do you have a funky uterus?? « Back to Group Discussions

[mamaharrison]

So, long story short. I had my first prenatal appt with my MW today {it went great} and it left us both wondering about my uterus--as in do I have a bicorniate uterus or another variation/anomaly. So, I am looking for more infomation--not the google kind, but the personal experience kind. 

If you have a funky uterus can you share your experience please?! The only friend I know IRL with one birthed both of her children by cesarean after natural trial of labor didn't progress. So, how/when were you diagnosed? What were/are your symptoms? How does this affect your pregnancy and labor and birthing? Anything else you wanna share about it.

My Story: I haven't been diagnosed with a funky uterus ; ) but I do have a VERY strong intuition that whether it is just a malpositioned uterus or a malformed uterus that something is def. 'up' with her and has been for a long time. DD exclusively layed on my right side during my pregnancy and never moved to the left. This baby is following the same 'preference' although now it is more pronounced--seems to be bothering me more, as in, 'geez baby could you pleasssseee move to another spot for a bit and give this side a break--but that has never happened. Both kiddos you can/could see that they lay on the right from the outside--it is VERY prominent. Also, DDs labor was 70 hours and malposition was def. a contributing factor. This baby is in a transverse lie with head on right side near umbilicus and butt tucked towards my public bone and legs/feet low on my left side and I am feeling like 'he' is stuck there after weeks of trying to get him to move {not that he won't move eventually--i know it is early--but it seems as if it may be difficult for him to do so}. There are some other things that are indicating a funky uterus, but these are the top two right now.

I haven't had US this pregnancy and don't intend on it. I had it for less than 5 minutes with DDs anatomy scan, but it was 1980s technology and when asked by the sonographer if I knew where the baby was I told her on the right side and that is where she scanned and never scanned the left side. Other than that I have never had a US or MRI of my pelvis now reason to explore for this. I did however, attend a workshop last year for Maya abdominal massage and worked with a certified practitioner who mentioned that there was no uterus on the left and that she was distinctly on the right side--perhpas flopped over--was what here thoughts were.

So.....just wondering about your experiences while doing my research.

[nhklh]

Yes, I have a unicornuate uterus.  I was dx'd via laparoscopy, hysteroscopy and an MRI thrown in for good measure.  I'd had loads of prior pelvic ultrasounds claiming everything to be normal.  One report even claims that I have x number of follicles on the left ovary.  Only I don't actually HAVE a left ovary.  And when you look at the measurements, my uterine volume is 1/3 of normal.  I had no symptoms other than infertility, which is related to my endometriosis NOT my UU.  
 

Ultrasound is not a good diagnostic tool for discriminating between different anomalies, especially while pregnant.

There's a group at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/mulleriananomalies that is awesome.  I will warn you though that it's not a great place to get birth info - very mainstream, OB-trusting women.  Also a lot of the women have been severely traumatised by premature births, awful pregnancies, multiple losses.

As for how having an MA affects pregnancy, it varies.  Bicornuate uterus seems to have the best outcomes.  Septate has the worst, often resulting in multiple miscarriages (insufficient blood supply to sustain pregnancy if the pregnancy attaches to the septum), and 2nd tri losses.  Having a prior term pregnancy with SU does not appear to guarantee future pgs will go so well.  

All MAs come with a risk of IC, PTL, IUGR and "abnormal foetal lie".  Septums can be resected hysteroscopically, and that is advisable if you are dx'd prior to pregnancy, though many women are dx'd only after multiple losses.  

Unicornuate uterus and Uterus didelphys seem to result in early births.  I did a spreadsheet some years ago, based on info gleaned from women there, it seemed MOST women went to about 36wks.  The average though was something like 32 wks.

I think, since you don't actually know, it's probably a good idea to watch out for PTL symptoms.  The internet is full of misinformation about MAs as well.

[sunseeker]

I have a funky uterus! And I think there's another mama on here who has a unicornuate uterus... Anyway, I have a bicornuate uterus, diagnosed via hysterosalpingogram, US, and MRI, and confirmed after a c-section when we actually got to see it with our own eyes. I did have a preterm birth with my first baby, vaginally at 32 weeks (she was on the right side of my uterus), and my second baby was footling breech (he was on my left side) and was born at 36 weeks via c-section. He was breech starting at 23 weeks, and despite my efforts (including inclined lay, yoga, moxibustion, etc), he was unable to turn for the remaining 13 weeks of the pregnancy. I was placed on bedrest both times, kind of prophylactically but my cervix was shortening and then effacing early. Cerclage was suggested, and I declined. That said, I really don't think bedrest/meds help much, I believe my babies just run out of room (since they only have half a uterus to grow in), and so this time, I'm taking a different approach and am taking it easy a bit, and keeping an eye on things, but not really going for any extra ultrasounds or bedrest at this time. I think we will likely get to 36 weeks again, and I am not getting caught up in worry.

