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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

Septate/bicorniate uterus anybody?

69 replies

jmac88 · 01/07/2015 12:04

Hi. I'm 12 weeks pregnant with 1st baby. Had 12 week scan which showed I have a septum in my uterus that is almost complete. Baby was tucked jnti one section and the other section was empty. Sonographer said he couldn't really say much but have been booked in for 2 extra scans at 16 weeks (to measure cervix) and 28 weeks (to check baby's growth) with consultant.

Just wondering if anybody has or has ever had similar experience?

Sounds like the main risks are breech birth, late miscarriage or preterm labour.

Thanks! Xxx

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coniferssilhouette · 01/07/2015 12:40

My mum has the same thing. I'm one of 6 children and she never found out about it until she'd had us all. None of us were breech and all were two weeks late, she had one early miscarriage, but well within the early weeks. We all weighed over 8lbs 11oz so managed to grow well too.

Congratulations! xx

jmac88 · 01/07/2015 14:00

Wow thank you #conifer# that certainly is reassuring!

Thank you!

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roseformyrose · 01/07/2015 14:41

Hi jmac, I also have a septum in my uterus and am just ahead of you at 13.5 weeks pregnant!

My septum was discovered before I got pregnant, but my consultant said that as I hadn't had any previous miscarriages I should go ahead and try to conceive without having surgery to get rid of it. They can do the surgery but are a little reluctant to without other problems, as it can increase the risk of other pregnancy complications.

I'm currently under the care of the Fetal Medicine Unit at UCH in London, and they're seeing me every 2/3 weeks for extra scans etc. My care doesn't sound too different from yours, as I'm being scanned to check my cervix and also to check that the baby is growing OK.

The only other thing I'd mention if you haven't already been told about it is that they should be testing you for common infections like UTIs, as those can increase the risk of preterm labour etc.

I think you're right about the main risks - I've been told that if all looks OK by 25 weeks they will discharge me back to midwife-led care, but that I might still end up having a c section if the baby doesn't have room to turn. All in all not too bad considering I'm working with half a uterus here!

Mawsymoo · 01/07/2015 14:48

I have a bicornuate uterus - the split is significant but not complete. I have had 2 miscarriages but too early to be caused by it. I have had one successful pregnancy and I got to 39 weeks with it at which point I had a section. The baby had his head/most of body in one side and feet in the other so was in a breech/transverse position. He was in that position from around 24 weeks. He wasn't huge but was a decent enough size (IUGR is another risk).

I had significant bleeding for a long time from the "non-baby" side - up til around 16 weeks, but I believe this may be more common with a bicornuate uterus than with a uterine septum.

Gillian1980 · 01/07/2015 19:53

I have a bicornuate uterus but not a complete septum. I'm 32+5 at the moment and all is going fine.

I had 2 bleeds early on but it was all ok. She is on my right side and hasn't been on the left at all.

I'm under a consultant but have only had one appointment with them, I have another next week. I'm planning on a c section as for me I feel safer choosing that. My mum had it too and had one very difficult birth which resulted in an emergency section, followed by 2 elcs.

I've been given very little info by the midwives or consultants but have done a lot of research myself.

jmac88 · 01/07/2015 20:27

Thanks for all your replies ladies, I've been struggling to find anybody to speak to with similar or the same and can be quite lonely!

rose I'm also in London but at King's College Hospital. Not sure whose care I will be under but guess I will find that out from the consultant at the 16 week scan.

I also found out about my septum before hand, about a year ago, and have had no mcs thank goodness.

Thanks for the tip about the UTI'S I don't think I'm prone to them but will definitely keep aware.

mawsy what is IUGR?

gillian I agree about not being given much info. When I told the midwife at my booking in app she said she didn't even know what it was!!!

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roseformyrose · 01/07/2015 23:14

I know how you feel - it's been really hard for me to find other people with the same problem too. I was very anxious in early pregnancy but starting to relax a bit now and believe this might really happen!

There is a Yahoo Group for women with uterine anomalies - it's called Mullerian Anomalies and has lots of medical info etc, but I found it a bit negative sometimes as I think it's the women with the most problems who need the group the most. There isn't too much research on these things anyway as they're not very common and quite hard to diagnose.

