11 weeks: We have proof!

At 10 weeks, 1 day, we finally visited my doctor for an ultrasound. It wasn't planned that way, but, long story short, it ended up that way. ;-) We were prepared for a few possibilities. My nausea had really improved lately, and that may have meant that the baby stopped developing. Given the septum, the baby might have been experiencing growth restriction. So we went in trying to prepare for the worst and hoping for the best.

As the image came up on the screen, we saw this perfectly formed little baby with arms and legs flailing! It actually looked like it was dancing... it was so surreal. Its measurement confirmed a gestational age of 10 weeks, 1 day - right on target! The heart rate was an impressive 172 beats per minute!!!



There was plenty of room to move around in the amniotic sac, and we were able to get a good look at the septum at the top of my uterus. The sonographer described it as broad and shallow. A quick visit with the doctor afterwards blessed us with a better explanation... The septum is covering the top inside of my uterus and is not causing any separation of the uterine cavity. Embryos that implant on a septum don't have much of a chance, because blood supply is very poor. Septums also pose a problem when they refuse to stretch as the rest of the uterus grows, causing fetal growth restriction. My doctor was very encouraging and realisitic at the same time. She said she will be on the lookout for signs of miscarriage, preterm labor (during the 2nd and 3rd trimester), and breech presentation. All are common with septate uteruses. If the baby is breech by the end of the 3rd trimester and will not turn, she briefly mentioned that she would be hesitant to allow a vaginal birth (because, in that case, the baby's position would be a result of an abnormal uterus).

Apart from all the warnings and possibilities, she told us that the baby and the uterus are looking perfectly healthy right now, and that there is no immediate need for concern. The placenta is not attached directly to the septum, although a small portion is covering it. The baby appears to have plenty of room and is growing just fine. She has treated many women before who have delivered 2 or 3 healthy children despite having a septate uterus, and never knew the difference. Therefore, we know the best possible outcome is still a realistic goal.

So for the rest of this pregnancy, our hopes and prayers will be for a healthy gestation. We hope that the septate tissue stretches just fine, and that the baby has a happy, healthy home for the next 30 weeks. We will also be praying that the baby will find it's way into a favorable position by the time it's ready to come out (head down, not breech!). We firmly believe that a natural birth is still very possible, and this doctor seems to be in favor of helping us achieve that goal. We will have more chances to sit down and visit with her in the near future as regular prenatal care visits get established.

Josh and I are on cloud 9 right now! The realities that we are dealing with have not changed the fact that we need to continue praying for health and peace. Please pray with us for all of the specific hopes mentioned above. Thanks, everyone! Love, Josh and Mandi.


-mandi