Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[Irielioness]

Hello ladies! Thank you all for the warm welcome. Its taken me a minute to get back on again since I came down with a nasty cold but things are getting better. I had a Dr appointment today and so far everything is going good my cervix is still closed length is excellent no signs of funneling. I should know by next week what day Im schedule to get my cerclage placed. A little anxious but I'm just ready to get it in and try to relax I also start my p17 shots next week. I finally feel like things are going in the right direction. I know the dr will go over things next week in full detail but I was just wondering if any of you had things/experiences that I should be aware that maybe the Dr didnt quite go over? Maybe things you weren't expecting?......One more thing a off topic not about i/c or the cercalge placement....Have any of you experienced pregnancy rhinitis? It seems with my year long allergies mixed with the hormonal changes I have come down with a severely congested nose that keeps me up all night. Ive tried everything from Dr recommended OTC & nasal sprays to saline flushes and nothing seems to be helping. Before I ask for a prescription I was hoping/wondering if any of you have dealt with this and what seem to help for you?

 

[x-amy-x]

Hey guys, here's a little update from me (also in my journal)

On Sunday night I had a lot of bleeding and some pains. My loss was quite watery so the Midwife was concerned it could be amniotic fluid. I was transferred down to delivery suite just incase anything kicked off over night.

Monday I had a scan to check cervical length, fluid levels and placenta blood flow. Fluid levels were normal and blood flow good. My cervix has funnelled to stitch. As i've no major pain down there they weren't worried.

Tuesday. I told the DRs on ward round about feeling 'pressure' in my bits. They did a speculum and this showed me 1-2cms dilated with membrane sac visible. Not great news but they are still happy the stitch is holding it all in. I just have to be careful because of risk of infection and not to do too much as my membranes could rupture.

Today my bleeding has settled so they have set me freeee

We made it past 25 weeks. I have a growth scan on monday and it wont be long before 3rd trimester

Thank you all so much for your messages. Means a lot to me!

 

[kateqpr]

Oh Amy that's good news. Baby still holding and just shows how brilliant a stitch can be. I've been worrying about you and checking in hoping to hear from you, so it's a relief to know you're stable enough to be home. Yay!

Do they give you steroid injections at a time like this? Have no idea. But big congrats on making 25 weeks and each day baby stays put now must be such a relief and achievement.

Keep us posted and keep those feet up and try to relax asich as possible. Oh, and how's the infection? Hopefully cleared up by now

X

 

[x-amy-x]

Thanks kate

I had the steriods at 23 +5 and 23+6 they might repeat them at 26 weeks.. .its certainly been talked about. all good so far though. everything seems to be working to get us that little bit further along... and sometimes just that little bit further is enough xx

 

[x-amy-x]

Oh.. and the infection, finished the anti bs yesterday and had a swab done yest morning. Should have the results tomorrow. Feeling fine though

xxx

 

[LaRockera]

Amy, I've been thinking about you. I'm glad things look really positive, hon. My midwife told me that there are women that make it to term with almost zero length.

Yes, a bit further sometimes is good, but I'm positive you'll reach full-term. I suppose you're on bed rest? Drink a gallon of water to flush out infections. I use baby soap with neutral Ph to wash myself down there, consult your doctor about this if you want.

I wholeheartedly wish everything goes perfect from now on.x

 

[Mommy's Angel]

Oh Amy. Sorry your going through this but glad the stitch is holding. Just shows how awesome these cerclages are! I pray all is well and you get MUCH further.

 

[x-amy-x]

My biggest fear is to catch an infection... thats what took my other babies from me

 

[Garden59]

Hey everyone. I just wanted to touch basis and add my update. But first let me recap my experiences so far with this pregnancy. Nov. 18th cervix was 2.13, doctor insisted on cerclage. I refused. Nov. 22nd went to emergency room due to pelvic pressure. Cervix still closed, Pressure was due to uti. Dec.5 another ultrasound. Cervix has improved to 2.4. Still no cerclage. Dec. 14 went to emergency room again due to pelvic pressure. Still resulting from another uti. Dec. 15th, today, went for another ultrasound, cervix has improved to 2.61 and baby is fine. I am soo excited and I thank God for continuing to answer my prayers.All just pray and believe and God will work everything out for everybody. God Bless!!!

 

[vaali]

Amy- glad you made it to 25W & grats to you!do make sure you are gonna be on complete bed rest & think about rising the foot end of the cot too bud. Keeping pillows beneath waist do help too but raising the foot end with bricks or planks is the most efficient way to eliminate gravity off the cervix. That is what i did when i came home with 1.1cm floppy cervix after the stitch & i believe it has helped it to improve in length.

 

[vaali]

Garden your cervix behaves so well! grats bud!

