battling a range of conditions including sepsis - a rare reaction to an infection, causing the body to attack itself,- and breathing difficulties

Charlie seen at three months old when he was still being kept in hospital. The little boy battled a range of complications to make it through

Charlie seen at three months old when he was still being kept in hospital. The little boy battled a range of complications to make it through

But just two weeks later, Rebecca started to bleed heavily for the first time.

Making her way to Queen's Hospital, Romford, Essex, she lost so much blood that she collapsed in the hospital waiting room – coming to in a hospital bed, with Jack beside her.

WHAT IS AN IUD ?

An intrauterine device (IUD) is a small, T-shaped plastic hormonal or copper device that is inserted in the uterus.

How copper IUDs work:  

Sperm is repelled by copper, making it almost impossible for it to get to an egg.

How hormonal IUDs work:

The IUD releases a small amount of a progestin hormone called levonorgestrel each day.

The hormone first thickens mucus that lives on the cervix, which blocks and traps the sperm. 

Second, it stops eggs from leaving the ovaries so any sperm that gets through has no egg to fertilize.

Effectiveness:

IUDs are 99 percent effective, meaning fewer than one out of 100 women will get pregnant each year.

It can stay in your body between three and 12 years, depending on what kind you get.

Side effects:  

  • Pain when the IUD is first inserted
  • Cramping or backaches for a few days after the IUD is inserted
  • Spotting between periods
  • Irregular periods
  • Heavier periods and worse menstrual cramps (ParaGard) 

When an IUD is inserted, a one- or two-inch string hangs from the end of it.

To remove the IUD, a doctor or nurse will gently pull on the string, and the IUD's arms fold up and it will slip out.

Source: Planned Parenthood 

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'I was terrified,' she said. 'I felt awful and I was so worried about the baby. They did another scan and they said that the baby was still alive, but they could see that the coil was dangerously close to him.

'At that stage, I was offered a termination, but I wanted to give the baby a chance. I wasn't going to give up hope.'

Rebecca was told that because of the position of the coil, close to the amniotic sac, there was a 50 per cent chance of her miscarrying and was instructed to rest.

Suffering further bouts of excessive bleeding and being rushed to hospital at 11, 15 and 17 weeks, luckily, each time, the baby was alright.

At 20 weeks, she started to bleed every day and was admitted to hospital to be monitored, where doctors discovered that a blood clot had formed around the coil, meaning she would probably suffer a late miscarriage.

Two weeks later, after a day of light bleeding, Rebecca was allowed a temporary discharge to attend Bonnie's dance show.

But, as the performance ended, she began to bleed heavily again and this time it was mixed with some amniotic fluid.

Rushed back to hospital, she was told her waters were leaking, but she was not in active labour.

With such serious complications, Rebecca was offered a termination again - but she refused.

Five days later, after more blood loss, she was given another blood transfusion and told the pregnancy was making her ill.

Still, she refused to abort her baby unless her life was at serious risk.

Stabilised after her transfusion, doctors began to transfer her to the more specialist neonatal intensive care unit at St George's Hospital in Tooting, south west London.

But Rebecca went into labour as she was being transferred and, after just 23 weeks and three days in Rebecca's womb, little Charlie was born on 17 December 2017, weighing just 1lb 4oz -the same size as a tub of butter.

He spent 116 days in hospital, battling a range of conditions including sepsis - a rare reaction to an infection, causing the body to attack itself,- and breathing difficulties.

Charlie seen on oxygen and various drips after being born on the 17th December 2017 at just 23 weeks in the womb

Charlie seen on oxygen and various drips after being born on the 17th December 2017 at just 23 weeks in the womb

Rebecca seen holding a tiny Charlie soon after he was born, with him being the size of a tub of butter

Rebecca seen holding a tiny Charlie soon after he was born, with him being the size of a tub of butter

But, eventually, everything turned out well and in April, Rebecca and Jack were able to take Charlie home for the first time.

Rebecca said: 'Bringing him home was lovely, but it was hard. He was still on oxygen but he's such a fighter. He battled his way through all the twists and turns of his neonatal journey and is now slowly coming off oxygen. Charlie weighs 9lb 4oz and is full of fun.

'We know it might not be the end of the journey but we're so proud of him.'

Now, Rebecca is keen to warn other coil users of the possible dangers if they fall pregnant. 

Eventually, everything turned out well and in April, Rebecca and Jack were able to take Charlie home for the first time

Eventually, everything turned out well and in April, Rebecca and Jack were able to take Charlie home for the first time

While Charlie was initally still on oxygen when he was finally allowed home, he now weighs 9lb 4oz now and Rebecca describes him as being 'full of fun'

While Charlie was initally still on oxygen when he was finally allowed home, he now weighs 9lb 4oz now and Rebecca describes him as being 'full of fun'

She said: 'I would never use a coil again. If you have found out you are pregnant whilst on the coil, I would recommend a consultant led pregnancy and regular scans. I think more research needs to be done on IUD pregnancies.

'There were so many different opinions among the doctors because no one really knows the best course of action at the moment.

'I was told though that not every IUD pregnancy was as complicated as mine – a lot of the time the coil can be removed or it can be positioned in a place that doesn't have any problems.'

Dr Diana Mansour, Vice President for Clinical Quality, Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), said: 'This is a rare case of a woman who made a good contraceptive choice but, unfortunately, experienced an unplanned pregnancy.

Jack, Rebecca and Charlie seen after they were allowed to take him home. Now, Rebecca is keen to warn other coil users of the possible dangers if they fall pregnant

Jack, Rebecca and Charlie seen after they were allowed to take him home. Now, Rebecca is keen to warn other coil users of the possible dangers if they fall pregnant

'FSRH recommends that women are informed about the very low failure rates associated with intrauterine contraception. If a pregnancy occurs with an intrauterine method in place, the device should be removed if its threads are visible.

'This will reduce the risk of infection inside the womb during that pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage or premature delivery. An ultrasound scan should also be performed to check that the pregnancy is in the womb rather than an ectopic pregnancy that can occur outside the womb.

'Women should always talk to their GPs, practice nurses or other healthcare professionals at their local contraception and sexual health clinic if problems arise while using any method of contraception.'

Happy families! Jack and Rebecca seen with their children Charlie, Ava and Bonnie after making it through a difficult journey. Charlie now weighs 9lb 4oz

Happy families! Jack and Rebecca seen with their children Charlie, Ava and Bonnie after making it through a difficult journey. Charlie now weighs 9lb 4oz

 

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