Retroverted Uterus - warning

[*Sal*]

Hi I just wanted to pass on some information for people who have a retroverted womb in pregnancy (it tips backwards instead of forwards). Up to 30% of population have this, and you can find out if you do when you have your pap smear done.

The problem I had with my second pregnancy at 16 weeks was the baby's growth pushes up on the bladder and stops the urination. It got progressively worse, until one morning I couldn't go at all. Ended up in hospital with a catheter and had over a litre of wee drained out - very uncomfortable and very unpleasant.

As you enter the second trimester the uterus is supposed to 'flip' forward, to allow the baby to grow up out of the pelvis. Why this did not happen to me I do not know. In the worst case scenario, the uterus can become 'incarcerated' within the pelvis - I'd hate to think what happens to the baby then.

Anyway, now I am 16 weeks preg again and experiencing the same symptoms. This time I am seeing a better obstetrician, and he said to encourage the uterus to flip forward, I need to get down on all fours and pull knees into chest. So far it is not a permanent solution, but is working to get things going each morning.

Just thought I'd share this, as I was totally ignorant last preg. and ended up in hospital. Hope it doesn't happen to anyone else!

[JanetF]

I'm sorry this happened to you *hugs* What a rare complication! I have a retroverted uterus too and like most women, had no problems at all. I hope you can find a solution that keeps you feeling good and on track with this pregnancy. Belly rubs to your beautiful belly!
:)

[*Sal*]

Thanks Janet. Hopefully the rest of the second trimester will be better.

By the way, your son is the same age as mine.

[Tea Lady]

Just found this thread - the same thing happened to me at 14 wks - woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't go so drove to A & E - 1400 mLs of urine drained :eek: I had to self-catheterise for a while and couldn't let myself get so that I really needed to "go". Hence waking every 2hrs with the alarm in the night for several weeks. Apparently it only happens in one in 3000 pregnancies so we're just "lucky" I guess!

I'm just hoping it won't happen next time.

Lucy

[Trix]

I too have a retroverted uterus, but so far so good. I'm sure i would have noticed it by now I suppose.

I was warned of this by my gyno, but was told that after this first pregnancy it should stay "normal".

I guess it doesn't!

[kiara]

Thank you for the warning. I too have a retroverted uterus and am 6 and a bit weeks pregnant. I will keep and eye out for the signs

Thanks again for the warning.

Kiara

[hp-mum]

I also have a retroverted uterus. I am now 15.5 weeks but at my 12 week scan my OB said it had flipped forward. I did notice before then though that there were a couple of nights when I got up to go to the loo it took a long time to 'go' - that must have been why. I haven't had any problems since though. Thanks for the warning.

Goodluck with the rest of your pregnancy.

[ringneck]

thanks for the heads up i have the same prob i'm not preg yet but will keep an eye out when i am

[Bep]

I have a retroverted uterus and yes, my bladder did seize up on me at 12 weeks pregnancy this time around.

After a trip to the hospital at 1am one morning, I had a lovely cathedar placed in to drain the bladder and then didn't and issue after that.

I was never warned about that unfortunately. Hopefully this thread will give other people some warning, not saying that it will definately happen when you are preggers, but just be aware, and when you need to go, GO. Dont hold it in at all.

your uterus does tilt back forward again into the correct position at around 15 weeks pregnancy due to the weight of the baby. To my relief, my scan showed on Wednesday that it has tilted forward ready for the birth.

[mochridhe]

Oh wow! I never had any clue about the possible complications!

I was found to have a retroverted uterus when I had my first pap smear (I think I was about 18 at the time) I've since discovered that it runs fairly strongly in my family. I was always just told (by Drs) that there were no issues with conception, pregnancy etc as it reverts to normal during the pregnancy. I never knew there were some instances where it didn't.

Very good to know & something to look out for next time round. Also something to note for the future for my DD/s!

Thank you for the info.

[TyBean]

Oh wow!! I had no idea.

I found out after Tyler I had a retroverted uterus... didn't before Tyler though :confused:

Thanks heaps for that information. I had no idea!!!

[Alakai]

Think that is bad? When pregnant I could not go to the bathroom for 17 hours. This happened REGULARLY and required repeated trips to the ER. Self-cathertization only worked a few times and then stopped working entirely. After 17 hours and feeling horrible, could not walk and felt very dizzy. Was already making mulitple trips to the ER though, could not very well go every 3 hours! Just horrible.

[Starlet]

Wow I had no idea!!

I didn't find out I had a retoverted uterus until 9 weeks into THIS pregnancy, so I guess I have been lucky not to run into any problems!

[Kedron Park]

I was found in my third pregnancy to have a retroverted uterus. Nothing was ever mentioned with my first 2 so I don't know if I had it then or not.

With the last pregnancy I didn't have any trouble, but this time I did have trouble weeing but not as bad as some the poor ladies here.

[Raff]

I am 9 weeks along with my first and I have a retroverted uterus. While chatting online with others in their first trimester, they are all talking about frequent urination. Well I have been urinating frequently too, but I have noticed that it takes a long time to actually 'go' once I have sat down on the toilet. Is this an early indicator I might have problems??