 

[x-amy-x]

Am not on complete bed rest. My dr doesnt advocate it. Especially since i have a blood clotting disorder... my blood already clots too much so too much rest can be dangerous. Im just a pain in the ass tbh lol

 

[helsurf]

Amy- hope you're ok Hun, I always check in on this forum to see how everyone is getting on try and take it easy as possible while keeping the blood circulating too 25 weeks is good, fingers crossed for your baby to stay in a bit longer though, I had my son at 30 weeks and my aim is to get this pregnancy to 30 weeks too any more will be a great bonus good luck and thinking of you x x x

 

[LaRockera]

Hey everyone.

Hope you're all doing great. Amy, are you on anything? I'm on aspirin 80mg.

Went for my 27/28 week well-being private scan. Cervix is holding strong, measuring 42mm. Immense relief. My baby's on the 43th percentile and my amniotic fluid was enough for him not to feel the need to measure it this time.

He also seems to advocate probiotics for thrush prevention and concentrated cranberry juice (but not the pills or the sugary stuff) for UTIs. He's an excellent doctor - Helen, it's Chris Griffin from MUMS I'm talking about, he's just brilliant.

 

[kateqpr]

Larockera - thats brilliant news! Cervix longer than a non IC cervix that this stage! Hopefully you can breathe a huge sigh of relief and think of yourself as a 'normal' pregnant lady for a change. Yay!

Now go out there and start treating yourself a bit to some baby retail therapy. And good news on the probiotics recommendation, given I've just bought a twelve pack of probiotic drinks!

Well done you x.

 

[lizziedripping]

Hi Amy Wow you sound like a brave lady! Are you pain free again now? The membranes can drop down to the stitch, but it is possible to continue like this for several more weeks, and sometimes even to term. Have you got some closed cervix below the stitch? If so, then this will help prevent infection from getting in hun. Even with a cervix dilated through the stitch and open above and below, infection is not a foregone conclusion. Hoping and praying for you darlin', and your baby is already one week older than Evie was at birth, and look at her now - hopefully your lo will hang on for atleast several more weeks yet tho

LaRock, yey for you hun. Your cervix has been so well behaved I think it is safe for you to move around and start 'living' again chick

MA - good to see you are ok, and enjoying Amelia. I'm probably a bit late with this, but don't worry at all about formula feeding her. I only bf my eldest child for 6wks because he was so reluctant to latch, and he is a happy, healthy 9yr old. Most of us adults were probably ff and the majority of us are perfectly fine. Bf is great, but hard work and not all babies take to it - my twins were a classic case in point (one was a pro, th other hated it), take the stress away hun and make the switch - you'lll probably find all your lives get instantly easier

Love to all xxx

 

[Mommy's Angel]

Thanks Lizzie! I already noticed the difference today!! You wouldn't believe what I got done today. ((que in Hallelujah chorus)) Thank you for your encouragement.

 

[HelenGee]

La Rock - glad all is well, you definitely have a great doctor!

MA - it's a bit late but I ff both of my babies within 2 weeks of birth. Oliver was very jaundiced, from my breast milk and he needed a lot of photo therapy before we were discharged from hospital. We were only allowed home on the understanding that we went back in for blood tests every day. It all got a bit too much, I found the constant tests cruel so I switched to formula. Yes we have had a few viruses of late, but most of our issues stemmed from Oliver needing his tonsils out, not a weak immune system.

I noticed that Bella was becoming jaundiced 2 days after her birth, and I decided to switch to formula as she seemed colicky even on breast milk. Although the colic didn't entirely resolve, I felt a little more in control with her taking formula. I found it difficult to not be hard on myself, despite the fact that her weight gain was poor when being bf, and she gained weight nicely on formula x

I'll post more tomorrow, hope evryone's ok d

 

[x-amy-x]

my cervix was 'bulbous' when they checked it which apparently means still quite thick. i have about 1cm cervix above stitch. Im relatively painfree... im fine when im rested, but any walking about or being upright is really uncomfortable, pressure makes me feel like im gonna pee myself all the time lol.

we're still going good though for now xxx

 

[lizziedripping]

Hi Amy hun, the pressure you describe can also be related to prolapse and after lots of babies it feels like you have a sponge jammed between your lady bits lol. My cervix is now so low you can sometimes see it at the entrance of my vagine when I stand. Most of my symptoms in the last pregnancy were prolapse related, but unfortunately they do feel similar to PTL and an incompetent cervix. The fact that you have 1cm above your sttich is excellent - I didn't have any left above from 25wks, but the stitch kept everything locked up tight Keep resting with legs up if you can hun, and plenty of fluids xxx

MA - you've discovered the joys of ff - sooo much easier, and less stressful. You actually feel like your baby is full for the first time too With the twins I bf in the day, and ff at night - it was the only way I could manage family life. the other kids would have hardly seen their Mummy if I hadn't. It's a balancing act hun, and you must do what is right for you, your sanity and the well being of your family

Take care ladies xxx