Pls ignore above where it says cannot do personals!

Aspen...your reply reminded me....something that helps me is to remember that 38 (to 42) wks is full-term by many standards and I recently read 37 wks according to the World Health Org.
For me, that means I can focus on Jan 8 or 15, instead of the more daunting due date of Jan 30.
I kept telling docs the last couple months that my son was born early at 38+2 and they kept stressing NO...he was full-term. I guess they stress the 40 wk date because it is the average.

Hi JB - sounds like you're getting into a right old flap my love Very normal at 37wks preggo - also a sign baby will be putting in an appearance soon hun.

Basically, the stitch closes the open cervix back up again - much like a purse string bag. It doesn't always get complete closure, but in your case it probably did given that you have had no further problems.


Mid wife appts are important at this stage, but scanning is no longer necessary. They don't do routine growth scans in singleton pregnancies, and even in the twin pregnancy my last one was at 34wks. I got baby scans every 3wks due to them being twins, and consultant checked my cervix as well. Otherwise cervical scanning usually stops at 25wks in ladies with a stitch. Measurement scans are seldom accurate anyway - often they are over or underestimated - all they can say for certain is that baby is on larger or smaller side.

Your cervix length could have changed by now, and even without the stitch would be short by 37wks. Most ladies' cervixes have begun to soften and efface weeks before labour, so your cervical length does not make a quick or imminent labour inevitable. Even if it immediately dilates to 3cms on stitch removal, it still has to fully dilate with contractions to allow a term baby thru.

Having a stitch placed (especially in an emergency) does not guarantee that the cervix won't open thru it, but this is rare. This would signify an incredibley incompetent cervix, and usually occurs due to an infection tracking up into the uterus and triggering contractions. This hasn't happened with you, and since you are now at term is no longer a threat.

Please try to relax hun - you have made it, and will be holding that gorgeous bubs in your arms very soon. The way you are feeling now is sooo typical of a 37wk prenant lady, you don't know haow you feel, are on the edge of sanity, but brimming with excitement all at the same time. Add to that all your additional complications, and there is no wonder you're anxious. Rest up, and get hubby to pamper you a bit in these last weeks - you're gonna do brilliantly love xxxxxxxx

Mich - oh my god that's seems like just round the corner, have u bought stuff yet?

I'm too scared to look/buy anything yet. I can't wait to mobilise a bit however my back is killing and I find it so hard to walk for more than 5 mins. I went on a hospital tour last Saturday which involved walking around the different maternity wards and I had to keep sitting down as I was exhausted. My hospital where I was delivering closes down their maternity dept on 13th December so I had to choose a new hospital. Only thing is there will be a limbo period between 13-26 dec as the new hospital only takes babies at the moment from 34 weeks and they have a new scbu which they reckon will b open from 26 dec. I'm seeing my consultant on 15th dec so will discuss with him then.

oh oh okay thanks for the information..this helps alot..well im only 35 weeks right now..unless they have my dates wrong as I am measuring at 37 weeks. But I thik I will treat it all like a normal pregnancy ...well it sucks that I will have to stay in hospital overnight if it is most likekly that I wont go in labour..who wants to just sit in hospital overnight..booo
The good thing is that Im having contractions for the first time last night..they are minor so probably just BH..but since I have never had BH before I wouldnt know ..last week I started having intense cramps and as of two days ago I have been in the loo alot..trust me you dont want to know ..and now the tightnings..but its not that painful so havent called hospital or anything..I just figured that it is normal.

oooh JB not long now not long at all!u must feel so relieved that u are nearly completely safe!dont forget i only got to 36 1/2 weeks and koby was a whopping 7pound8 and did everything on his own perfectly bar a fair bit of jaundice..so thats a week and a half and i was measuring two weeks ahead consistantly as well!
i still cant beleive koby is still not at his due date yet!so weird to think he was not meant to be here for another two days!!feels like he's been around forever!(probably cos my days have added 6hours since i dont sleep!lol)

hi all, i had my stitch put in yesterday 13 + 4 weeks, i had it done under Genral A, but today my ribs and just below are killing me!! i did not have this pain last time, feels so odd. just walking to the kitchen and back gets my heart racing i really feel something is not right, did anyone else get odd pain after?

