Tuesday
Apr032012
Mor's Molar Pregnancy
Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at 3:38PM My Molar Pregnancy
My son was an unplanned pregnancy, and he was born August 24, 2010 via c-section - and that was the happiest moment of my life! To clarify things, the only complication I have is a skeletal one which is why I opted for a Cesarean. I have had no other health issues (knock on wood), and thankfully for that matter!
My husband and I soon wanted more children as we wanted them to stay close together. So we decided to actually try for a child this time. We tried, and it didnt take very long! My son was 7 months old when we found out we were pregnant again! We were so happy to finally be planning ahead, and to bringing another wonderful life into this world. It was a VERY happy time for us, and we were so excited and wanted to tell everyone! We knew that we had to wait until about 12 weeks into the pregnancy to tell everyone, but we managed to tell our parents and siblings right away.
At about 8 weeks pregnant I started noticing pinkish tinted underwear. I called my OB and she said that this is normal for pregnancies this early. I thought to myself, "Well I didn't have this with Jayden but every pregnancy is different".
Then at about 10 weeks I clearly remember telling my husband, Dominic that I didn't "feel pregnant" and that something feels weird. I thought I was feeling the baby moving already (and that is much too soon), and the pink tint wasn't dispersing.
At 11 weeks I visited the E.R. as the bleeding turned brown (which is a sign of "old blood"). We sat and waited for over 4 hours until we were seen. Finally, I was sent for bloodwork and an ultrasound. At the ultrasound I could clearly see that there wasn't a fetal pole, no heartbeat, and no sac. I was surely confused, but waited on results from the doctor before telling my husband what I saw. I was frightened and I knew what was coming our way. The Dr came in and told us that this was a "spontaneous abortion" which means when I took my pregnancy test, the result showed up as pregnant but shortly after my body released the microscopic developing fetus - and thus I didn't see any signs of a miscarriage - but indeed had one.
I just KNEW something wasn't right, I knew I was feeling the baby...something is going on. This can't be right! My husband and I grieved as this is sad news and we would have to report back to the family as well. Deep down, I felt something was wrong...but who am I to tell a doctor he could be wrong?
The following day I went in for a checkup at my OB where they prescribed me vaginal capsules to insert and help dilate me to release the rest of the fetus. I was very confused by this, as the Dr in the E.R. told me it was microscopic and already passed. I didn't listen to either Dr. I went with my gut and told the OB that I will let things happen as they should without the help of medication. Due to me saying that, she ordered for me to come in in 2 weeks and check if everything has passed. I agreed to that.
At 13 weeks I came in for blood work and an ultrasound with the head Dr in the room. The blood work came back with HcG levels SOARING - which means there was something still saying "I'm pregnant". I headed into the ultrasound room. She examined what was in my uterus, and informed me that I did not have a miscarriage. In fact, I had what's known as a "mole". To put a term to the pregnancy, it is called a "Molar Pregnancy". I molar pregnancy is developed with a single sperm entering into an egg which has an insufficient amount (if at all) of DNA. It then cannot create what we would know as a fetus. A mole is basically a bunch of tissue that creates numerous tumors when gone untreated. Which can in fact lead to uterine cancer. I beat every odd to have this, age, race, etc. My OB ordered to have a DNC right away - the following day actually.
I was bed ridden for a week after the surgery as the bleeding didn't seem the cease. With a 9 month old at home - this was extremely difficult, but I did it with a lot of help. After all was said and done, I was thankful I went with my gut feeling and did not take those vaginal capsules - as those could have caused me to hemorrhage. The "baby" I thought I was feeling, was actually uterine spasms from the tumors that were growing rapidly and attaching themselves onto the uterine wall.
With most Molar Pregnancies, you have normal pregnancy symptoms and shortly after you start having miscarriage symptoms, bleeding, cramping, etc... I had nothing but a slight tint change - and that is what saved me from having potential cancer if gone untreated.
Ladies, I URGE you to always listen to your gut and always go with what you feel is right -- and YES, question your Dr's! No matter how much you don't know science, you know your body best!
Molar pregnancies are actually a lot more common than you may think:
About 1 in 1,500 pregnancies in the United States is a molar pregnancy. If you're under age 20 or over age 35, or if you've had a previous molar pregnancy, or two or more miscarriages, your chances of having a molar pregnancy are higher. Women of Southeast Asian descent also seem to have a higher risk of molar pregnancy. (http://www.babycenter.com/0_molar-pregnancy_1363614.bc)
My son was an unplanned pregnancy, and he was born August 24, 2010 via c-section - and that was the happiest moment of my life! To clarify things, the only complication I have is a skeletal one which is why I opted for a Cesarean. I have had no other health issues (knock on wood), and thankfully for that matter!