Wishing you all the best with your pregnancy - will you keep us updated when you have your next scan?

Mawsymoo · 02/07/2015 15:31

jmac it is intrauterine growth restriction - basically when the baby's growth slows down either due to lack of space or the placenta not working as well as it should if it is partially implanted on the septum. I think we're at higher risk but it's not a foregone conclusion.

rose I joined that yahoo group when pregnant and I did find it nearly made me lose all hope.

I find it strange that there is so little information available as it is not that uncommon - however I suspect it is hugely under-diagnosed.

My bump was also very oddly shaped - when I was around 34 weeks pregnant I popped into the hospital on a Sunday as Baby had been quieter than normal. The midwife who saw me had a feel around of my bump and seemed a little confused so I told her the head was at the top right. She felt around a little more and started to look a bit panicked and at this point I said "Oh and I have a bicornuate uterus so that's why it's so oddly shaped". She just said "Oh thank God - I thought I was going to have to tell you you were having twins!". She said she nearly had a heart-attack! So remember to mention it whenever you do go in and see someone new as it can cause some confusion!

jmac88 · 03/07/2015 07:36

Oh wow that sounds fun having an odd shaped bump, must make people look twice!

mawsy my aunt lost a baby at 8 months due to a placental abruption. Is that related and do you know if it's genetic? Maybe I will mention it to the consultant.

Will definitely update you after next scan. Good luck with your pregnancies and keep us updated too!

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5madthings · 03/07/2015 07:42

Not personally but a friend has,she has had two babies, one born at 37 weeks,small but fine, in her second pregnancy baby had implanted in the smaller bit if her uterus and it was a very stressful preg and she was told the outcome wouldn't be good,but she carried to 32week, had a small baby, only 2lbs? But he is now a perfectly healthy little boy.

Sounds like they are going to moniter you more closely op, good luck and hope you can get some more advice.

Mawsymoo · 03/07/2015 08:38

jmac I don't think that would be genetic - the placenta issue as far as I understood it is that if it implants on or partially on the septum the blood flow is not as good to the area so it can slow down the growth of the baby. Now at least part of my placenta was on the "septum" (I have a bicornuate uterus so it's more a split than a septum) and I didn't run into any problems but I know my consultant was carefully monitoring the growth (my baby was small but completely within normal range!).

jmac88 · 28/07/2015 10:06

Hi all,

Just a quick update. Had a 16 week scan yesterday at preterm surveillance clinic at kings yesterday. Apparently all looks good. They checked length of cervix which is 46mm. They said they'd be worried if it was 25mm or less. They also said baby is moving from one side of uterus to the other, so septum isn't getting in the way yet. Will have my anomaly scan at 20 weeks and they said as long as there has been no change then I should go back to low risk. Still saying it might be breech and may need c section but obviously nothing can be done about that at this stage.

They also told us we're having a boy!!!

rose and gillian how are you getting on?

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Gillian1980 · 28/07/2015 12:06

Congrats - I'm glad it's all going well and how lovely that you are expecting a son!

All has been fine here thanks. I'm 36+4 and due to have a section within the next week (being given the exact date tomorrow). She is still on the right hand side and is still breech. She is also measuring very small but no indication that this is related to the bicornuate uterus!

Best of luck for the second half of your pregnancy :)

Gillian1980 · 28/07/2015 12:10

Oh, I forgot to add... The only thing that I found frustrating recently was that a consultant tried to convince me to have an ECV to try to turn the baby. I said I wasn't happy to consent as I've read in numerous places that it shouldn't be attempted if you have a bicornuate uterus and the consultant just said "oh really? Well we can give it a go" !!

I wasn't thrilled about that and then he asked if I was sure I really had the condition - despite him having my notes and pre-pregnancy scans etc in front of him. I think my expression said it all!!

Walkingonsunshine00 · 28/07/2015 12:17

No experience here but a youtuber missy lanning made a 'documentary' about her case :)

MadAngryGnome · 28/07/2015 12:53

Just another reassuring story here, I have a subseptate uterus (small septum) which was found on a routine early scan. Carried a healthy 7lb baby to term with absolutely no issues.

