Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[JimmyJam]

Man ladies I am having a rough time.

I've been googling this excess amniotic fluid condition & have scared myself silly. Apparently it's rare to get it this early in pregnancy & the prognosis isn't too hot. I can't find anyone on the forums who's had it as early as me - later on it's not so problematic but at this stage it's bad and associated with PPRM & fetal loss.

I am in meltdown & also convinced I'm leaking amniotic fluid.

I know there's nothing anyone can say to comfort me, I just have to listen to the experts it just doesn't feel good.

After everything I've been through I don't want to lose this baby

 

[kateqpr]

Oh honey. I TOLD YOU NOT TO GOOGLE!

I imagine you're at your hospital now, and hopefully they're giving you all the news you need, that's relevant to your specific circumstances. Hopefully then they can give you a real idea of what they plan for you over the coming weeks. I know it' stressful - massively so, when you just want things to go quietly and smoothy - and hopefully things will for you.

Do let us know how it goes - and we're here for you!

Off topic....but where abouts in London are you? I used to work near Queen Charlottes for years, and family live near by.

Lots of luck

xxx

 

[book.fish2011]

Man ladies I am having a rough time.

I've been googling this excess amniotic fluid condition & have scared myself silly. Apparently it's rare to get it this early in pregnancy & the prognosis isn't too hot. I can't find anyone on the forums who's had it as early as me - later on it's not so problematic but at this stage it's bad and associated with PPRM & fetal loss.

I am in meltdown & also convinced I'm leaking amniotic fluid.

I know there's nothing anyone can say to comfort me, I just have to listen to the experts it just doesn't feel good.

After everything I've been through I don't want to lose this baby

JJ, I don't have any real advise to offer but pls know that am thinking about you and hoping everything goes well.

 

[book.fish2011]

Jimmy -

bookfish - I'm sorry I didn't see your post before. I'm so sorry about your loss, hon. Congrats on your wonderful twins! I bled for about 4-5 days after the cerclage insertion (it started out as proper bright red blood and gradually subsided to stained cm), had mild cramping/was uncomfortable for about the same period, and was on antibiotics for contractions and infections. No bedrest for me, although I was told to take it easy- no housechores, no lifting, no more than 10/15min walking, on pelvic rest, but I was advised to go on with life as usual. I think moderate rest and caution is what it takes. Also drink plenty of water and eat a pot of yogurt a day/watch out for infections down there. It's quite reassuring that you've got the stitch this time.

Thanks LaRockera for your kind words. Is it your birthday today? Happy birthday too! Am terrified about the surgery. I'm told it will be done under spinal Anastasia. Last time I had one for my emergency c-section to get my baby out. That didn't end well. Somehow am not looking forward for this surgery although I really need it, and hoping it will help me keep the babies inside and cook them for as long as I can.
I had a work job, tomorrow is my last day work. Am quitting the job in order to be on rest as much as possible.

 

[book.fish2011]

Hi book fish and welcome too I am so sorry for the loss of your precious boy it is good to know that your doctors are taking a proactive approach. Honestly, the procedure will be fine and nothing to worry about. You will have some spotting and feel uncomfortable for a week or so after, but it is so worth it for peace of mind. It's worth asking what the docs plan for you in terms of monitoring post stitch, they are obviously taking good care of you now and checking your cervical length.

Thanks HelenGee.

I changed my doctor just 2 weeks ago. I live in Dubai and over here we don't see two separate doctors, one OB another prenatalogist. It's just one doctor. I was seeing a OB who specialized in high risk pregnancies but she was not keen to do a cerclage and was more of wait and watch approach.

My new high risk OB is, as you said, proactive. She strongly recommended cerclage and offered to see me every week. Am hoping turning to her will turn out to be a good decision at the end.

I have one last day of work. Hopefully my cervix will remain stable and I will be able to have my babies at least this time without any complications.

Am glad to have found you all.

 

[olga2424]

Hi ladies, hoping your all well....Larockera, HBD and well done for getting to 34 weeks hun.
Kateqpr , yeah! 29 weeks. yo so nearly there am so inspired by you ladies.
Lizzie hun, I hpoe your having a fab time with the family.
Christiana, Helengee how are you hun?
Hi bookfish welcome dear, so glad your doctor is really being pro active....you will be fine hun, you will experience some mild cramping and slight bleeding but every thing should settle down after.

