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Pregnancy is an exciting time for any woman, but with the many pregnancy complications out there, it can also be scary for first time mothers. It has been reported that one in every thousand pregnancies in the U.S. is a molar pregnancy, which makes it one of the most common pregnancy complications for women today.
What is a molar pregnancy?
This occurs when a sperm fertilizes an empty egg. Even though it’s empty, it continues to develop and a placenta is formed despite there being no fetus. The hormone HCG is also produced which fools the body into thinking that there is a pregnancy when there is only placenta.
A partial molar pregnancy occurs when two sperms fertilize an egg. However, instead of forming twins, in this type of pregnancy, something goes wrong and an abnormal fetus and placenta is developed instead. As there is double the sperm, the fetus receives too many chromosomes and instead may die in the womb.
Molar pregnancy symptoms
One of the first molar pregnancy signs you may notice is spotting which could lead to heavier bleeding. Depending on the severity of the case, the bleeding may start as early as 6 weeks into the pregnancy or as late as 12. Another common sign of this type of pregnancy is nausea, abdominal cramping and swelling. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and feel as though your pregnancy may be molar, don’t hesitate to consult your doctor.
Molar pregnancy treatments
A D&C (dilatation and curettage) will be used for treatment. This is a safe procedure in which a small vacuum is inserted into the uterus to remove the placental parts. However, great care must still be taken as not to provoke any excessive bleeding or blood clots. This type of pregnancy can recur as some women may just be prone to them. If this is the case and after your first such pregnancy, you have another, consult your doctor about special treatments to prevent this from happening again.
Molar pregnancies are a tragic way to lose a child, but having one does not mean you are never going to have another baby again. Make sure you are aware of molar pregnancy symptoms and regularly go to the doctor for consultations.
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