Bicornuate uterus

[Jellybean8]

Hi all, I'm currently in the early stages of my first pregnancy and have just found out I have a bicornuate uterus. The sonogropher didn't say much other than that but when I got home I did some googling and now I'm filled with panic and anxiety. Has anyone else got experience with this? How did your pregnancy go?

I don't have experience but I do have experience of medical professionals mentioning a medical condition without explaining what that means. I would make an appointment with your GP or midwife (telephone will be fine) and explain that you were told you had this but there was no explanation and it's got you worried, is there anything you should be doing differently etc. In all specialities it's the job of medical professionals to help you understand not just diagnose and treat. If you don't understand, how can you consent? And I know it's rasier said than done but try not to worry, you're in good hands. I'm thinking of you.

Hi,
I have a bicornuate uterus, or heart shaped uterus. I've had 2 successful pregnancies but both babies were early due to running out of room. One was a 35 weeker and the other 32 weeks. The pregnancy in itself was quite normal apart from the baby choosing one side of the uterus so my belly looked lopsided. One was also breech as not enough room for baby to turn around.
Unfortunately I also had 2 early miscarriages but these could've been unrelated to the shape of my uterus

@PurBal thanks yeah I will definitely ask for more information.
@fluttershyby thanks for sharing your experience. We're both of yours c section? And I assume you got extra monitoring? I think Dr Google is a terrifying thing at times so really appreciate hearing from actual people about their experiences. Did you know about your bicornuate uterus before your first pregnancy?

I am so glad to find this post!! I got my bfp yesterday after a miscarriage in July. This is also my first pregnancy. I have a complete bicornuate uterus, two completely separate halves and have been concerned about this so it was good to read what @fluttershyby has written. I found out about my odd uterus shape at aged 18 when I had a scan to look into my heavy/painful periods.
How far along are you @Jellybean8? Try not to panic and I pray all will be well.

Sorry 2nd pregnancy obvs... but hopefully this one will last longer.

@LittleTiger007 have any of your doctor's said much about how it may impact any pregnancies? I'm just over 6 weeks, so it's super early days as well. I've had two ultrasounds in the past (suspected pcos) however nobody mentioned this following those scans. It does seem it's just about being monitored as there isn't a lot we can do to manage anything other than attending appointments...not ideal for my control freak personality type!

@LittleTiger007 I'm sorry to hear about your previous loss. I haven't heard about bicornuate uterus being linked to early miscarriage so I'm optimistic for you that this one will stick xx

I was told I had this at a private early reassurance scan at 7 weeks. I wasn't surprised as my mum has one too.

However fast forward to the nhs scan at 12 weeks and they disagree and say I don't have one.

The nhs scan also revealed a large fibroid that the private scan missed completely.

🤷‍♀️

@IamC oh really? How confusing! Mine was at an early scan, and I thought it might be reliable as it was before the uterus started to stretch too much to see clearly. Interesting that the NHS one said different. How are you going to move forward? Accepting NHS diagnosis at this time?

No reason not to really. I am more concerned about the fibroid as it is currently blocking the exit. I have my 20 week scan in 10 days so I will know more then

It depends on the degree of seperation you have and how far up the septum (divide) goes. There are degrees from just a tiny bit to having 2, completely seperate uteri. A friend lost her 1st to MC, but then had 2 sucessful pregnancies. She had more ultrasounds than normal, but didnt need any surgery to correct the septum.

I used to work in A&E and had a lady who was pregnant at the same time, in each of her uteri. Unfortunately she was miscarrying 1, but the other had a heartbeat.

Did your ultrasound have a report with any details of how far the septum goes or divides things? Did the mention doing a more detailed scan? What follow up did they advise?

@IamC lots of luck to you for that x

I've got a nearly complete separation, my first was an emc as he was breech. I was quite far along by the time the doctors noticed. (They could see the spine) but ds got stuck so emc it was.
Second was normal delivery.
I didn't get any extra care the first pregnancy, the second I was under the consultant and had extra scans but it did not prevent her early arrival. In both cases my waters broke and they were born within a few hours.

