Lizzie, can't thank you enough for sharing this knowledge with me which you may have given to many women here before.

I will hope meanwhile things stay where they are now; and don't get worse. Thrush and abscess are still okay to deal with as long as babies are unharmed.

You will. I promise. And so will JJ.

I know it, because I was thinking the exact same thing at your gestational age. How I envied tickers that were reaching the end, and wished I didn't have that long ahead. Well, guess what? Time flew by, as it always does.

Additionally, don't think I'm too confident. I never stopped being nervous in my pregnancy, and even now, every little moment when my baby goes quiet or I think about all the things that could go wrong worries my like crazy. Worrying, I think, is something inherent in pregnancy and motherhood, especially in cases like ours.

Christiana - good idea, hon. Looking forward to it.

Lizzy - I'd just like to say how amazing you are, once more. You, and Helen, the amount of support I got from you and the other ladies in this thread make me want to help as much as I can myself.

Kate - I'm SO glad you're finally relaxed, babe. Sorry about the nausea returning, it may not last though. Important thing is, you're in your third trimester.

Finally,

Jimmy - Well, not much to say, hon, except maybe how sorry I am for reading you're having to go through all this s***. I could patronise you endlessly about not to worry and blah blah, but it would be fruitless. There's not really much I can add to all the brilliant advice Lizzie and Helen offered, I will repeat though, that the stitch is there to hold an amazing amount of weight, so at least don't see it in conjunction to the your fluid issue. I'm positive the stitch is there to do its job, and as far as this part of your pregnancy is concerned, it will.

As for the amniotic fluid, this is something that just happens sometimes, and it may have nothing to do with the baby. It's just how the sac works sometimes. Mine has been on the lowest side of normal throughout the latest part of the second and so far the third trimester, I was paranoid about leaking, turned out, this is just how it works in this particular pregnancy. I think the fact that you're approaching viability, as well as the fact that something can be done, are very, very important parameters to consider. Like the other ladies said, 10% risk means 90% success, which is a huge percentage if you think about it. If you had the exact opposite problem, ie. a torn sac that wouldn't reseal, there would be very little to nothing they could do (although there are many, many positive stories out there), as the baby cannot survive without the fluid. But in your case, they have a way of taking the excess fluid out, and the chances of it working are actually 9 in 10.

The most important thing is that you are being monitored and taken care of. Don't fight your feelings, and you will probably be an emotional wreck throughout this pregnancy, but seeing how you could very well have a happy ending, I think you're doing well and being very brave, gritting your teeth and fighting. We're all thinking of you and sending positive vibes. Please keep updating, we're all positive this will have a happy ending, as there are good, scientific reasons to point likewise.

Bookfish- hey hun just wanted to tell you that both with ds and now i went through more than 1 course of antibiotics (2 this time round and probably will start third soon as i suspect i have thrush toi- waiting for swab results to come back soon). My doc keeps telling me that as long as it is treated there is nothing to worry about so keep that if you want.xx

Jj- thinking of you hun, will try and see whether i can find any info or stories on your condition in any of the greek sites and traslate.xx

You are all totally amazing, thank you.

Lizzie, Helen, Kate, LaRock - thanks for all your advice & encouragement, you've taken both time & care to support me & it means a lot. . And Bookfish, Christiana & Olga thank you too for your kind, kind words. You are all special ladies.

I'm not in a position to write proper replies or to share my experiences with those of you looking for advice as I've been a total wreck all day (and night) but I just want you all to know how grateful I am - and hopefully I'll be back in action soon and able to contribute back. I hope you're all doing ok.

I am seeing a specialist consultant privately tmrw evening who will hopefully be able to provide us with some answers regarding my condition.

Will check in after that.

Thanks.

Jj xxx

Jimmy, heaven help us if we only helped and supported people quid pro quo. There was a time when each and every one of us could only ask for advice, and in due course, we were able to offer our two cents for others, too. Please don't ever think you are here under some sort of clause or conditionally. All we want from you is to be strong and make it through this sane and, eventually, happy. We want you and your bubba to reach the end safely- and I'm sure that that's what will happen, even if it has to drive you insane with worry.

Thanks LR and Christiana for your kind kind words.

JJ, wish you all the very best for the appointment with the specialist. Will be thinking about you.