My husband and I soon wanted more children as we wanted them to stay close together. So we decided to actually try for a child this time. We tried, and it didnt take very long! My son was 7 months old when we found out we were pregnant again! We were so happy to finally be planning ahead, and to bringing another wonderful life into this world. It was a VERY happy time for us, and we were so excited and wanted to tell everyone! We knew that we had to wait until about 12 weeks into the pregnancy to tell everyone, but we managed to tell our parents and siblings right away.
At about 8 weeks pregnant I started noticing pinkish tinted underwear. I called my OB and she said that this is normal for pregnancies this early. I thought to myself, "Well I didn't have this with Jayden but every pregnancy is different".
Then at about 10 weeks I clearly remember telling my husband, Dominic that I didn't "feel pregnant" and that something feels weird. I thought I was feeling the baby moving already (and that is much too soon), and the pink tint wasn't dispersing.
At 11 weeks I visited the E.R. as the bleeding turned brown (which is a sign of "old blood"). We sat and waited for over 4 hours until we were seen. Finally, I was sent for bloodwork and an ultrasound. At the ultrasound I could clearly see that there wasn't a fetal pole, no heartbeat, and no sac. I was surely confused, but waited on results from the doctor before telling my husband what I saw. I was frightened and I knew what was coming our way. The Dr came in and told us that this was a "spontaneous abortion" which means when I took my pregnancy test, the result showed up as pregnant but shortly after my body released the microscopic developing fetus - and thus I didn't see any signs of a miscarriage - but indeed had one.
I just KNEW something wasn't right, I knew I was feeling the baby...something is going on. This can't be right! My husband and I grieved as this is sad news and we would have to report back to the family as well. Deep down, I felt something was wrong...but who am I to tell a doctor he could be wrong?
The following day I went in for a checkup at my OB where they prescribed me vaginal capsules to insert and help dilate me to release the rest of the fetus. I was very confused by this, as the Dr in the E.R. told me it was microscopic and already passed. I didn't listen to either Dr. I went with my gut and told the OB that I will let things happen as they should without the help of medication. Due to me saying that, she ordered for me to come in in 2 weeks and check if everything has passed. I agreed to that.
At 13 weeks I came in for blood work and an ultrasound with the head Dr in the room. The blood work came back with HcG levels SOARING - which means there was something still saying "I'm pregnant". I headed into the ultrasound room. She examined what was in my uterus, and informed me that I did not have a miscarriage. In fact, I had what's known as a "mole". To put a term to the pregnancy, it is called a "Molar Pregnancy". I molar pregnancy is developed with a single sperm entering into an egg which has an insufficient amount (if at all) of DNA. It then cannot create what we would know as a fetus. A mole is basically a bunch of tissue that creates numerous tumors when gone untreated. Which can in fact lead to uterine cancer. I beat every odd to have this, age, race, etc. My OB ordered to have a DNC right away - the following day actually.
I was bed ridden for a week after the surgery as the bleeding didn't seem the cease. With a 9 month old at home - this was extremely difficult, but I did it with a lot of help. After all was said and done, I was thankful I went with my gut feeling and did not take those vaginal capsules - as those could have caused me to hemorrhage. The "baby" I thought I was feeling, was actually uterine spasms from the tumors that were growing rapidly and attaching themselves onto the uterine wall.
With most Molar Pregnancies, you have normal pregnancy symptoms and shortly after you start having miscarriage symptoms, bleeding, cramping, etc... I had nothing but a slight tint change - and that is what saved me from having potential cancer if gone untreated.
Ladies, I URGE you to always listen to your gut and always go with what you feel is right -- and YES, question your Dr's! No matter how much you don't know science, you know your body best!
Molar pregnancies are actually a lot more common than you may think:
About 1 in 1,500 pregnancies in the United States is a molar pregnancy. If you're under age 20 or over age 35, or if you've had a previous molar pregnancy, or two or more miscarriages, your chances of having a molar pregnancy are higher. Women of Southeast Asian descent also seem to have a higher risk of molar pregnancy. (http://www.babycenter.com/0_molar-pregnancy_1363614.bc)
Even though a molar pregnancy is not a baby, you do go on thinking you are having a baby and do have normal signs of pregnancy. It was a loss of a potential pregnancy - but now I am being repaid! Twins! I am now 29 weeks pregnant with twins (spontaneous), and there IS hope for women who have suffered a loss of pregnancy.
I have attached a photo of my son with my twin belly =]
Reader Comments (1)
Thanks for sharing your story. I had a suspected molar pregnancy with my 4th baby. I had been for a scan and they couldn't see anything - only the blasocyst. Needless to say I was panicking until I had my next scan. At my next scan they did see a baby and a heartbeat . I had never heard of molar pregnancy prior to that. Congratulations on your twins. I have since had twins too, who are now 2 1/2 and am almost due to have my 7th baby.