Pregnant and Lower Abdominal Pain.

Nothing unusual about that, I’ll see a couple of these patients every shift.  Quickly scanning the chart, I note normal vitals, no bleeding, and whoops we’re only 14 years old.

Her March period never came, prompting a trip to a local free clinic where her urine pregnancy test came back positive.  Soon thereafter some discussion, a court order, and a quick marriage to the father of the unborn child, also 14, now sitting quietly next to her.

She looked completely at ease.  Her belly exam was normal.  No pain, no distension, no masses…hmm no uterus.

By last menstrual she’s about 12 weeks along, just far enough for the uterus to start poking it’s head over the pelvis.  Believe me, no one’s giving me any gold stars for my physical exam skills, but my eyebrows are raised just high enough for me to repeat the pregnancy test.

Negative.  No baby.  Holy crap.

I go back in the room to give them the news.

She’s on the verge of tears.  I can’t tell if she’s sad or relieved, probably a little of both.

Meanwhile I can literally see the boy’s/father’s mind reeling, as he’s starting to come to terms with the fact that he’s 14 years old and married.

Yikes.