I saw a great consultant in the course of the pregnancy who said these abnormalities are probably much more common than we think, only we're picking them up these days with all the scans. He said if your pregnancy is straightforward why bother with corrective surgery when you know it all works fine. He talked a lot of sense I thought.

roseformyrose · 28/07/2015 14:20

That's great jmac88, congrats on your baby boy!

I'm 17.5 weeks now and still being scanned every 2 weeks, but my cervix is also OK so far (4cm I think) so like you I'll be discharged back to normal care if all stays as it is. The baby is transverse at the moment but has plenty of time to shift.

Now that I have a visible bump I've also noticed that it's really wonky! It looks very strange. It's also bigger on the opposite side from where I know the baby implanted so it's clearly got enough space to shift around in there. I've had a few moments of panic that the head could get stuck on one side and the body on the other, but the sonographer keeps saying they can't even see the septum in there so I guess it must be out of the way.

That's really reassuring MadAngryGnome, thanks. Were you in London too? There do seem to be some great consultants here that see these issues a fair bit.

Gillian1980 it seems very wise not to have gone for the ECV, I would do the same in your position. Best of luck for your birth!

jmac88 · 28/07/2015 15:20

Sounds like good news all round for us women with our 'special' uterus'!

Thank you for the congrats too!

I guess the next question will be if he is a breech baby do I just go for the c section or look into trying vaginally birth?

gillian did you feel like there was any choice in this?

I know a section is the obvious choice but have heard a lot about midwives being able to deliver breech babies vaginally, and I would really like to give it a go....

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jmac88 · 28/07/2015 15:22

Also gillian so excited for you getting to meet your baby next week! Feels like it's years to go for me!

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Mawsymoo · 28/07/2015 15:57

Congrats jmac, gillian and rose.

My consultant told me that ECV was absolutely NOT an option. He also didn't offer breech delivery as an option as in my hospital they only offer them on second or subsequent pregnancies where you have already had a successful vaginal birth. Also due to the shape of my uterus it's not clear how good the muscle tone would be in the "middle" part and therefore the contractions might be less effective.

rose I had the wonky bump and baby's head/body was in one side and legs in the other and there were no issues except constantly getting kicked in the same spot!

Duckstar · 28/07/2015 16:10

I have a separate that extended all the way from top of uterus into vagina. First pregnancy they thought I had 2 uterus and 2 cervix. Normal pregnancy. Was told wouldn't be allowed to go over 40 weeks cause of risk of IUGR. Was induced at 40 weeks. DS1 7 lb 13 oz. Only problem in labour they realised I only had one cervix and so had to snip the septate in uterus during labour as it was stretched over baby's head.

DS2 got stuck - transverse lie. Consultant was worried might go into labour early. Booked in for c-section 38 weeks. DS2 came rapidly at 35 weeks. 5lb 2oz. Feet first - no time for c-section.

I also had odd shaped bump - bit lobbed sided!

jmac88 · 28/07/2015 16:42

Thanks mawsy

Wow duck that sounds quite shocking with your 2nd but also very relieving that you didn't really have any interventions with either birth!

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MadAngryGnome · 28/07/2015 23:08

rose not in London, in fact that consultant was South African

Gillian1980 · 29/07/2015 00:48

They did say that I can decline a section but that they wouldn't recommend I do so. I'm quite happy to have it though so no worries there.

Glad all appears to be going so well for all of us bicornuate ladies! :)

Arseface · 29/07/2015 01:26

Only discovered I was bicornate after two utterly straightforward births.
Went on to have twins, second breech, without heart-shaped womb posing a problem.
While I am glad I had no need of assistance, that is down to luck rather than fortitude.
The fact that my significant, incomplete had already survived two successful births pretty much nullified further risk. Twin 2 breech also much less of an issue than 1st or singleton.
It's pretty rare to find an example of an incomplete bicornate womb causing problems on it's own. It's just good to be prewarned for your birth team in case there are other issues it may complicate.

Hope that's reassuring, Useful thing to be aware of but shouldn't cause any probs on it's own.

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