Transverse Baby

[kimbo32]

Hi I am new to mums net so hope I am putting this in the right place..

I am 32 wks pregnant and my bubs is transverse. I also have a bicorunate uterus( heart shaped) I am at a stage where I need to make a choice on wether to VBAC or opt for an elective C/section.
My DD was born by emergancy after 18 hrs labor due to a low lying placenta and being in the breech postion I put this down to my uterus shape and need some sound advice on what I should do

hello kimbo32
I too have a bicornuate uterus and my dd(who will be 3 in August)was breech from week 15 until her premature birth at 33 weeks.
Have you got no water on one side and excess water on the other?
When was your bicorn uterus detected?

My waters broke naturally at 33 weeks and I had had a "normal pregnancy" up until then, I was told that I was not in labour at 10pm so was left alone in a ward of four beds(but no one else was there) until around 1.45 am I decided that the pains that I was feeling were too too much if it wasn't labour-so called a midwife, to cut a long story short she basically said Congratulations your over 6cms dilated, my response but the babys breech, she didn't believe me??? after internal(yuk) oh well it's an emergency c-sec, my response can someone please call my husband....
DD was born at 05.31am by extremely difficult breech presentation c-sec(how it was described on her notes)and spent time in special care.

I later requested a meeting with the consultant who I had seen previously and he recommended the following for future pregnancies

1. Medical advice taken at earliest opportunity when I become pregnant for a 2nd time
2. Pregnancy will be classed as high risk
3. Attendance at Early pregnancy unit (basically weekly until week 12-14 then a further decision would be made to weekly/fortnightly)
4. Possible bed rest from weeks 24
5. Elective c-sec

Hope this isn't too much info but I'd definately go for the elective c-sec
lots of love chatee

ps: just going to the pregnancy roll call thread,
did a first respone test yesterday-positive
and a clear blue this morning-positive
W - H E Y at last!!!!

oops forgot these and lots of them, pps sorry it's so long

Did you go to term last time? If so, and the baby goes head down, there is no reason why you should not try for a VBAC. 33 weeks is too early to decide definately. You could agree in principle to try for a VBAC, but if the baby stays transverse/breech, then a C/S would be needed. The site of the placenta should be known by scan.

Thanks for the replies..
Mears no last time I went into labor at 39 wks and that bubs was breech..
Chattee .. not sure on the water issue and how much is where.. my BU was detected at 9wks in this pregnancy when I had a bleed..
My OB never put me as high risk and in general hasnt been very helpful at all, when asking about a c/section he tells me it is my decision ..
It is really hard for others to understand that when you have a BU there isnt much room in there and that the likely hood of baby getting into the right position is very slim at this stage now..
next OB appointment I will be 34wks and he would like to know what I want to do at around 35 wk I want to ask for an ultrasound but not sure how he will be about that .. I sometimes wish this bubs would come early and take the decision out of my hands

kimbo32 - going into labour at 39 weeks is term which is good. If you get to term, with the baby head down, there is no reason why you should not be able to have a VBAC. Even if you were not term, if the baby is in the right position then VBAC is an option. There are many women out there who have bicornuate uterii who know nothing about it. If the baby does not adopt a good position then your decision will be made. Try not to worry too much about it at this stage. A decision will have to be made when you go into labour.

Mears I know that it is probally best to try a VBAC but my last labor was a nightmare and I just doont think I would cope if I labored for hours and had to go under the knife..
My OB didnt even know my bubs was breech or that I had a low lying placenta so I guess it is that I am scared that the same will happen again this time around.. having almost lost my life last time I just dont know if I am strong enough to go through that all again..
I have read up on having a BU which I must admit hasnt helped all that much.
My OB has to book theatre time if I am going to have a elective and unfortunatley informs me this is to be done around the 35wk mark .. BTW I am in Melb. Australia so I guess things are abit different here.. I personally would like to give bubs to around the 38 - 39 wk mark to see if it will fit any where but across.. bubs implanted in my right horn and this is also where the head and body are with the bottom a nd feet down low in the left had corner..
thanks again for the advice

Kimbo, you should definitely not be having a c-section at 35 weeks - that's outrageous. I had complete placenta praevia - a condition in which going into labour could have been deadly for me and my ds. But it was never suggested I had a section earlier than 37 weeks, and I managed to persuade them to delay it by a further four days. IMO it is not at all good for the baby to be born at 35 weeks. 37 weeks is considered term and even that's a bit early IMO. Forcing you to go against your baby's best interest is completely outrageous and I stronly urge you to make a big fuss. A section at 39 weeks would be good for your baby and very safe for you, if that's what you want. No way should you allow them to try and bully you into a 35 weeks section, whereever you are in the world.

The c/section wont be done at 35wks that is the latest I can let him know by so that Ican be booked in. It will be done between 10 - 7 days before my EDD

Oh, sorry I misunderstood you! What a relief. But still, even if you are booked in you can still change your mind if you want. They can't force you to go ahead with the section. Why not book it just in case and have a think?

