Septate/bicorniate uterus anybody?

[jmac88]

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

jmac I had some really bad weeks for Braxton Hicks on my first pregnancy - it's not as bad this time around but I still get them throughout the day every day. I asked about them last time and every healthcare professional I asked said they were nothing to worry about. I started feeling them around 16 weeks both times. I had one the other day at my appointment when I was getting examined and my consultant just asked if I was getting lots and no further comment.

Ok that's good to know thanks mawsy. I've had them since about 18 weeks but they've been a lot more often over the past week and this afternoon they kind of feel constant. I thought it was just baby trying to turn round unsuccessfully.

Your not alone jmac..sometimes feels like ribs are breaking!
I have my midwife appointment next week at week 36 I might request another scan so I can get another opinion on my uterus as I find it really weird the lady pointed out my uterous is no longer heart shaped but baby is still sitting so much to the right...
I'd rather have a prepared c section rather then a rushed one or try naturally until early signs bub should be taken out ceaser.
I'll update yous how it goes! Doctors are usually pretty useless when it comes to this condition here in Australia so I've learnt to be pushy with them saying I know my own body and listen to what it's trying to tell me
It took 2 years of recurrent UTIs and doc palming me off with antibiotics for them to realize this was not normal. I didn't feel ok and knew something was unusual as my friends never got them as frequently.
I traveled hours to get to my family doctor and said I'm not crazy but something is wrong and I need help..He took me for a pregnancy test to test for a epitonic pregnacy which came back negative then a ultrasound which confirmed bicornate uterous !! Ever since I found out about it at 20 years old i haven't got a uti since and I'm now 23..my body was trying to tell me something and should always trust instincts
It's made me stronger and found a all new respect for my body..it's incredible!

Hi all,

Very encouraging to read your reassuring stories, thank you for sharing them.

I'm fairly old (37) compared to other expectant mothers and 13 weeks pregnant with my first child. In Week 5, I suddenly started bleeding quite heavily on and off. I went to the Early Pregnancy Unit for a scan who told us that to our very happy surprise, the baby was fine, but to come back if the bleeding continued.

The bleeding did continue, so we went in for another scan during which they discovered a bicornuate uterus, with the baby being in its right horn. The nurse explained to us that the left horn of the uterus kept producing womb lining, but then bleeding it away since due to a lack of pregnancy hormones reaching this part of the uterus, it didn't 'know' it was pregnant. They said it was reassuring that it was mostly brown blood, but to come back if I started bleeding more heavily and/or red blood.

Both of which happened during Week 9 and I also started to feel a bit sore, so when I called them, they said to come in for a third scan. Thankfully, the baby was still fine. During this scan, they saw the bicornuate uterus even more clearly, with the left horn being squashed together as the right horn of the uterus was starting to expand.

Since then, I've had bright red bleeding (definitely more than spotting) about 5-8 times a day. Eleven and a half weeks into the pregnancy, I suddenly started having really bad cramps and fairly heavy bleeding all the time. When I called the Early Pregnancy Unit, they said that my suspicion was right and that I was experiencing a period in the left horn of my uterus.

I get very bad period pains and so was relieved to have a logical explanation as the cramps were just as bad (and probably felt worse because normally, I take lots of painkillers which I didn't do this time), though couldn't shake being worried. Mostly, I was worried about the effects the cramps might be having on the baby and it becoming 'detached' from the uterus, and, probably wholly irrationally, about there being enough pregnancy hormones in the right horn of the uterus so this half wouldn't suddenly join in in the period the other half was experiencing. Thankfully, the cramps subsided after 5 days, with only the soreness I've had before remaining, though the bleeding is still ongoing.

Two days ago, we've had our dating week scan and it showed that all was still fine was with baby, which was wonderful to hear. We're very relieved and happy. Yet, I'm still a bit worried whether the bleeding and half-uterus periods will continue.

Have any of you had experience with periods during pregnancy?

Sorry, that got a bit long!

Good idea mumma to request another scan. Let us know how it went!

augustina that sounds so stressful. I'm afraid I haven't hear of having half uterus periods before but at least it sounds like the health professionals are knowledgeable about it!

I'm really struggling with lack of knowledge health professionals have about septate uterus. Saw osteopath this morning for pgp and rib pain and she was astounded at my bump. She said it was so high into my ribs and that my baby and uterus was all up high and said this is unusual until about 36 weeks (I'm 31+3). She asked if my dates were right and if I was having a large baby.... it's basically freaking me out a bit considering o saw mw yesterday who measured bump spot on for dates and told me baby is head down. Which seems impossible to me as I have to massive hard bumps right at the top of my bump under my boobs which I was convinced was head and bump. When I told mw yesterday I had septate uterus she said "ooh what's that?"

Ha, jmac I agree that loads of people don't seem to have a clue. The last person I saw at the hospital thought I said my uterus had gone septic! I know it's not common but you'd think people might know a little bit more.

augustina from what I've heard it's only bicornuate uteri and not septate ones that tend to suffer from the one-sided periods, but on the plus side you're less likely to suffer complications with a bicornuate uterus I think.

I have seen a few bicornuate ladies writing about it before, and they mostly seemed to say that the periods stopped after around the 20 week mark. I hope that's the case with you too.

augustina I had heavy bleeding from the left horn of my uterus for 10 weeks - from 6-16 weeks. Baby was in the right side. It was so stressful but I have a lovely DS to show for it. Mine was always bright red. I thought it would never stop but I had a very straightforward pregnancy from 16 weeks on (except baby was breech/transverse so I had a planned CS).

