Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[LaRockera]

To be expected after stitch removal darlin'. It's probably old blood from the stitch site, your cervix is very vascular Is it mucusy, or just brown staining? X

Just brown staining, when I wipe after using the loo, but fades away towards the end of the day. Doesn't look like a mucus plug at all. Thanks for the reassurance, Lizzie.

Bookfish- I will echo the rest of the ladies and say the stitch is just too strong to be broken by loo strain. The pinching sensations you're experiencing are pretty common, and you may have had them even without the stitch. Sorry to hear about the trouble you've been having with your job, hopefully it will all go fine and you'll soon find a way out to your situation.

Jimmy - I will echo Christiana and say I also feel positive after reading your post. I'm sorry you had to go through such a painful procedure (psychologically & physically). I bet the baby's chromosomal tests will come back fine. Please keep updating.

 

[JimmyJam]

Thanks Christiana, thanks LaRock. All the positivity does help. Thank you xx

 

[kateqpr]

LaRockera - great news your stitch is out! Plus the benefit that you didn't even have a chance to worry about it, sneaking it up on you like that! I had a bit of brown blood after the removal, i seem to remember. But well done - you made it!!

Jimmy - so so good to read your post. I feel hugely relieved! (vicariously through you!!). You sound more positive too. It's great news that the baby is still looking good on the scan, and that the amnio went smoothly. A good day, it seems, and hopefully you'll have a more comfortable weekend ahead.

It sounds like a good compromise, going in to hospital on Monday. You could also maybe try and negotiate being allowed to go home at weekends, if they think you're progressing well. I know women on this thread have done that before. It might give you a bit of emotional respite and something to look forward to each week, if you do have a long stay (which, lets face it, would actually be a good thing in one way as it means that baby is staying put!).

It's fab that you're getting the steroids. They made me feel a lot better once i had them, as i felt i was proactively helping my baby to survive, and was told it can develop their lungs by up to two weeks. Wow. You're doing brilliantly -a real trouper and much stronger than you think. Plus 24 weeks - you really didn't think you'd get this far a couple of weeks ago, did you? And of course you're a little bit in love with your baby. Despite it all, and all your mixed emotions, you are a mother to your baby. No one else is or can be. Just try and grasp hold of those moments when you let yourself believe it, no matter how scary a thought that may seem.

Oh, and don't think i've forgotten that YOU'RE FORTY TODAY!!!!! HURRAAAAYYYYY!!!!! HAPPY BLOOMIN' BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!! ( i think that's enough exclamation marks for one post, don't you....). Lets hope it's a quiet, uneventful, peaceful one, with some glimmers of hope for you all.

No news from me. Just tired and grumpy. I keep thinking baby isn't moving much (i'm so scared of reduced movements) and then she gives me an almighty kick up the lady bits to shut me up. I have my high risk clinic tomorrow, and a growth scan, so hopefully that will put my mind at rest.

Oh, and it's Poppy's birthday tomorrow (just realised - same b'day as you Jimmy!). She'll be three. And her best line today? 'Mummy - i'm not your servant!', when i asked her to pass me a cushion. She's THREE for God's sake!! Am off to bed now as have spent the evening filling party boxes for her little friends with cheap tat and chocolate coins, plus trying to wrap a hobby horse (impossible..). It's quite exhausted me!!

Night night all. Keep the faith, and keep strong. We're all getting there, slowly but surely. If only we could all meet up for a virtual cup of tea and cake one day, to show off our new babies and reminisce about how crap stitches and bed rest can be.

XX

 

[lizziedripping]

Hi ladies, and JJ hun and more for you!

I am sorry to hear the procedure was painful, but over the moon that at least for today your little baby is looking well enough, and that there is still a glimmer of hope. Did you get a chance to read my post about the article? That a lack of anomalies on scan was found to translate into a healthy baby at birth in all such cases, despite severe polyhydramnios. I will keep praying and hoping that the tests come back clear

Kate is absolutely right, you must relate to and talk with your baby. Scary as it is to bond when everything is so uncertain, it can only help you both on the road ahead, whatever the outcome may be.

I can't wait until you make the 24wk mark next week. Though not out of the woods, reaching viability is at least one major obstacle cleared, and a huge psychological milestone. On that note, It would be a pleasure to share Evie's story with you hun - any excuse to talk about her is fine with me lol, and if it helps then even better. I'll pop back here tomorrow when I have a bit more time with the full story - in the meantime hun just focus on her pic to realise that having a micro preemie is certainly not all 'doom and gloom'

Indomethecin btw is directly risky to baby only after 30wks in pregnancy, but is ok before. There is a small risk of the baby having some kidney issues later in life (20s, 30s as I recall), but this is usually when it has been given daily over a prolonged period.

