TROUTMAN, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Troutman woman is sharing her pregnancy story to empower other mothers to advocate for themselves.
Aubryelle Thompson gave birth to her daughter, Zanelle, in June.
"She's a very stretchy baby," Thompson said. "She's been playful and growing."
Zanelle being born seemed unbelievable for a long time to Thompson.
She had a choice to make during the pregnancy.
An Atrium Health doctor diagnosed Thompson with a Cesarean-scar ectopic pregnancy, a rare complication that the doctor advised was high-risk.
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Thompson recorded audio of the visit.
"We recommend ending the pregnancy because you have almost a 100% chance of having something extremely morbid occur," the doctor said. "You're in a crappy situation, and you're left with two crappy options. We support whatever you decide to do."
This was Thompson's ninth pregnancy.
She'd had ectopic pregnancies before, suffering four miscarriages, so Thompson says she felt she knew the signs, including the proper hormone levels, and she didn't think this pregnancy was like the others.
"Always trust your body and what you believe in," Thompson said.
She says a second opinion from another practice told her she had a low-implantation pregnancy, which is less risky.
That practice wouldn't treat her because of her history, but then Thompson says a Novant Health doctor confirmed her new diagnosis.
"One doctor said one thing, the other doctor said another thing, and next thing you know, I'm getting passed around being told this is something that it isn't," Thompson said.
She was closely observed for the rest of the pregnancy, and Zanelle was born healthy.
"Even giving birth to her, it's just the thought of 'What if?' that appeared in my mind," Thompson said. "One hospital drilled in my head that she wasn't going to be able to be here."
Thompson now has her "rainbow baby," as she calls her, and their family's now complete.
Queen City News reached out to Atrium Health multiple times for comment on Thompson's diagnosis but did not hear back.
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