Good luck today Larockera! Is it your removal today? X

Hi all

LR - is it your stitch removal today hun? Can't believe you're here already. Thoughts and love coming your way

JJ - you never have to feel obliged to reply to us here - we're here for you and not the other way around. I know that in the midst of my battle to remain pregnant I didn't want to talk to anyone, and certainly didn't want to discuss my predicament - somehow it focused me too much on every little twinge, and that only scared me more.

Good luck with your appt tonight, and I hope this specialist can bring you some peace. It certainly always helped me to feel I was doing something, no matter how small, because most of the time I felt so helpless. It's important to be realistic about the facts, but at the same time to maintain some hope. After all, no one knows for certain how this pregnancy is going to pan out, and ultimately there is still a good chance you'll make it to at least 30wks. Love and hugs xxx

Hi Book.fish, so sorry about the late response hun.... Yes, bubba is kicking loads and mostly in my 'lady bits'. Little bit about my story. when I found out I was pregnant @ round 8w I had really bad thrush on/off. my next hospital visit @ 12w again I reported the discomfort I was experiencing and was informed that it was quite a normal occurrence in pregnant women due to the increase of hormones in the body. I was administered with vaginal pessaries which relieved it for a couple of days or so but it kept reoccurring.

@16w it had gotten worse and by then I think I also had contracted bv and again I informed the midwife and all I was given was more vag pessaries, no swabs.
I started to experience loads of extra greenish discharge and leaking some fluid. being my 1st pregnancy I didn't no if this was normal or not.
The next day i self refereed my self to the maternal assessment unit were they examined me with a speculum and they noticed my membranes had already bulged and I was told that the infection could have traveled right up to my cervix causing it to soften and opened up prematurely (don't know how true this was tho!). As with this pregnancy they've truly discovered and confirmed I have IC.

Finally my waters broke @ 20+5 and i was induced at 21w due to infection. Am still not sure whether my cervix also played part but as Lizzie said it could have been my cervix had opened up already and the infection got the opportunity to travel up and cause more havoc.
However with this current pregnancy I have been treated with antibiotics prophetically frm 8-24w as I also tested positive for GBS and also when i got thrush this time round after my stitch, it was treated with a dose of fluconazle(flagyl) as i didn't want to take any chances.The good news is at least they have caught it in time and treating it appropriately!

AM currently still on strict hospital bed rest and it appears like am staring to loose my my mind due to luck of sleep and boredom just don't know what to do with my self.
Lizziehun and any one who can help, These are my scan pics and just wanted your opinion on what you think as I don't seem to be getting a clear answer from my doctors, when I ask them how big and wide/bad the funneling is the response is doom and gloom.....I have uploaded some of my scan pics so you can have a look and give your opinion, I know your not Drs. and not trained to interpret scans but may have your own experiences and some rough ideas.

My hospital report states the length of the cervix is about 23mm bellow the stitch with cervical funneling that measures 11mm in diameter and 10mm in length (TVS) and with the TAS the cervix measures 30mm. Whats your opinion or take on this? I don't know if I have funneled through the stitch, but at least it appears the external os is still closed. All in all, am still hanging in there and also experiencing on/off lower back ache( and hoping this is not a cause for concern..??)Any one experiencing or experienced it whilst on strict bed rest?

JimmyJ, am really thinking and praying for you loads sweet and good luck for today! You will be just fine hun.
Larockera, how are you and when is stitch removal day?....so excited for you babes!
Christiana hun, how is it going? kateqpr, hi dear not long and you will soon be joining Larokera too Hi to all the ladies I have missed, @midnight tonight will be VIABILITY

Thanks Olga. Being on hospital bedrest is hard, I can imagine. I use my iPad (am at home, lying on my bed most time), it's giving me some company.

Am so so sorry for the lost of your first baby. I know the pain, I've been there. Dono if you read my old posts; my son died in nicu when he was 11 days old. He was born at 30 weeks due to unexplained Pprom.

I wish all goes well and you bring your baby home this time. Congrats for making it to viability.

I never remember having thrush before. I strongly suspect I got it this time bcoz of taking antibiotics for UTI. I don't know if I have BV (what is BV btw?). My doc took a swab from vagina during my 14th week and last week. I think they found no infection.

At what week did you get cerclage this time? Can you tell me why did the funneling occur?

Pls hang in there. You are getting closer and closer to the goal.

P.s. I m no good reading ultrasounds. But am trying to look at them carefully. Will tell you if I see anything.