My bicornuate uterus did not affect my labor (other than it being early!), and my first labor progressed normally, no epidural, normal length of labor given it was my first baby. But of course, she was small at 4lb 11oz, so perhaps that made it 'easier'.

This baby (#3) is on my left side again, and my cervix is short as usual, but no concerns yet about complications. I sometimes wonder about whether my uterus is somehow positioned in an unusual way relative to my bladder, because I have contractions frequently if my bladder is at all full.

Feel free to ask more questions if you like. When you lay on your back and look down at your baby belly, is it lopsided? Mine is always lopsided based on the side the baby is on.

[nhklh]

Here's a top view from my last pg, my uterus is way more central this time.  I think this is at around 30wks.  I had really really really awful trouble with my back because I was so lopsided, and could not lie on my left side at all (can this time around).

[mamaharrison]

Thanks for sharing ladies ; )

My belly is always lopsided, too. I don'y have to lay down for it to be seen--you can see that I carry my baby {and DD before this one} on the right side. DD was always vertex, but this baby is transverse right along the very bottom of my uterus right now. I am kinda troubled by this since I don't know what my uterus shape is and this is only suspect, but one thing is for sure, I am making it my job to do everything I can to get this baby vertex in the next 5 weeks. From what I have read the second trimester is the best chance for turning a baby in a funky uterus and that if it hasn't turned by 30 weeks it likely won't and in my state a known breech means hospital birth in an OR and that is IF I can find an experienced OB to attempt an assist on a vaginal breech. 

II have not suffered infertility. I actually get pregnant and stay pregnant with relative ease. Although I have had 1 early MC, but I have had 5 pregnancies 4 of which were unplanned and spontaneous and this one was planned and we conceived on the first try. I carried my DD full term with no signs of PTL. I am not concerned about PTL {not that it isn't a concern, just not where my head is right now} I am concerned about breech because that is where we are now.

nhklh--my belly looks very similar to yours, but not quite as distinct at 25 weeks, however, my chiro easily could 'see' baby on the right through my clothing a few weeks ago. So could you not lie on your empty side or your baby side? I cannot lie on my baby side--although I could last pregnancy--nothing seemed to bother me last time, but I worked for chiros last time and got adjusted every few days and had a vertex baby right away. I don't have back issue/pain ever, but I do have pretty bad SPD, spider veins {this preg}, and soreness/fullness/pain on my full of baby side--so, more pain in the front where I am carrying all the baby.

Sunseeker--It is fairly common to experience contractions with a full bladder in pregnancy even for non funky uteri, but I will say that I have noticed this WAY more this pregnancy than with the last, but I think that is with everything from 1st to 2nd time around, right?!  Also, DD was not small at all--she was 8# 13oz at 40 weeks 3 days gestation. But I am a tall woman 5'11'' and hubs is a big guy 6'5'' and we are both large people {not overweight--just physically larger people than average}. 

My other 'pressing' symptom is that I feel like I am full of baby already--like I am 40 weeks and I am not talking about the way I look or my size, but how I feel...like my uterus is not big enough. Early on I wondered about twins, but now that this has come to light {kinda} I am really connecting dots and there really isn't a way for us to confirm these thoughts during pregnancy either :( 


So, do you measure off with either anomaly? I measure right on last time and this time I measured 18cm @ 21 weeks and 24cm @ 25 weeks. Do you measure bigger-it feels like you would, but then again I am tall and have a very long torso.

[nhklh]

Originally Posted by mamaharrison 

but this baby is transverse right along the very bottom of my uterus right now. I am kinda troubled by this since I don't know what my uterus shape is and this is only suspect, but one thing is for sure, I am making it my job to do everything I can to get this baby vertex in the next 5 weeks. From what I have read the second trimester is the best chance for turning a baby in a funky uterus and that if it hasn't turned by 30 weeks it likely won't and in my state a known breech means hospital birth in an OR and that is IF I can find an experienced OB to attempt an assist on a vaginal breech. 

Transverse seems to be more common with BU or SU.  I can't recall any of the women on the MA board having transverse with UU or UD.  ECV is supposedly contraindicated with MAs too, though TBH it's not something I think I would even do.  DS2 was breech from about 20wks onwards and did not budge.  I did inversions and breech tilt for 10 weeks, then stopped because it suddenly felt really wrong to try to turn him.  

I'm sorry maternity care in your state is so restrictive.  Almost everyone here is scared by breech as well, in the hospital system anyway.

