bicornuate uterus (aka heart shaped uterus)

Kati11290 · March 2011

I had an ultra sound to determine how far a long i was. 7 1/2 weeks. My doctor told me i have a bicornuate uterus. Depending on where the baby attaches will determine how i will deliver. If the baby attached to the larger part of the uterus i should have a full term pregnancy and a normal delivery. However if the baby attaches in the top part of the uterus in one of the horns the baby could be a pre term delivery because it will not have any room to grow and would probably not make it. Or the baby would just not be able to turn and i would have to have a c/s. Does any one else have anything similar to this or know anyone that does??

ashg8r · March 2011

My husband's cousin had this, and for some reason I don't think they knew? Not sure why/how, but she delivered at 28 weeks and after 3 months in NICU they brought their baby boy home. He is a happy and healthy little boy (2 years old), but I know she is very undecided as to whether she'll try to have another baby - apparently there is something that can be done to try to correct the shape? Hope I have all this information correct. Wishing you the best, and hope that helps some!

MissyOlivePants · March 2011

I have a bicornuate uterus. While there is a slight chance of intra-uterine growth restriction, that's not always the case. And, it also depends on exactly how your uterus is shaped (size of the horns, etc.). The uterus is an amazing stretching muscle and it will expand accordingly. I even went over my EDD and my daughter was 8lbs 1oz, & 21.5" long - no issues with pre-term or anything like that. She was, however, transverse & I ended up having a c/s after a very long & unproductive labor. With this pg, I am seeing an acupuncturist & chiropractor and taking some precautions when I get a bit further along to make sure baby goes head-down when it needs to - AND, I'm planning a homebirth with a midwife this time around - so not high risk at all.

If you'd like more info on bicornuate uterus' let me know & I can hook you up with a Yahoo group that is filled with very experienced & knowledgeable women!

OnPaisleyLane.com · March 2011

I also have a Bicornuate uterus. I found out during my first pregnancy, when I was miscarrying in the hospital. The Dr. wanted to see what was going on and did a sonogram.

My second pregnancy was perfect, no spotting and I went full term. I did have a c/s as my son was breech.

Since then, and it may be because I am older, or it could be that I am now married to a different man, but I have had infertility problems. I have had a total of 8 miscarriages. After the first 2 with my husband, I did research online, asked my OB for the test, and found out that I am also Luteal Phase Deficient. This means that when I ovulate, I do not make a high enough dose of Progesterone, so although I can get pregnant, it's not high enough to support a pregnancy. Unfortunately, I usually end up miscarrying at 7 & a 1/2 weeks like clock work. My Reproductive Endocrinologist told me that the wall in my uterus is what causes that and IVF would help. (After seeing him for YEARS, I wish he would've told me sooner!)

So backing up, after 4 rounds of Clomid, which helps your body to make more progesterone, I got pg and had my DD almost 7 yrs. ago. I also took progesterone orally and baby aspirin. After DD the clomid did'nt work and I had more mc's. Our latest attempt with clomid 2 yrs. ago, I didnt get pg at all, so we threw caution to the wind for 2 yrs. and suprise SUPRISE, I am pregnant! ( I recently found out that taking vitamin c can help raise progesterone. Not even knowing this, I took a few high doses of vitamin c for a sinus infection right before I conceived this time. I attribute the wellness of this pregnancy to that, and a whole lot of people who have been praying for me! )

My Reproductive Endocrinologist wanted to do reconstructive surgery on my uterus, but I didn't want to because I had a bad feeling about it. If I would have done it, there would've been a very good chance of uterine rupture during pregnancy.

As far as where the placenta implants, I have had numerous tests done to determine the blood flow to the wall of the uterus. I have been told that the blood flow is good by one Dr., not so good by another Dr. (the one who wanted to reconstruct...) So if it implants on the wall, I guess that I have a better chance for m/c. Keep in mind though that the placenta moves around, so if it's in a bad spot at one visit, it can be in a good spot for another visit.

This has been my experience, a long journey over 20yrs. Please don't let my story scare you, I just went into detail incase there is anything in there that may end up helping you. If your Dr. doesn't seem that concerned if you happen to have any issues, look for one that is more of a High-Risk Dr. And always get a second opinion : )

Wishing you a trouble free happy pregnancy!

jloraine11 · March 2011

I have a bicornuate uterus as well...I am pg with my second child. My first pg was great except for the fact I did have to have a c/s. As you get further along, it is sometimes harder for the baby to move and ends up getting stuck in one position as he/she grows there is not enough room for them to turn. I delivered at 36 weeks and he was perfectly healthy. This time around I went ahead and requested another c/s because this baby planted itself on my left side, exactly where my son was.

MissyOlivePants · March 2011

OnPaisleyLane.com:
I also have a Bicornuate uterus. I found out during my first pregnancy, when I was miscarrying in the hospital. The Dr. wanted to see what was going on and did a sonogram.

My second pregnancy was perfect, no spotting and I went full term.  I did have a c/s as my son was breech.

