incarcerated uterus? - Page 2

[erin_brycesmom]

I would strongly encourage you to get your uterus manually repositioned. My third baby died from an incarcerated uterus. My midwives had me doing the exercises you have described as soon as my symptoms began. The exercises helped at first...at least as far as helping some with the urinary retention but I still ended up having to go to the hospital and repeatedly get catheterized until I eventually had to wear a full time foley catheter. NOT FUN! (as I'm sure you know). But the exercises don't really prevent entrapment. I think they may actually make it worse. The exercises did not help my baby move out of the pelvis or prevent entrapment.

This condition is dangerous if not corrected. The uterus folds in half and the blood and oxygen supply to the baby can get cut off or the sacculation of the uterus can occur which puts both mom and baby at risk. I have done extensive research on this condition. Many mothers have lost their babies and others who have ended up with brain damaged babies from the compromised oxygen.

I wish someone had urged me. My daughter could be alive today. It happened to me again with my fourth pregnancy but that time, I fought harder to get help. The same exact situation but this time I got my uterus manually repositioned which resolved everything and my baby was born healthy and alive!

[emma2010]

Erin...I am sorry for the loss of your daughter. I think I can relate to your pain because I also had a miscarriage (at 9 weeks) before this pregnancy, but unable to determine the reason.

Thank you for everyone's advice. Just a quick update as well as a question. I saw my OB on Friday. She made a successful manual manipulation and since then I had been freed of the catheter. However, I am curious if my uterus would fall back to its original position. My OB doesn't know because my symptoms occurred before (around 10 weeks) the "norm" of 12-14 weeks. I started my 11th week this past Wednesday. She told me that typically once the uterus has been successfully manipulated, it would stay in place so she doesn't know if my uterus will re-incarcerate because of the age of my pregnancy. The thought of facing this problem again with this pregnancy terrifies me because I don't want to face another loss. Does anyone have any insight to my specific situation? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[erin_brycesmom]

Originally Posted by emma2010

Erin...I am sorry for the loss of your daughter. I think I can relate to your pain because I also had a miscarriage (at 9 weeks) before this pregnancy, but unable to determine the reason.

Thank you for everyone's advice. Just a quick update as well as a question. I saw my OB on Friday. She made a successful manual manipulation and since then I had been freed of the catheter. However, I am curious if my uterus would fall back to its original position. My OB doesn't know because my symptoms occurred before (around 10 weeks) the "norm" of 12-14 weeks. I started my 11th week this past Wednesday. She told me that typically once the uterus has been successfully manipulated, it would stay in place so she doesn't know if my uterus will re-incarcerate because of the age of my pregnancy. The thought of facing this problem again with this pregnancy terrifies me because I don't want to face another loss. Does anyone have any insight to my specific situation? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

I had mine repositioned at 12 weeks this time around. They did fit a pessary in at that time as well to attempt to hold it up but I'm not sure that was necessary. They agreed that it was probably unnecessary and it was very painful. I kept it in for 2-ish weeks and then had it removed. I have talked to some other women who have had theirs repositioned right around 12 weeks with no pessary and it stayed up. I think it really depends on a woman's own unique pelvic architecture. I hope that this stays resolved for you!! FWIW, after I had it corrected, there were no other issues. I dropped the OB and had a wonderful natural homebirth with no complications.

I'm so sorry for your earlier loss. I know it's hard not to worry but according to the literature, success rates are very high. When this condition is recognized and treated (which you are doing), the risk of loss is pretty much non-existent.

[emma2010]

Thanks Erin for your encouragement and willingness to share with me your experience.

Just a note for the future moms with this condition. After I posted my comment and question on Saturday night, I had to go to the ER to have the fifth foley catheter put in. The ER doctor also told me I have a prolapsed uterus (I had the bulge as Monarch27 mentioned before, but it came and went). As of Saturday night, the bulge has been my constant companion unless I lie on my stomach. After about 1/2 hour lying on my stomach, the bulge retracts. Once I get up, it comes right back; the bulge is about the size of a small ball. I am going to see my OB next Monday (04/12) and hopefully she will be able to do something to resolve this condition. By then, my baby will be 12.5 weeks. The bulge makes me very uncomfortable and gives me pain starting from the abdominal area and downward. Sorry for the details if they gross you out, I just wanted to let you know so that you have an idea of what could happen with you.

[emma2010]

So sad and so worry. If anyone went through this, please share with me your experience for a little comfort. I am very concerned about losing my baby as it was very difficult to conceive this child.

I had to make an emergency OB visit on Thursday. I learned that I have a cervical prolapse. The OB (not my regular OB) told me that he had never seen a cervical prolapse during pregnancy until he saw me (he completed med school in '72). We know this condition is caused by the incarcerated uterus. He told me he is very worried about the amount of the amniotic fluid because I had been leaking since Sunday. He seemed annoyed at his colleagues (my OB was on vacation) who had been telling me to wait until I see my OB on Monday after I repeatedly telling them about the leakage rate.

After lots of research, I learned that this condition is even more rare than the incarcerated uterus. The 3 cases I read indicated the babies were much further along than mine and 2 of them were delivered at 38 weeks after bedrest and wearing pessary. The other was classified as preterm labor and no indication if the baby made it. Did anyone went through a similar experience and successfully carried her baby to full term? My baby is 12 weeks old.

[monarch27]

So sorry this is happening to you momma! That would be so scary. Has this doctor put in a pessary? What is the plan for now? I hope you have lot's of family around to help you. I was on bedrest last April for a week when I started to have some bleeding, it was so terrible not knowing if things would turn out o.k., I would go between being very hopeful to balling my eyes out all day every day. It was very emotionally draining. I ended up losing that pregnancy.

I hope this baby will hang on!! It is so frustrating when you have to force the medical community to take you seriously! Keep us updated momma and full on bedrest for you!