Re: new here-BU @ 31 weeks (to Lori)

December 8, 2004

Hi Lori -

I am glad that you felt better after reading my post.

I think that many women have had c-sections with MAs due to the position of the

baby.

I just passed an article onto a friend that said " C-sections in 2003 were at a

rate of 27% of

all live births, the highest # ever in the U.S. " She wants to have a VBAC but

isn't sure what

the doc's policy is.

Anyway, I would be grateful that you've received so much extra care, I

didn't realize that you were on modified bed-rest for 8 months. I know that must

have

been challenging but its so important for women who are high risk to be seen

more often.

I also think that in a first pregnancy you really need assurance that what you

are feeling is

OK. There are so many aches & pains that its sometimes tough to

distinguish it. I certainly didn't know I was in labor when I bled at 34 weeks

but I was.

Without the heart beat monitor & cervical check at the hospital I might not have

known

and my baby came so fast after that. My water broke there and Emma arrived 3

hours

later.

I can't really say if the pain you are feeling is normal. Do you feel like

perhaps the baby is

moving further down the birth canal? Discomfort unfortunately is normal near

the end. I

had that round ligament pain that felt like pulled muscles but that was about

it. So I had

no real pre-term labor symptoms except the bleeding that I was in labor at 34

weeks. It

had been almost 2 weeks since I had been to the OB due to the Christmas holiday

and my

appt. was 2 days after I delivered her. I think if I was seen weekly they might

have caught

it but who knows, I can't change the past.

But my advice would be to really call or go in if you think its labor pains or

if there is any

bleeding. The fact that your cervix is closed is good but don't be afraid to

call if anything

changes. I'm sure you'll find out lots more at your detailed ultrasound next

week.

The only bit of info that I left out was that this year (June 2004) I had a

lap/hyst surgery in

Cincinnati (where we live now) to determine my " true shape " . I had MRIs and U/s

scans but

a NY doc (my reproductive endocrinologist) thought I was SU and I was in his

care when I

was pregnant and delivered in Syracuse so that's the label I got (SU). So even

an

experienced

RE in NY thought I was SU although I'm BU which we discovered in the lap/hyst.

My current

doc said that the retained placenta was a big clue that I was likely BU. The

procedure went

well, they did nothing to correct it since research shows its best to leave a BU

alone and I

was back to my old self in 3 days. So I believe that for those unsure of their

true shape,

the lap/hyst is really the gold standard & best procedure to really know your MA

& correct

it if necessary.

Onto your question about other children....well I'm not sure. We also aren't

getting

any younger and feel quite blessed to have Emma who is really healthy. We have a

web site

we created when she was born and I'll enclose the link

http://www.mindspring.com/~brennand/emma/

We'll update it again after she turns 2 .

My current OB (who has 4 kids) knows that I'm an information junkie about MAs

now and

he reminded me that BU women often have positive outcomes. He believes that I

have a

good chance of going further than 34 weeks if I get pg. again and with close

monitoring

I'd probably do well. He also said that we now have Emma as an example of what

happened, we see she's healthy and we know what to look for.

I " ll keep you posted.

Emma's up from a nap so I must go but feel free to write me more

here or to my email.

Bye for now.

Hang in there!!!!

Jen Donnellan

35

BU

1 dd Emma 12/29/02

> >

> > Hi there! I was lucky enough to have my BU diagnosed well before I

> > even tried to get pregnant. 10 years ago when they first discovered

> > it, they really discouraged me from trying to have children at all.

> > I am now 34YO and have been seeing a wonderful specialist. He put

> > me on modified bedrest from the beginning of the pg, which has

> > worked really well so far... I have had few complications, and am at

> > 31 weeks now. It has been very scary though, and we have had a ton

> > of ultrasounds. I know that we have a very high risk of pre-term

> > labor, and was curious to know what other people with BU have

> > experienced. My uterus in on the extreme end of this anomaly... the

> > dip in the middle of my uterus extends all of the way down the

> > middle and actually protrudes into my cervix (almost like having two

> > 1/2 size uterus'). The baby (a boy :-) is in the right horn. I am

> > actually getting to be quite lop-sided at this point in my pg. and

> > it is really noticeable when I am laying down flat. Any stories

> > about pre-term labor and what to expect would sure be appreciated.

> > It is really hard to relate to my pg. friends who don't face any

> > complications. Thanks!

> > Lori

>

> Share bookmarks: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MullerianAnomalies/links/

>

> Share files:

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MullerianAnomalies/files/

>

> The Congenital Uterine Anomalies Home Page:

> http://www.wegrokit.com/uterineanomalies/

>

> es/

>

> The Congenital Uterine Anomalies Home Page:

> http://www.wegrokit.com/uterineanomalies/

>

December 9, 2004

Hi Jen-

I am really looking forward to going for a more detailed scan in Vancouver

(we're from a place outside of Vancouver, B.C/Canada called Chilliwack) next

week. I'm most worried right now about the growth of the baby and that the lack

of space isn't causing a problem. I will have more info on the 15th when we get

the ultrasound done, so I'm hoping it will be encouraging news and that we can

relax a little over Christmas. I will be 34 weeks on Boxing Day! It's hard to

believe having been on modified bedrest for so long that I have made it this

far. I am a Kindergarten teacher, so my doctor didn't want me to be on my feet

all day.