This time around I expected the same but had nothing til 9 weeks when I had a very heavy bleed - however this resolved within a couple of days and I've had nothing since, which is weird.

Best of luck to you!

UPDATE: I had my 36 week follow up with midwife and requested another scan for my bicornate uterous and she spoke to specialist and came back saying no need for a scan because the only risk is premature baby and I'm past that stage so no need. Baby is still head down and now and engaging into the pelvis! So all stress for nothing I'm 36 weeks and 5 days, bub could come now and be classified as a full term baby at 37 weeks.
Jmac I had a massive bulge under my ribs and looked bigger then my date, ribs were killing especially at night when I would change sides, do not stress when I hit week 36 this week baby has dropped from my ribs I felt like I was experiencing breathing for the first time ever in life haha so hold in there it will get better it's still early days :) week 36 will be your relief!

Augustina thanks for sharing your story it sounds like you have had quite a journey but you and bub are still going strong so that's all that matters. The good thing about our special uterous is that it has a way of dealing with itself you just have to trust your body! Your baby is healthy, this is your first time pregnant so focus on enjoying it and keeping stress off your baby as hard as putting it to the back of your mind is. I had worries of baby detaching, bleeding and the what ifs but the body is a truly magical thing and will protect you and the baby.
The way I would deal with your situation would be acknowledge and treat half your uterous as normal, it has its period so it's gonna bleed and cramp..that's normal :) give in to your period cravings and when cramping apply a heat pack as you normally would. The other half is not bleeding it is carrying your beautiful baby so you need to take care of it, be positive and stress free, eat as healthy as you can and keep up excerise everyday to keep bub moving and happy!
Try not to think as your uterous as one..it's two in one, hope that puts your mind at ease a little and keep us updated

VERY important for us all to keep positive and healthy for our bubs, follow instincts and let bub on its journey throughout our bodies stress free..baby's pick up on vibes!

I'm glad for this support from yous when thoughts are all over the place but if we stress during the pregnancy we will have not allowed ourselves to enjoy! When that bub is in our arms we will say argh all that stress for nothing :)

Xx

Ahh mumma thank you for the reassurance, I can't wait to get that relief! Do you think the lump under the ribs is the head then? You speak wise words. Keep us updated!

Waters broke last night ladies! And baby is currently breech! Very naughty baby indeed! Not in labour yet but having very mild contractions. Will keep you updated!

Oh good luck jmac. You're 32-33 weeks aren't you? Hopefully all goes well for you, will keep everything crossed for you.

Good luck jmac, thinking of you and your little one today. Sounds like you're being well looked after.

jmac88, hope you and the baby are both fine! Thinking of you both and hoping for good news when you get a chance to go online (unlikely that soon after birth, I can imagine!).

jmac, roseformyrose, Mawsymoo and mummatobe1, thank you all for your kind and re-assuring words and for sharing your stories. I'm currently in the 'crying-about-everything' stage, so shed a few tears reading them - good to know that things have turned out okay for you!

I haven't had any bleeding for 8 days now, which is really positive. I just hope I might be spared a fully-fledged period next time, as it would co-incide with when we had planned to fly to Germany to see family. The state I was in last month, I could hardly get out of bed, let alone to the airport (or enjoy anything). We'd be fine to cancel the holiday if it came to it, but, of course, it would be great if we could go as being pregnant seems to make me miss my family more and it would be good to see them once during pregnancy. I'll try what mummatobe said and not worry though!

Thank you for all the well wishes ladies. Still nothing has happened so I'm staying in hospital until Thursday (a week after waters broke). Been given steroid injections for his lungs, and antibiotics to try to prevent infection from waters breaking. They're going to book a c section for around 2nd/3rd Dec when I'll be 34 weeks plus so trying to keep him in until then. If he comes spontaneously we're going to try vaginal birth (eek even though he is breech) as aparently it's good for prem babies to labour a bit. Although he's 4lbs at the mo so not like pushing out a full term breech baby!

Thanks for the update, jmac! Glad to hear that baby hasn't made an appearance yet - fingers crossed for him to stay in until 2nd/3rd Dec!

Hello all, long time since I've had time to come on here! Just wanted to post and see how you were all doing - hopefully all with beautiful babies now.

My labour was not exactly straightforward - 30 hours followed by emergency forceps delivery - but my son Raffy is now nearly 4 months and doing well. He has a condition called craniosynostosis which was probably caused by my septate uterus, so he will need surgery on his skull, but he's being well looked after by Great Ormond Street.

Lots of love to you all xx

Hi All,
I know this is quite an old board but I was hoping someone would be around to help answer a few of my questions.
I have recently been told about my septate uterus during a fertility mot. We have been trying for a baby for 12 months and my husband was told he has 3% morphology which is seen as low.
I have never been pregnant or miscarried. However if the morphology doesn't improve we may have to move on to iui or ivf. I have been advised to consider a resection of the septum if we need to consider assisted conception.
My question.. did anyone have a resection? Who was the surgeon? Am in the UK and finding it difficult to find people who have been in my situation.
Also how long did it take you to get pregnant?
Look forward to hearing from anyone. I hope you all had a healthy baby.