A woman has recalled her distress when she was diagnosed with one of the rarest pregnancies in the after discovering one of her 'twins' was actually a cancerous tissue.
Lara Eastwood, 36, was initially overjoyed to be pregnant with twins at six weeks, her world came crashing down when an eight-week scan revealed the loss of one baby.
However, at 12 weeks, Lara and her partner Daniel Turner, 43, a physiotherapist, received even more shocking news: the deceased fetus had not been reabsorbed by her body.
Doctors diagnosed her with a twin molar , a rare condition affecting the egg's development, meaning both the baby and placenta are compromised. Advised to consider termination, Lara, drawing on her nursing experience, insisted on getting a second opinion.
It was then she was informed of having a partial molar pregnancy with a co-existing twin - an exceptionally rare case due to an egg being fertilized by two sperm, leading to an extra set of chromosomes.
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With only 44 known cases worldwide, her doctor made her aware of the uniqueness of her situation. Despite risks including the chance that the dead placental tissue could turn cancerous, Lara, from Nottingham, decided to proceed with the pregnancy, reports .
Now at 36 weeks, the outcome for her and her baby remains uncertain until delivery. Speaking about her experience, Lara said: "If I hadn't been medical and hadn't looked after patients with molar I think I would have made the decision to terminate."
"It was only because of my stubbornness and my instinct. Hopefully I'll get a healthy baby and it will all be worth it."
Lara and Daniel were over the moon to discover they were expecting twins in February 2024, especially after enduring three heartbreaking losses. However, Lara began to suffer from bleeding and pain, yet her scans seemed normal, revealing two heartbeats.
The couple, already parents to three year old Oliver, faced devastation just after Easter during their eight-week scan when they learned one twin had not survived. Lara shared her turmoil: "I was grieving the one that was gone. I didn't want to eat. But I was very conscious that you can't not eat because you've got another one. It was such a conflict of emotions."
At the 12-week mark, Lara braced herself for another scan, hoping to move past the loss and focus on her surviving baby.
She recounted the moment of dread: "I went into the room and knew something was wrong straight away. I heard the word molar thrown around. The dead one was still there - it hadn't been dissolved. I knew what that potentially meant."
As a nurse, Lara was familiar with molar pregnancies and faced a harrowing choice: an immediate termination, a medical termination in a week, or denial. Desperate for another perspective and unwilling to end her pregnancy after four losses, Lara sought a second opinion.
A subsequent call from the doctor confirmed a twin molar pregnancy. Lara was in disbelief: "I said it couldn't be mine because mine had a heartbeat. Molar pregnancies look like a cell. It looks like a mass of tissue. Mine looked like a baby."
Lara, who has endured an arduous journey throughout her pregnancy, disputed doctors' initial diagnosis after detecting a heartbeat in four separate scans, casting doubt on the possibility of a straightforward molar pregnancy. A specialist considered a rare scenario of a partial molar pregnancy existing alongside a twin, known as triploidy with 69 chromosomes.
Reflecting on the rarity of her situation, Lara revealed, "My doctor found 44 case reports of this in the world. It's beyond rare."
In May 2024, she underwent a chorionic villus sampling (CVS) procedure, which confirmed her diagnosis but also put her at risk of losing the living baby, particularly in the fortnight thereafter. Sharing her anguish, Lara confided, "I can't tell you how I even functioned. It just felt wherever I went it was more s**t news. Now we know it is a partial molar it can develop into cancer."
Given that usually the placenta would be tested following removal, Lara faced unique challenges as she carried on with her pregnancy. She said, "I have got endometriosis. In five pregnancies I have lost four babies. I asked 'is there a chance I can continue? ' - he said yes. It was my decision to carry on and put myself at risk."
Lara is deeply invested in her baby's survival, stating, "I can live with myself if this baby doesn't make it. I've given it the best possible chance to get here."
Now closely monitored and nearing the 36-week mark, the impending arrival of her child remains shrouded in uncertainty, preventing her from making any advance preparations. Highlighting the severity of her experience, she disclosed, "We don't know if this baby is going to have anything wrong with it. Until I deliver I won't know. It's been the most horrendous pregnancy. I feel totally robbed."
Lara, who is facing a unique pregnancy challenge, might have the chance to give birth naturally since her baby has shifted the deceased placenta aside. The medical team hasn't decided yet if she'll go through natural labour or a C-section.
Post-delivery, the placentas will be examined at a specialist centre. Lara will undergo regular urine and blood tests to check for any signs of cancer, which could necessitate chemotherapy treatment lasting four to six months.
Lara expressed her concerns: "It's just a scary thing. If the tissue is gone then my body has dissolved it."
She's determined to shed light on her rare pregnancy condition and the broader issue of pregnancy loss. To honour this cause, she's initiated Roaring Rainbows, aiming to create a widely-recognisable symbol.
Lara shared: "I wanted people to know [about her loss] but I didn't want to tell everyone."