I have actually had two lapyroscopy's done. The first one was over ten years

ago and was much more invasive than the one I had last Feb. That was when they

determined the true shape of my uterus. When I began seeing my new specialist

at the age of 33, he wanted to go back in and confirm for himself (which I was

highly supportive of). We ended up with a lot more detailed information the

second time so it was really worth it.

I agree with what you said about it being hard to distinguish between what are

just normal pg. symptoms and what you should actually be concerned about. I

actually take a list of questions to my doctor's with me. Luckily he is very

patient and I think very excited to see how successul we have been so far, so he

is happy to give us a little extra time/attention. I just try to tell myself

that if I'm not spotting and I'm still feeling the baby move that things are

probably OK. Did you feel the movement lessen in intensity toward the end? I

can feel the baby move throughout the day, but I don't feel the big kicks that I

felt in the second trimester. I'm pretty sure that it is just due to the lack

of space- but I guess any change makes me a little nervous.

I checked out your daughter's website, and it is really amazing! You obviously

have a wonderful family and should be very proud of your little one and how well

she is doing. The website must be great for your family and friends who are out

of town to keep in touch and to see how you are doing (esp. the Grandparents

:-). I saw all of your photo's from " the big run " day and I was pretty envious.

I love to run, and haven't been able to do much in the way of activity since I

got pregnant. I actually press my nose up to the window longingly when my

husband heads out to hike or run after work. I know my time will come, but that

it is going to take a while to get back to my pre-pg. fitness level. I already

have the jogging stroller parked in our garage, though!

I have also been told that with each BU pregnancy the chances improve of

carrying the baby closer and closer to full term. I sometimes wish I had a way

of looking into the future to know what this little baby has in mind for his

grand arrival. I guess that would take some of the fun out of it, though. I

just hope that he is healthy and well when he does get here!

Thank you again for sharing more of your story. It really is reassuring! Take

care of your little Emma, and please keep in touch.

Lori

Re: new here-BU @ 31 weeks (to Lori)

Hi Lori -

I am glad that you felt better after reading my post.

I think that many women have had c-sections with MAs due to the position of

the baby.

I just passed an article onto a friend that said " C-sections in 2003 were at a

rate of 27% of

all live births, the highest # ever in the U.S. " She wants to have a VBAC

but isn't sure what

the doc's policy is.

Anyway, I would be grateful that you've received so much extra care, I

didn't realize that you were on modified bed-rest for 8 months. I know that

must have

been challenging but its so important for women who are high risk to be seen

more often.

I also think that in a first pregnancy you really need assurance that what you

are feeling is

OK. There are so many aches & pains that its sometimes tough to

distinguish it. I certainly didn't know I was in labor when I bled at 34 weeks

but I was.

Without the heart beat monitor & cervical check at the hospital I might not

have known

and my baby came so fast after that. My water broke there and Emma arrived 3

hours

later.

I can't really say if the pain you are feeling is normal. Do you feel like

perhaps the baby is

moving further down the birth canal? Discomfort unfortunately is normal near

the end. I

had that round ligament pain that felt like pulled muscles but that was about

it. So I had

no real pre-term labor symptoms except the bleeding that I was in labor at 34

weeks. It

had been almost 2 weeks since I had been to the OB due to the Christmas

holiday and my

appt. was 2 days after I delivered her. I think if I was seen weekly they

might have caught

it but who knows, I can't change the past.

But my advice would be to really call or go in if you think its labor pains or

if there is any

bleeding. The fact that your cervix is closed is good but don't be afraid to

call if anything

changes. I'm sure you'll find out lots more at your detailed ultrasound next

week.

The only bit of info that I left out was that this year (June 2004) I had a

lap/hyst surgery in

Cincinnati (where we live now) to determine my " true shape " . I had MRIs and

U/s scans but

a NY doc (my reproductive endocrinologist) thought I was SU and I was in his

care when I

was pregnant and delivered in Syracuse so that's the label I got (SU). So even

an

experienced

RE in NY thought I was SU although I'm BU which we discovered in the lap/hyst.

My current

doc said that the retained placenta was a big clue that I was likely BU. The

procedure went

well, they did nothing to correct it since research shows its best to leave a

BU alone and I

was back to my old self in 3 days. So I believe that for those unsure of their

true shape,

the lap/hyst is really the gold standard & best procedure to really know your

MA & correct

it if necessary.

Onto your question about other children....well I'm not sure. We also aren't

getting

any younger and feel quite blessed to have Emma who is really healthy. We have

a web site