Jimmyjam hun, welcome dear and am so sorry for what your going through....I don't know much about excess amniotic fluid but i recently watched a program on one born every minute and there was a lady on there who was carrying twins and had the same condition, she went to the fetal medical center in London and was seen by a top proff (professor Kypros Nicolaides). Apparently he is one of the best and he is the pioneer of the nuchal translucency (hope am right!) He performed the amnio and drained most of the fluid away as it was starting to affect/open up her cervix. The lady also had what they call "Twin2Twin" syndrome and he operated on her twins in the womb and the outcome was very successful. Please try and stay calm as am sure you will be in safe hands with your consultant. I know its not easy and am not in your shoes but please STAY AWAY FROM DR. GOGGLE!!

Ladies, as for me am up coming to 22 weeks and its 4 weeks since I had my stitch but am still experiencing mild cramping every other day...Is this normal post cerclage? Or should I visit the maternal assessment unit at my local hospital so i can get it checked out? Am not presenting any discharge or bleeding and the baby's kicks are really low...I really don't know if what am feeling is normal with a stitch. Its just worrying me that this cramping is not going away and it could be my cervix opening up. My next scan is not until 14/2/12.Please share your experiences. Am so scared of sleeping at night as I keep thinking am going to go into preterm labor like i did the last time....Am so worried!
Hi to all the other ladies I have missed out!

 

[olga2424]

hi all
this is apsara's husband. apsara delivered baby boy on 18-1-2012 he weighs 2.8kg mother and baby are doing fine. she will update you all when she is allowed to use computer.

Congs on your knew arrival and hope all is going well with you

 

[kateqpr]

Hi olga,

Congrats on getting so far! I've had lots of cramps, aches and pains over the last two months. I went to be checked at the hospital and the majority of the time all was fine. Twice I had a UTI which they found via my urine sample and was treated quickly and effectively. It did cause some lower abdominal aching, which was the only symptom I ever had!

One thing you can ask for is a FFN test. Google it. My hospital offer it to at risk women from 20 weeks onwards. It's very effective at predicting if you're likely to go into labour or not in next two weeks. It really can reassure you if yours worried so I would push for that.

I'm sure you're all fine, and so many cramps etc, are normal parts of pregnancy, but I think with a stitch it's always worth getting some reassurance and peace if mind of you feel you need it X

 

[LaRockera]

My wonderful ladies ,

thank you SO much for your lovely birthday wishes. Birthday's actually tomorrow (the 2nd), and I'm becoming 31. Although I can't say I wish I were anywhere else than where I am now. It just feels right the way things moved in my life. I did the things I wanted when I wanted them, everything feels right.

Jimmy - I wish there was something, anything I could say to make you stop worrying- alas, there isn't. I only hope that you get some answers today, and you update us asap. I wholeheartedly wish you the very very best, hon. You deserve this baby, and fx, it will all go smooth with the right treatment and care.

bookfish - don't be scared of the insertion. I did it under general anesthesia, felt uncomfortable for a couple of hours, and then it was all over. Almost 21 weeks later, I can tell you it's the best thing that I ever did. Knowing that you have a stitch- that works- in there will overcome any feeling of discomfort, and you'll find that many ladies that had the stitch under a spinal found the procedure to be absolutely painless and routine. There's nothing to worry about, really. And we're here for you, don't forget that.

 

[chistiana]

Olga- hey hun, i round about where you are if not a little earlier but i too have been having all sorts of aches and pains. Sometimes they are sharp side pains some it s pinching or a weird sensation when i pee. My next scan is 14/2 so i ve called my doc quite a few times but he says as long as it is not contractions, bleeding or leaking i shouldnt worry!anyway call your doc hun just to keep your sanity!

Larockera- HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! HOpe you re doing something special tonight!

Jj- i am so sorry you have to go through another scare. I cant offer any info or advice other than the common "no googling" one. My ds had two instead of 3 arteries in his ambilical cord and when i googled all i could find was results about trisomies, genetic abnormalities and the rest!he was absolutely fine only a little on the thin side!!hope it all goes well!

Kate- hey!you are sooooo knowledgable amd inspirational!just wanted to say thanks! A bit off topic but is it true that anterior placenta makes feeling the baby more difficult? I havent been feeling her kicks much and it gets me worried sometimes!!

Hope everyone else is doing great!!