I have complete separation, when they did a hysteroscopy in July they also found a large fibroid which they removed and was blamed for the miscarriage at 8 weeks. The other ‘horn’ as they call it was clear. I’m guessing they will monitor me closely if I remain pregnant in the next few weeks due to all these abnormalities and the fact that I am getting on in age. I used to have pcos too but that went away a few years ago.
I guess @IamC they may try to remove your fibroid or monitor things and do a c section?
@Jellybean8 doctors in the past said it might make conception difficult and that pregnancies would need to be closely monitored. So it’s a question of wait and see. When I was 18 they took photos of the womb to use in medical journals as they had only seen it once before on a pregnant woman, she needed a c section to deliver. ... I need to wait and pray that I make it to my first scan and we shall see what they say.

I’m 4 weeks 1 day today. Early days.

@IamC just reading what you said about the fibroid/ bicornuate differing diagnoses. Maybe the private scan mistook the fibroid for a central septum? ... and now that you are further along the nhs scan may have been a clearer image with the womb now more ‘open’ with a growing baby. The latest images are bound to be more accurate I would think. ... I guess further scans will get even clearer. I’m sure they will monitor you carefully.

Mine wasn't picked up in my first pregnancy at all. It was picked up in the second, as my coil was in one half, and the baby in the other half... I had some extra monitoring, but that was because of the coil rather than the bicornuate uterus itself. DD1 was 4 days early, DD2 4 weeks early, no indication that this was due to my uterus.
This was nearly 30 years ago, so advice/monitoring may well have changed in that time.

I have a bicornate uterus. I would ask them if you have a septum (the bit in the middle) because bicornate uterus can be mild or less so. I dont have a septum so it's just heart shaped. I had 2 MCs before I found out about my uterus but I cant say if that's directly related.
I was marked as high risk and had an extra scan to assess if I needed a cervical stitch but I didnt and my pregnancy was straightforward and I even went overdue and had to be induced.
It's a lot to get your head around at first but it's not the worst news. Good luck with it!

@Mumoblue @pinktransit thank you both for sharing. I guess it's all the 'unknowns' that are making me anxious right now, hopefully it will make me feel a bit more settled if I talk it through with my midwife. It's good to hear about pregnancies going to term, or close to term. Fingers crossed things go smoothly for those of us newly pregnant 🤞🏻

Mine was only picked up during c section, I had my baby at 28 weeks. I would expect your care to be led by a consultant. We’d like to try again in future but I’m quite worried about having another premature birth. From looking at older threads, it seems like a lot of women with bicornuate uterus do carry to term, so fingers crossed for you 🤞🏻

@CharlotteB86 thanks for sharing xx

Hi all!
My bicornuate uterus was diagnosed at an early scan as I had some bleeding and I’m currently 13 weeks. I’ve never had any problems before so I was really surprised. I haven’t been marked as high risk, but I was told that I would possibly need more monitoring towards the end as the baby may not be able to turn around. After hearing about the condition I read a lot of medical info online, which was really scary. I know this is an older thread, but I would love to hear how your pregnancies are going and if you have already given birth, how your experience was? x

My mum had a bicornate uterus and unfortunately had several miscarriages (and two healthy pregnancies 😊), though that was in the 70s/80s and we have since discovered that she also has a chromosome issue, so the miscarriages may not have been related to the BU. My sister had two miscarriages but never had any investigations into what happened, so she may also have had a BU. I was told by a gynae that I have a BU but I changed to my current gynae once I was pregnant and she said she can’t tell once the uterus has changed shape to accommodate the pregnancy. I’m 39+2 and have had an entirely uneventful pregnancy, but I am expecting a SGA baby so they will induce me on my die date if he doesn’t get here first 😊

I know this is an old thread but it's not easy finding information about bicornuate uteruses, especially about other people's experiences!

I'm currently 16 weeks with my first, so far no issues. Baby has been in my right horn from the start but am wondering if it's possible it has moved around? Would there be enough space for it to move around? I might be feeling it elsewhere but not certain that's what the feeling is.

Would love to know how you ladies got on in your pregnancies!

got a bicornate uterus had my first born ten years ago at 31 weeks spent 6 weeks in nicu .but iv just had twin girls and lost them both at 24 weeks had to have c section first twin weight 540g passed 8 days old 2nd twin 580g 4 weeks my heart is broken 💔 it really worries me trying again in the future but we really would like to start a family again .I'm 35 bit worried im running out of time to as any one had any simler experiences x