Since then, and it may be because I am older, or it could be that I am now married to a different man, but I have had infertility problems. I have had a total of 8 miscarriages. After the first 2 with my husband, I did research online, asked my OB for the test, and found out that I am also Luteal Phase Deficient. This means that when I ovulate, I do not make a high enough dose of Progesterone, so although I can get pregnant, it's not high enough to support a pregnancy. Unfortunately, I usually end up miscarrying at 7 & a 1/2 weeks like clock work. My Reproductive Endocrinologist told me that the wall in my uterus is what causes that and IVF would help. (After seeing him for YEARS, I wish he would've told me sooner!)

So backing up, after 4 rounds of Clomid, which helps your body to make more progesterone, I got pg and had my DD almost 7 yrs. ago.  I also took progesterone orally and baby aspirin. After DD the clomid did'nt work and I had more mc's. Our latest attempt with clomid 2 yrs. ago, I didnt get pg at all, so we threw caution to the wind for 2 yrs. and suprise SUPRISE, I am pregnant! ( I recently found out that taking vitamin c can help raise progesterone. Not even knowing this, I took a few high doses of vitamin c for a sinus infection right before I conceived this time. I attribute the wellness of this pregnancy to that, and a whole lot of people who have been praying for me! )

My Reproductive Endocrinologist wanted to do reconstructive surgery on my uterus, but I didn't want to because I had a bad feeling about it. If I would have done it, there would've been a very good chance of uterine rupture during pregnancy.

As far as where the placenta implants, I have had numerous tests done to determine the blood flow to the wall of the uterus.  I have been told that the blood flow is good by one Dr., not so good by another Dr. (the one who wanted to reconstruct...) So if it implants on the wall, I guess that I have a better chance for m/c. Keep in mind though that the placenta moves around, so if it's in a bad spot at one visit, it can be in a good spot for another visit.

This has been my experience, a long journey over 20yrs. Please don't let my story scare you, I just went into detail incase there is anything in there that may end up helping you. If your Dr. doesn't seem that concerned if you happen to have any issues, look for one that is more of a High-Risk Dr.   And always get a second opinion : )

Wishing you a trouble free happy pregnancy!

Wow. You are one strong woman! Have you had any other tests done to confirm that it is bicornuate? I have a strong suspicion, that since you have had so many m/c that you probably have a septum in there. That CAN be fixed - and there is a fabulous doctor here in Florida that women from all over the country fly to for surgery.

OnPaisleyLane.com · March 2011

Oy, I am 40 yrs. old and this will probably be my last pregnancy, unless another suprise came along, but thanks for the info! I do have a wall/septum that comes down, in fact on the tests that I have had done, my uterus looks like bunny ears, lol. My RE wanted to do an exploratory laporoscopy to see if it was a septum or a true bicornuate, but since I did'nt want the reconstructive surgery I did'nt bother. I don't know why this Dr. was so "Scalpel Happy", on my surgery report from when I had my son, my uterus was described as Bicornuate, which was determined when they "Delievered" it during my c/s.

Jlorraine, my son was on my left side towards the end also. It was a weird feeling, and if I looked down my stomache it sloped from left to right, but you could'nt really tell from the front view.

My mom thinks that she may have taken a medication while pregnant with me, which is what could've caused the bicornuate uterus...who knew? Thank God we air on the side of caution and question everything we take nowadays.

MissyOlivePants · March 2011

OnPaisleyLane.com:
Oy, I am 40 yrs. old and this will probably be my last pregnancy, unless another suprise came along, but thanks for the info! I do have a wall/septum that comes down, in fact on the tests that I have had done, my uterus looks like bunny ears, lol. My RE wanted to do an exploratory laporoscopy to see if it was a septum or a true bicornuate, but since I did'nt want the reconstructive surgery I did'nt bother. I don't know why this Dr. was so "Scalpel Happy", on my surgery report from when I had my son, my uterus was described as Bicornuate, which was determined when they "Delievered" it during my c/s.

Jlorraine, my son was on my left side towards the end also. It was a weird feeling, and if I looked down my stomache it sloped from left to right, but you could'nt really tell from the front view.

My mom thinks that she may have taken a medication while pregnant with me, which is what could've caused the bicornuate uterus...who knew? Thank God we air on the side of caution and question everything we take nowadays.

I hear ya. I'll be just weeks shy of 40 when this one is born & we're done - so I'm not pursuing my bicornuate ute any further.

My DD was transverse all through my pg and I don't think she was able to get into position to be completely headdown.

Also - it probably wasn't a med your mom took. That would cause you to have a T-shaped uterus.

Good luck!

Kati11290 · March 2011

thank you all so much! you have been a really big help. it looks a little more positive and also a little more stressed but all you can do is look to the future with hope :}

kfranck1 · March 2011

After TTC for only the past 8 months, I was just diagnosed with a bicornuate uterus yesterday. I had never heard of this before and honestly, it scared me, especially after reading what the web had to say. After reading your posts, I feel so relieved to hear that major complications aren't what I SHOULD expect; these pregnancies DO go full-term, but with a high chance of c-section. Although that's a little disappointing to hear, I feel confident that we will conceive a healthy baby some day. Thanks ladies!

princessmich74 · April 2011

I am 6 weeks pregnant and just found out I have a bicornuate uterus. I would love to be connected to the Yahoo group. This is my first pregnancy so I get nervous over everything! It would be great to have some women to talk to that are going through the same thing!!

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