Just to reassure you, I had it 4 times after my emergency stitch with Evie to try to settle the resultant contractions. It was brilliant, but the contractions always returned when it had worn off. We kept agreeing to it because we figured giving her more time in utero at that point (23wks) far outweighed the minimal risk of a correctable kidney issue in her 20s. The risks are only small, and we were only told about it because I was given multiple doses.

Many women are also given a single dose after elective cerclage to prevent uterine contractions in the first 24hrs (as was I). It worked and the twins are fine - as was Evie apart from her extreme prematurity. It is a brilliant drug, and will be fine in the occasional doses you will need.

Your cervix is also looking fine. It isn't unusual for the length above or below the stitch to change for the better - it is in fact a common finding in a weakening cervix. It is soft and open at the top, so it makes sense that it can fluctuate day by day. The stitch is clearly doing its job, and all that really counts is that there is some closed cervix below it.

I am buoyed by today's events JJ, tho I realise you and bubs are not yet out of the woods. Just take each day as it comes sweet, and before you know it a few weeks will have passed, and better news might well be around the corner. Will be thinking of you, rest well

 

[book.fish2011]

Thanks all for your kind words. Hopefully all these pains will be worth it, when babies arrive safe and healthy and when we can finally say 'yeah, I have children at home'. Waiting for those little fingers and little lips caressing my husband and my face. Can't even imagine how that feels.

JJ, I bet the procedure was painful. I havent been through it myself but I can surely feel your anguish and hurt. It's unfair you had to go through all these. But you know what, at the end of all this ordeal, like other ladies said, I feel so much positive for you. Am so happy to know bub is moving around fine and everything. I hope those chromosome test results will all come back normal. Sunday is just 2 days away. It's Thursday noon in Dubai already you will be there in n time and hope you'll go much much farther and pleasantly surprise us all.

Christiana, how are you doing today? Are you able to keep down some food? Is the indigestion sorted out ?

LR, how do you feel now you are at the very end of the tunnel. Am very keenly waiting for your fantastic news.

Kate, how are you feeling today? All set to celebrate Poyypy's birthday? And oh yes, happy birthday to JJ too!

I hope everything is well with Olga,Lliven, Lizie and Helen

x

 

[LaRockera]

Jimmy - happy birthday to you, hon!!! Did they give you any dietary advice along with the injections? I was told to steer clear of salt and sugar for two weeks.

Kate - happy birthday to Poppy, hon! I was paranoid about reduced movement throughout my pregnancy, and still am!

Bookfish- well, I'm quite excited, impatient, and nervous. I'm also very well aware that it hasn't happened yet, so every second that the baby goes quiet or that I find my panties a little bit wetter than they should, paranoia strikes.

Lots of love to everyone.

 

[chistiana]

Jj-happy birthday hun!!i know it s not the ideal one but i told you before and i ll tell you again now..this is your last bday without sticky fingers in your cake!i m praying for that!

Kate- happy birthday to poppy!!!!hope you and she both have a lovely party!

BF- nope, havent put anything in my mouth other than chamolile since monday night... I even have water coming up...stupid doc said i m not to use gaviscon or malox (same kind of medication in greece)...tried eating some apple but it came back up, same with a little banana...it s miserable and i m also on antibiotics so i can really feel my stomach being blown away. But ds is also down with diarrhea and dh is just "not feeling very well"...grrrmmmmm men can be such cry babies...if it was up to them the human kind would be extinct because there is no way they could ever handle the hardships!sorry about the rant!

 

[book.fish2011]

Oh Christiana...you poor thing. That's so terrible you haven't been able to eat anything since Monday!!!!! Is this similar to a morning sickness in 2nd trim? Or is it because of the UTI. It's too sad the doc isn't doing anything.

Am sorry about dh and ds sickness too. Such horrible timing!!!!

 

[chistiana]

Thanks BF, cant really say if it is similar to
ms, i be never experience ms any of my pgs. I tried having a little bit of over boiled rice about 2 hours ago and i m still sitting here trying to digest as if i was a boa having just just his meal for winter...! Anyway not sure this is indeed pg related as lo has been sick all day...maybe it is just the flu. Anyway, thanks again hun, how are you today?any updates?btw dont worry about your work situation, i know you must have need that money for sure but if there is nothing you can do to fight them then please dont stress or get mad about it, babies need you calm and relaxed, f#*% the stupid job, you ll get a new one once your babies are here safe and sound!xx

 

[liven1980]