 

[Susanah]

Hello Everyone
So glad to see everyone doing so well
We have been very busy - as expected with two babies
Lily is doing good but were back in hospital day 6 as she had lost too much weight - and was diagnosed with congenital lactose intolerance, the same as her sister Charlie. So I had to stop breastfeeding and start her on specialised formula. She's being improving since then.
otherwise things are good.
im absolutely exhausted - entertaining Charlie (who started proper walking last weekend) by day - and Lily by night - but its wonderful.
Will try adding pics. - not my greatest skill
Love to all.
xx

 

[Susanah]

yey it worked
they are babies cuddling with their dad, Lily first day home in highchair, me last weekend with babies on beach in whitby and Lily day 1 in hospital
Will add one of Charlie also

 

[chistiana]

Hi Susanah- we havent spoken before but just wanted to say your babies are absolutely gorgeous! Well done for handling a newborn and a very small baby so well, being able to enjoy them and manage everything at once! The pic on the beach says it all!

 

[HelenGee]

Susannah- what a gorgeous family you are. You look so healthy in the picture on the beach, Lily looks like a little teddy bear in the baby bjorn - just love it! I am just lost for words, your girls are beautiful, love the pic of Charlie in the bath! And you are such a gorgeous mummy too. Hope Lily's enjoying her feeds now xx

 

[JimmyJam]

Hi Lovely Ladies,

Thank you for your kind messages. Looking at those gorgeous pics of newborns makes me even more determined to get there. I don't have any advice to other posters because I'm a virgin to this thread, but I wish you all the very best & hopefully I'll get to know you on this journey.

So I spent 5 hours at the hospital yesterday, being screened across two separate high-risk clinics.

The polyhydramnios condition I've just been diagnosed with is serious but they're going to monitor me every week - on the same day I have my cervical measurement scans which is good.

I'm going to put the info down about this new condition because I've found so little about it myself and it could benefit someone else who reads it. Basically I understand that polyhydramnios goes like this:- in 50% of women it's unknown why excess amniotic fluid develops, it's just 'one of those things'. Of the other 50% causes could be the following: a problem with the fetus including structural issues (problems with swallowing, stomach, bladder as by 20 weeks the baby is swallowing the fluid & then excreting it in its urine), or neurological or chromosomal - or it could be caused by gestational diabetes in the mother.

In my case ostensibly everything with the baby looked structurally fine & the fact it seemed to be moving ok contra-indicates a neurological defect - though of course ultrasound isn't infallible so they can't be 100% sure. To figure if it's chromosomal they'd have to perform amniocentesis & draw fluid from my abdomen from the sack which carries its own risk of infection and also of prompting labour - the fact I have excess fluid & a stitch means they'd advise against it at this stage. So they're going to test me for diabetes, although it doesn't usually present until later in pregnancy, because my baby's stomach is slightly distended. To be honest I'd be surprised if I had it because I have a good diet & prior to conceiving exercised daily. It's a double-edged sword because it would be reassuring to find a cause that's treatable but then GD comes with its own set of issues.

Then there's effect: basically the key concern with excess amniotic fluid is that, if it becomes severe, eventually the body can't hold it & waters break. In my case it's complicated further by the load the excess fluid is putting on an already weak cervix. Normal range of fluid measures btw 5 & 25 (yesterday mine was 29) and most women present with this condition closer to 30 weeks. If my fluid doesn't stabilise & heads further to 40 they'll perform amniocentesis to draw it off - although sometimes it just fills again.

So there y'go. I have one word to say: bugger.

Although it's crappy, I feel better today now I'm informed. I just hate not knowing the score.

My cervix is holding - 27/28 with no funnelling yet so am going to take all of your advice, put feet up, bum in the air as much as possible, lay off the evil Google, drink gallons of water, continue with the progesterone (which I started last night) and follow up with Fibronectin testing. Your advice has been really great, thanks to all of you.

HelenGee - tricky question: am worried about risk of infection with the cyclogest pessaries, so am taking them up the back passage (sorry!) - but are they as effective this way d'you know?!!!

I'm not sure how this works so I'm just going to reply to some individual posts now ...

Cheers, JimmyJam

 

[JimmyJam]

Hi Kate,

Which hospital are you at? QC's isn't glam and the frills are non-existent, the wait-times for everything excessive, it totally swallows your life - but the medical care is really, really good. With all my issues I do feel I'm in the best place - even if there was a fight on my ward the day after cerclage!!!