hey lizzie,

my details,

1. Name - vasu - first pregnancy after 10 years of my marriage
2. 30+1 weeks now
3. due date 10th feb
4. At 16+3, found internal os measuring 7.7 mm and cervical length 1.9cm, bulging of membranes in to the canal seen.
They put Mc Donald stitch and ultrasound scan showed cervix length 4.1cm after the stitch.
As of my latest scan done at 22+6 shows cervical length 3cm, with the internal os closed.
==================================================

mich - sorry, i took time to reply. I guess it is rainbowgift who wanted more info on steroid shots. Nevertheless, your information is quite useful. thanks.

Aspen - my doc never asked me for complete bed rest. On the contrary, my doc said "we put the stitch so you can walk around and lead normal life".
but, i myself decided to take complete rest. so since 13 weeks i am on bed rest except getting up for loo and hospital. since the stitch, i have been admitted to hospital for around 5 times for having mild contractions. So, I rest as much as possible.

lizzie, at the moment i am scared and have some doubts. yesterday i took bath for about 45 mins. After that i feel heavy in my lower abdomen. I feel little pressure down my rectum too (pardon me for the details). I am not sure what's happening. Its been around 8 weeks , no scan has been done for growth check or cervical length. Doc has never done an internal exam for my cervix length. It is being examined in ultrasound itself and I prefer it that way.Hope that is ok?. I asked for ultrasound in my last visit(10 days before), for that my doc says "I will ask for one if I find the need". I have one more visit today, and I am no sure what to ask.

Here we do not have the concept of midwife. Each time we meet our doctor. I was on general anaesthesia during the stitching. I am not sure when are they going to remove my stitch and how. I haven't asked these questions to my doc as it is too early, i am just 30 weeks and my doc is really impatient and not at all approachable.

love-
vasu

Mich - I agree, I think 37 weeks tends to be considered full term, I know that's what my consultant said as my first was born at 39 weeks, but labour started at 38 weeks and that is considered full term. Full term can differ for each individual I think as pregnancy is not an exact science, it's somewhere between 37-42 weeks.

Vasu - I also get that cervical and rectal pressure - that's when I get off my feet again. I don't know whether it's normal, but as long as the stitch is holding.....

Aspen - woooooohoooooooo 28 weeks - congratulations. What a relief for you.
Yesterday I started making a list of baby things we need and had a flip out about it feeling too soon. my OH is going nuts as he says that whilst bub and I are cosily ensconced in hospital, he and my 3 year old will be running around over the xmas holiday trying to buy baby stuff. We were looking at a new pram, but I can't quite bring myself to order it yet. I really should make a start with just over 2 weeks til stitich removal...

Hi all.

Great news guys - MPG, the lady who originally started this thread, had her baby girl last Thursday. Camilla was born via c-section at 39wks weighing 7Ibs 1oz!!!! Well done MPG, love to you all. Hope you don't mind me letting the ladies know? xxx

Vasu, pressure in rectum at 30wks is usually normal, and I had it throughout the twin pregnancy. There is probably no need for a TVU now because having reached 30wks means the stitch has done its job, and IC is no longer a threat. I'd say just continue restin hun - the contractions you describe are probably due to having a stitch in. Stitches do cause irritability around the cervix, but as with me, it never caused prema labour or dilation.

Leanne - after my stitch went in at 12wks, I felt physically ill for about 3wks. I had tightenings, pressure and period aches and it absolutely terrified me. It did make me rest up tho, and eventually settled down until I hit 20wks when the BH contractions began in earnest I too felt something wasn't right, but then when you effectively have a "foreign body" in your cervix, you are not gonna feel quite the same. Because my stitch was sewn thru my bladder, cervix and vaginal walls, I was never really free of discomfort after peeing, walking or sitting, but I still made it to 38wks and needn't have worried

JB - all good for (sorry) 35wks pregnant hun. BH contractions are weird and you're never sure if they're the real thing, but believe me hun, pnce the real thing hits there's no mistaking it Still, if your pain becomes VERY regular, or more intense, always worth a visit to L&D. xxx