Hi everyone,

Jj: I am happy to hear the sonogram is fine. After the article Lizzie recited, this should be very good news. I am sorry about the painful procedure yoy had to go through. I wish I could take it away. But good thing you are feeling better after the procedure. i would think breathing properly and felling fysically better also helps a bit mentally. I have been thinking about you, a lot actually. What you wrote about having a plan b if everything goes wrong, I totally recognize. When I was lying in hospital, just gotten the news that the cervix suddenly was very short and funneling, not knowing if they had enough cervix left to put on an emergency cerclage, I googled the net in desperation to try to find out what to do next preg to be "safe". i read about TAC (transabdomnal cerclage) and found the doc in the us to perform it. I must say I almost was on my way to order plaintickets before my man told me that we had to see how this pregnancy was going first. I was so in to having something to stick to if my dream of a baby would chattered again, that I almost wrote off that it could go well this time. But it was very important to me,knowing I could have a new chance. Well, luckily enough, the emergency cerclage went well and Im still pregnant (and still scared), so good thing I didnt purchase those tickets... Anyways, also totally understand you wanting to be at home. I had to have two operations after losing Jacob, because they couldent get the placenta out. I had to spend one night listening to all the newborn babies, not a good feeling. Went "happily" home next day after that experience.
Well, last but not least, happy birthday to you! I am sure you and Matt will make the best of it!

LaR: congratulations on full term and removal. I think when one passes week 30, other (or more) worries comes to mind. I have also started to get panicy about activity level, which i didt think to much about before.. My man has to go crazy as my mood turns with if i feel activity or not. I must say, this is such an tough process. The not knowing, and never feel free to relax.

Bookfish: sorry bout trouble at work. Extra problems like that is so unnecessary now. But focus on baby and take the other worries later. I hope you feel better today.

My worry lately has been yellow mucus (sorry TMI) discharge, and a lot of it... Had av swab one week ago, it was fine.... so what is it? the sticht? is it normal? do not think its mucusplug because its to strechty and not similar to what ihave seen on pictures...
Anyone know?

 

[lizziedripping]

How many weeks are you now Liven? Various types of discharge are normal in pregnancy, and mucus does increase as you get further on, so it is likely that this is just harmless pregnancy discharge hun x

 

[liven1980]

Hi Lizzie, 30 weeks tomorrow...
I am considering going to hospital tomorrow cause i am verry worried...
Read on google that it might be because cervix is shortening??? or mean infection, but it does not smell...
oh, just very scared now..

 

[lizziedripping]

Aww Hun, don't be scared

When Evie was coming early at 23wks, discharge was the only tangible sign, but it was milky, runny and there was masses of it. Also, with my first baby who was born at 40wks, and I didn't then have any cervical issues, I had the same milky discharge to the point where it would actually run down my legs each morning when I got up - yuck! Discharge is totally normal in pregnancy.

Your IC is unlikely to be causing an issue now, since it has remained intact until this point

 

[kateqpr]

Liven - i have a lot of discharge too. It looks clear or milky, but dries yellowy and like mucus. I'm sure what you have sounds normal, especially if you've just had a swab.

Lizzie's right - you get lots of it. Each morning when i get up, my knickers are filled with discharge. I have to change my knickers at least twice a day!

 

[chistiana]

Ow you ladies you just aswered my question too. For the last couple of days i ve been getting these wet spots on my underwear...it s not too much but it scares the shit out of me. When it dries it leave a white stain, this is probably discarge right?not amniotic fluid?lizzie?kate?anyone?

 

[kateqpr]

That's exactly what I have. It alternates between being wee ( if I'm a bit lazy about going to the loo the second I recognise I need!) or discharge, normally first thing in the morning or if I'm up and active for a while x

 

[lizziedripping]

Kate already said it, but that is definitely discharge C Patches of gooey stuff on underwear were a common feature of all my pregnancies lol x

 

[chistiana]

Thank you both, lizzie and kate, i ve driving myself crazy all night long!!i too tend to get it mostly in the morning or if i sit on the sofa for you long playing with lo!x

 

[book.fish2011]

Greetings everyone.

I was reading everyone's experience about sticky discharge; I felt I was having a clear mucousy discharge, in very little quantities a couple days ago. I could feel it when I touched but couldn't see anything. It lasted for 1-2 days but is gone now. Am used to the crazy things that keep happening with me.

Now I have itching down there; although I do wash with lukewarm water every time I pee. My swab results this week have been negative for any bacteria; so am hoping there's no infection.

Hoping everyone has a better day today.

 

[chistiana]

Hey Bookfish, if the swab results came back negative i guess there is nothing to worry hun! It's probably just increased discharge from the pressure the babies are putting! Hope you have a lovely day!