What happened to molar pregnancies before modern medicine?

[krispykritter]

Looking over ob-gyn notes and wondering, before women could have ultrasounds and d&c's, what happened to molar pregnancies? Without removal, would they ever spontaneously abort? Would they continue to grow until becoming invasive (into the uterine wall)?

[NurseNora, BSN, RN]

I remember the spontaneous delivery of a molar pregnancy in the early 70's. She was not quite 20 weeks and looked term with large twins. I don't remember how many large specimen containers we filled with those small white ovoids. I don't remember doing a curettage afterwards, although we may have. The physician just said they'd follow her HCG levels closely for a couple years to see if it returned, she was advised not to get pregnant during that time.

[NurseNora, BSN, RN]

I also remember when RhoGam was brand new and we were still delivering lots of babies to moms who had been sensitized before it was available. I saw lots of babies with hydrops.