I'm Chiswick-based, grew up in Hammersmith/Shep Bush - so you're from my patch! I worked close to QC too, I was at BBC White City for 10 years. And tell me is it a coincidence or does the QP in Kate QP refer to Rangers in any way?!!

When're you due btw?

Jimmy x

 

[JimmyJam]

Susannah we haven't met before but I have to tell you - your baby is just gorgeous. You must be so happy. Congratulations! X

 

[JimmyJam]

Hi Bookfish,

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss, I can't imagine what that must have been like. At least you're having extra care this time round. How far gone are you?

I hope you're feeling ok. I only had my cerclage 2 weeks ago but I'm already feeling a bit more confident. The advice from the ladies on this thread is spot-on, they've all been there - look at LaRockera, I understand she's now 34 weeks & is an expert now - that makes me feel really hopeful.

The op is a bit scary but not painful as the epidural is so effective. I closed my eyes & tried to imagine I was on a beach - the smells, the feel of the sand under my feet, the sound of the sea etc - just to take me away from the theatre. Afterwards I had some bleeding but not heaps and the day after it turned brown and within a few days it had gone. I did have contractions the morning after surgery, I'd never had them before and wasn't sure at first but I know now that's what they were. I was rushed back in by ambulance & kept in overnight although they had subsided after a couple of hours. I believe surgery can sometimes 'irritate' the uterus & cause them - I had a shirodkar stitch placed quite high up into my uterus because my cervix was shorter than they thought it would be & they had to shift my bladder out of the way which might be why my uterus got 'annoyed'.

(I find all these terms quite amusing in a black humour sort of way: 'incompetent cervix' and 'irritable uterus' - it's like our body parts are personified)!

Everyone's right when they say drink lots of water - I might have been a bit dehydrated after surgery, who knows. And it took me about 5 days before I really .felt strong again and often now I can still feel the stitch - like I've got a tampon in the wrong way.

I'm not on bed rest but have been advised to restrict activity - no lifting, no exercise, no sex or orgasm - & have just decided to take it easy. I make meals (try to chop veg sitting down), I shower daily & have been out for coffee/dinner once or twice. My cervix appeared to regenerate after the stitch & rest & lengthened back to its original length although it's a millimetre or two off that this week. But holding up for now.

The stitch is a good thing, Bookfish - it certainly makes me feel better - particularly in the light of my most recent diagnosis, which means it'll be under more strain.

Best of luck with the op & fire off any questions. I'm a newbie but will answ them if I can.

Think I've monopolised the thread enough now, I'm so verbose! All this sitting around at home is giving me verbal diarrhoea!

Take care.

Jimmyjam x

 

[JimmyJam]

Ps - thanks Olga - useful info & good to know I'm not alone.

And thanks LaRockera, too for your very kind words. All these positive vibes must have some effect?!!!

Roll on the next eight weeks ...

JimmyJam x

 

[Bump1]

Hello Ladies

Haven't been around for a while as i'm anxious about things i spend all my days worrying.

For those who don't know my story, Our little boy Joseph was born on March 12th 2010 at 25+5 wks, he was our first baby and as soon as i saw him i knew he was my life, after spending 26days in NICU fighting infection, lung collapse, 4.5hrs bowel op, pulmonary bleeds he closed his eyes and fell asleep breaking mine and his daddies hearts It had took us 3 years to fall pregnant and thought it wuld never happen.

9 months later we found we were expecting again, only to find out at 11wks i had suffered a missed miscarriage, i had to go into hospital to have a medically managed miscarriage 10 days before our wedding and Josephs 1st birthday. 3 months later we find were expecting again (found outon my 40th birthday) and it was due on Josephs 2nd birthday, we then lost this one at 9wks in Aug 11.

And then 8wks later i'm pregnant again and terrified, i am now 18+3, i had a stitch put in at 14wks as a preventative one as there not sure if i have IC, since having the stitch put in i've been admitted to hospital for a few days with abdominal pains, which they put down to IBS, for the past 2 wks the pains are on and off constantly and my anxiety levels are through the roof, i can't believe i will even make it to 25wks never mind 36!.

Hello to JimmyJam & Bookfish x
Susannah your babies are beautiful and i'm sorry for you loss xx
Lizzie how are you?
Larockera Happy belated wishes for yesterday xxx
Sorry if i've missed anyone xxxxx