molar pregnancy

[cecillia]

After having a D&C, I have just found out that i had a molar pregnancy. They are now going to check my hormone levels for 6 months and I will not be able to try again for 6 months or one year. Is there anybody out there who had a similar pregnancy in the past. Having had an ectopic last year and a molar pregnancy now, I find it hard to believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Doctors continue to say that its the 'nature's way' and that it is just 'bad luck'.

Cecilla - I had a molar pregnancy 3 years ago. They will monitor your HCG levels firstly for 6-8 weeks, if your HCG returns to normal levels (below 5 I think) in those 6-8 weeks you will be low risk of further problems and will be monitored for 6 months. If you take longer than this then you are considered high risk (as I was) then you will be monitored for 2 years.

You will be advised to not try to get pregnant in this period as the new pregnancy can cause tumour growth when the HCG levels go up.

Are you being monitored by the postal system? TBH the worst thing of all was the hassle of all the blood and urine tests.

Emotionally I didn't suffer too badly at the time as I had a complete molar so there had never been a baby at any point so there seemed to be nothing to grieve for. I think also in the immediate aftermath I was so worried about the risk of tumours that all I was focussing on was getting better.

However, because of my age the two year monitoring period meant that I have now become menopausal and will never have baby number 3. On the other hand, I am blessed with two wonderful healthy children and I thank my lucky stars for that.

Its not been an easy time, not least because no one has a bl**dy clue what the heck a molar pregancy is, even most of the medics you come across!

Let me know if there is anything else you want to know.

The recurrance rate is very low - so you have every chance of going onto have a perfectly normal pregnancy next time

Do you have details of the on-line support group - if not let me know and I will post a link for you

cecillia - there is a light. And I think the doctors are correct, in that there is only a small chance of it recurring. It is a horrible experience though, isn't it. I haven't had one, but I watched a friend go through one, and she has had a happy ending. The molar and the ectopic aren't related are they? So you have been incredibly unlucky, but there is no reason to be pessimistic about chances of having a happy pregnancy once you have finished being monitored? Hope things work out for you. xxx

No personal experience, but just wanted to add my support.

More information and support group here .

thank you for all your supportive messages. I have now had a look at the link page and its very useful and there are lots of positive experiences there. Thank you soapbox for sharing your experience with me. You are right about the doctors! I am going to have my test through postal system and will be monitored by Charing Cross. I feel like my body is getting back to normal so I sencerely hope that my hormone levels are down but I am also prepared for it if things go wrong. Its funny have you get used to all these things and how your body and mind adjusts to bad news. I wish I could just fast forward everthing.

Cecellia - this is a link to the Hydatidform mole site sponsoered by Charing Cross hospital - I was monitored by them too!

The support group can be linked to through clicking on patient support on the LHS of the home page.

There are also some yahoo groups which are quite good particularly one for trying again after molar preganancy! You can do a search of yahoo.co.uk groups to find them!