[quote]

II have not suffered infertility. I actually get pregnant and stay pregnant with relative ease. Although I have had 1 early MC, but I have had 5 pregnancies 4 of which were unplanned and spontaneous and this one was planned and we conceived on the first try. I carried my DD full term with no signs of PTL. I am not concerned about PTL {not that it isn't a concern, just not where my head is right now} I am concerned about breech because that is where we are now.[/quote]

I do think you're at an advantage for getting this babe vertex simply because you've had a term pregnancy before, so your uterus has been stretched out.

Forgive the very personal question, but did you have a pregnancy termination or a D&C with your m/c?  If so, maybe they might've noticed something then, could be worth getting copies of your records if available, just in case something was noticed.  Mind you, MAs are overlooked and misdiagnosed with ridiculous regularity. 

[quote]So could you not lie on your empty side or your baby side? I cannot lie on my baby side--although I could last pregnancy--nothing seemed to bother me last time, but I worked for chiros last time and got adjusted every few days and had a vertex baby right away. I don't have back issue/pain ever, but I do have pretty bad SPD, spider veins {this preg}, and soreness/fullness/pain on my full of baby side--so, more pain in the front where I am carrying all the baby.[/quote]

Nope, couldn't lie on the ute-free side.  It felt as though everything in my pelvis and abdomen was hanging in mid-air and was just so revoltingly icky (and we all know how I feel about icky).  This time around I'm seeing a webster chiro fortnightly (super duper cheap via my BW) and I think that, combined with my ute having done this before, has meant things are more centred and my back is generally much much better.  I'm also noticing that I need to pee frequently and "right now" because of uterine/baby pressure on my bladder, whereas I don't recall ever getting that last time, which would make sense given everything was so off-centre.
 

[quote]fairly common to experience contractions with a full bladder in pregnancy even for non funky uteri, but I will say that I have noticed this WAY more this pregnancy than with the last, but I think that is with everything from 1st to 2nd time around, right?!  [/quote]

I'm noticing BH, whereas I didn't last time.

[quote]My other 'pressing' symptom is that I feel like I am full of baby already--like I am 40 weeks and I am not talking about the way I look or my size, but how I feel...like my uterus is not big enough. [/quote]

That could just be the way the baby is presently lying?

[quote]So, do you measure off with either anomaly? I measure right on last time and this time I measured 18cm @ 21 weeks and 24cm @ 25 weeks. Do you measure bigger-it feels like you would, but then again I am tall and have a very long torso.[/quote]

I measured bigger last time around.  I am a little bit shorter than you, longer in the torso also, and not at all slender these days, donor is 6'2".  DS2 was 3.7kg (a shade under 8lb2oz I believe) at 39wks.  Not massive but certainly a decent size.  I don't think it's overly common to measure bigger just because of an MA though.

This time around my BW palps my uterus/baby but doesn't use a measuring tape.  Last time she thought it was vertex, but that was at only 20wks, and I've got more fat on me this time as well.  Next appt should be good as of course at 24wks baby will be bigger and easier to feel.  

I would say, for now, just focus on getting babe in a good position, there's really nothing else you can do anyway.  Chiro and inversions are what I am doing atm.  If baby is breech later on I'll try homeopathic pulsatilla and craniosacral.  I'm not sure, but for some reason I don't think you're supposed to do pulsatilla until later on, same with acupuncture.  I could be wrong though!

Something that's a bit airyfairy for my liking is the idea that emotions can affect positioning.  I'd heard it before, and dismissed it (& the reality is that my uterus IS going to potentially affect positioning) but a friend mentioned her youngest was a "surprise vertex" baby.  He'd been breech, and she and her BW were totally surprised to see a head crowning.  My friend mentioned that she'd been so busy with her other kids, and this pg had been unplanned, that she hadn't bonded with him in utero, and felt that contributed to his breech position.  For *me* I was completely terrified last pg, and this pg I'm just "normal" and maybe this baby will be vertex?  I don't know really, but maybe the emotional connection idea resonates for you somehow.  Or not ;)
 

[mamaharrison]

I had a natural MC in December I don't do D&Cs with MC, so no records. I have no records of any kind that would indicate anything with my uterus was unusual and I don't feel like an US would be necessary now--it is kind of a moot point right now--nothing to do but wait and see. 

since the baby is laying transverse low in my uterus, I would be more inclined {and it is less rare} for it to be a bicornuate, but even with a full term carry with DD I have never had a baby positioned left of my umbilicus, so, I would not think I was stretched at all from that, certainly not enough to make it a non issue during this pregnancy.

Yes, at 20 weeks the MW that palp'd me thought the baby was vertex {even though I told her 'he' was not} and yesterday at 25 weeks it was very easy for my new MW to palp position and locate a very transverse babe.