Ps, my section was great. I'd definitely do it again!

kimbo32 - you can always have a C/S booked then change your mind if you wanted. We often have women booked in for elective C/S who labour before that date then need an emergency C/S. I am sure the same thing happens in Australia.
If your BU is going to be a problem your baby will probably adopt the breech position again. If however, the baby lies cephalic (head down), labour will not necessarily be a problem. You might decide to try a VBAC and find at 38 weeks the baby is breech. In that scenario you would be better to have a C/S.
If you do not want to labour under any circumstances then it sound to me that your OB is agreeable to do C/S.
The most important thing I would want to know at 37-38weeks is whether the baby is breech or not. That will inform your decision if you are undecided about delivery. I would make sure a scan was booked, never mind theatre time as priority.

Forgot to add no wonder your labour was a nightmare with the baby in that position. If placenta and baby are correctly positioned you may labour well. Definatley insist on a scan for presentation and placental site.

You have both been so helpful to me when I post questions like this on my aussie site I never get any help.. I have decided that I will book the elective.. for the latest date possible as I am hoping that bubs will turn and that I go into labor early so thatI can try VBAC.. I cant change my mind though if the date comes and I havent labored.. I will ask about having a scan done about 37-38 wks for presentation amd if it is breech or still transverse I was wondering if it would be best then to ask for the c/section to be brought forward so that there is no danger of going into labor.. cause if bubs is the wrong way I would rather not go through a trail labor .. what are your thoughts

Thanks so much

If your baby remained transvers your OB would probably bring the C/S forward anyway. Where I work we often have women go into labour the night they are admitted in preparation for their C/S the next day. It really is not a problem. Arrangements are made and the C/S is done ven in the middle of the night. To be honest I think your OB is pressurising you a bit unnecessarily. I don't see why he cannot book you for a scan at 38 weeks. If you are breech it is unlikly that the baby will turn and he can schedule a C/S. You do not need 5 weeks notice to book theatre time in obstetrics. Tell him what you want - you are the customer

It is so hard to tell him what I want .. I'm abit shy .. I have till the 8th of july to work up the courage so I will work on it..
I guess I dont want to go on his judgement cause of him not having a clue last time around I mean what kind of an OB doesnt know a babys bum from its head .. and as for the lowlying placenta this should have been picked up at my ultrasound and followed up on shouldnt it?
Also when I found out about my BU he wasnt the one that told me the ultrasound tech was and when I asked my OB about it he said that it wasnt all that bad so they dont bother telling people.. what I dont understand is if it isnt all that bad why would it cause my bubs to be breech and have a low lying placenta .. from reading up on the net I know that these are common problems and that on occasion you are put into High risk for the next pregnancy and monitored carefully in my case this hasnt happened and I have to wonder sometimes if I am seeing the right OB for the job

Babies can lie breech and you can have a low lying placenta even if you don't have a bicornuate uterus. There are many women out there with BU who don't know it and labour without problems. Can I say just to reassure you, that it can be difficult to diagnose a breech. Bums can feel as hard as heads, even on internal examinations. Your baby might have adopteds the breech position because of where the placenta was situated and not because if the BU. I definately think though, that with your past history, you should be offered a scan for presentation just to reassure you, considering it was missed last time. Ask the questions and see what answers he gives you. Write everything down that you need to know. Let me know how it goes. Going to bed now. Best wishes, mears.

Kimbo - I'm being offered advice closer to mears. i.e. I'm being told to doing the crawling thing etc. I'm 33 wks tomorrow and as far as MW is concerned a long way from having to make a decision about a cesarian! I don't have any diagnosed problem with my uterus - possibly thats it, but my MW confirms mears's view and stated that at 36 weeks a scan would be booked to double check that baby is still breech. Think you should demand a SCAN! Good luck

Well today is D day got the OB appointment at 11 going to try and explain that the reason I want the elective is my concerns with transvers lie and ask if it is more feasible to wait and have a scan in afew weeks for positioning before the decision is made.. bubs has moved at times but only into the breech postion but soon settles back down into the comfy transverse it seems to like so much... not comfy for me thought I can tell you that ..so wish me luck and I will keep you updated

Loads of luck Kimbo!

You are not being unreasonable. Remember he is not God :0 Good luck.

How did it go Kimbo?

I wimped out..
I had more time to think about things and talk it over with my DP and can to the decisioon to have an elective ..bubs is still transverse and anytime it tries to move which is only into breech it is so painfull for me till it rests back to lying sideways.. the last labor I had was so difficult for me and I just couldnt stand the thought of having to gothrough all of that again.. if nuture decides to bring this bubs early and it has moved into the right position I have options then ..
I feel I have made the right descion for me and bubs cause I would probally be way to stressed and therefore cause undue stress on bubs if I went into labor ...
Thank you so much for your advice and helping me feel right about my descions

Sounds about right kimbo. If you r baby lies coeectly if and when you go into labour then you can rethink. Chances are, he/she will not and you are safe in the knowledge a plan is made. Not wimping out at all! Best wishes, mears