I think that emotions play a role in everything. So not airy fairy, IMO. I don't think it is a prescribed thing though--everyone will have different outcomes with their unique situation. 


From what I understand, second trimester is THE time to spin a baby when a funky uterus is present, if it is a 'normal' uterus then it really doesn't matter and babe can be turned late in pregnancy without much concern. I would not attempt an ECV since my uterus shape is unknown, but I would if it was known. Since I am a Licensed Massage Therapist I know first had the skill required for success in this arena and value the technique. I dunno though...I may change my mind if it comes to it in 10+ weeks. 

I am going to have moxibustion ASAP, craniosacral therapy, some maya abdominal massage, and a visit with a dear friend who is profoundly psychic--she is a body reader and can bring forth the messages from the Divine by reading the state of the body. She has helped me immensely in the past to get rid of some debilitating physical issues through unwinding. I will also be doing webster tech chiro, which I have been doing the whole pregnancy already and did with DD--we don't call it webster technique at my chiro office, but it is the same thing--just a normal lower back/sacral/hip adjustment, IMO. And home stuff--inversions and yoga and such. In my mind, I have scant 5 weeks to get this baby turned otherwise I am likely looking at a known breech presentation and that is the 'kiss of death' in this state/area. So, after 30 weeks I will need to research into where I am going to birth and with whom and get educated! I will find out about the pulsatilla today, too. 

Thanks again for all your help and info!

[chi_mama]

I have a bicornuate uterus, we suspected during my 1st pregnancy and then confirmed during a vag US after a m/c... no further diagnostics so I just know it's vaguely funky.

During both of my previous pregnancies babe has been on the right side, laying down on my back you could tell by week 10 or so. My midwife measures on that side b/c other side or center measures much smaller. Both of my boys stayed breech until about 35 weeks. DS1 turned on his own, DS2 took some intervention: moxibustion, energy work with midwife and chiropractor and some homeopathic Pulsitilla. He finally turned after 5 days and it was a dramatic event, it looked and felt like he was going to push through my skin :) I also regularly saw a chiropractor through the 2nd pregnancy b/c I had horrible SI joint pain on the baby side.

So far this pregnancy has been about the same. I have been doing a lot of yoga and streching to keep the SI joint under control but will begin to see chiro soon just to make sure everything stays good.

I have definately had the sensation that I just don't have enough room left during all my pregnancies. Toward the end with both boys there would be feet way over on my side kicking and streching... I suspect there isn't as much "ceilling" space.

My labors were quick and uncomplicated. I think getting the boys positioned well was an important factor. My midwife was sure DS2 was going to be a little guy, he was over 8.5lbs... pretty funny.

I am a little concerned this time around b/c my abdominals are already as separated (26w) now as at the end of pregnancy with DS2....of course that's it's own risk factor for breech.

Hope that helps, for me it's mostly just been an interesting quirk of pregnancy

[mamaharrison]

chi-mama: thanks for sharing your experience{s}! It is really reassuring to hear your account of both DSs turning so late in the game, although I would LOVE to avoid a spin at such late dates just for the fact that I know how uncomforrtable it must be and would like to avoid that whole thing!

I have started inversions daily and today is day 2 and I am pretty sure that I have managed to spin the babe from transverse to complete breech :/ Which I am not too sure is going to be helpful. Now it just feels like 'he' is kicking out the bottom of my uterus and can't see it or feel it from the outside anymore :( which DH and DD are already missing.

We'll see.....I will certainly update this thread though when I find new info.

[nhklh]

Originally Posted by chi_mama 

I am a little concerned this time around b/c my abdominals are already as separated (26w) now as at the end of pregnancy with DS2....of course that's it's own risk factor for breech.

Hope that helps, for me it's mostly just been an interesting quirk of pregnancy

I hadn't heard that before.  I'm 24wks today and very separated, have been for ages.

[mamaharrison]

HEAD DOWN!! Did lots of work in the last few weeks and happy to exclaim this babe is firmly head down and lower than DD ever was ; )

[nhklh]

Yay!  What did you end up doing?  Still breech here, though now and again I worry about transverse simply because I can't feel the head at the top.  I think though that might be because I don't know what I'm doing, I'm too squeamish to press down much, and I have extra layers of fat that I didn't have last time.  

I am still doing fortnightly webster chiro, daily inversions, and I've ordered some pulsatilla but it hasn't come yet.

[sunseeker]

Great news, mamaharrison!! Yay! 

At last check, my babe is head down too, but I can't always tell. I rarely feel movement or kicks in the upper abdomen, but often feel movement down low. I was actually surprised when we found she was head down two weeks ago.  Let's hope these babies stay put now :)