Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[nhood]

Btw, everyone, my name is Natalie. I chose the awful screen name when I was extremely nausea and tired in my last pregnancy that I miscarried.

Love the name! (that s the name chosen for bubs in there!!)

Thanks Christiana. Actually, I love your name. I wish I had chosen a better screen name. Pregnancy has made me lazy. Lol

 

[olga2424]

Hello Ladies, Lizzie, JJ, Christiana, HelenGee, Kateqpr, Larockera, book.fish, Liven80 and all the new ladies:wave::wave:.
Firstly I would like to apologies for not participating much as Ive been really down with depression due to being in hospital for a very long time but I have been following everyone's progress . I thought it was best for me to stay away from the thread as I didn't want to be a "Debbie downer" and depress every one on here with my constant fears and worries.

On a good note am still pregnant (32w on sat) and hoping I will be discharged next wed as am extremely exhausted from lack of sleep, sore back, swollen legs and fed up of being in hospital....I have not been out of my room for over 7 weeks now! (Great!)

JJ hun, congs on the arrival of baby Soren....I cried tears of joy when Kateqpr posted your news....well done hun!

Lizzie our God send, how are you hun? and I really missed you!

Kateqpr , wow! 6 days left...You must be feeling so tired now!

Christiana hun, nearly 31w hun...not long before we know it and we will be 34w.

Book.fish, am ever so sorry about your brother dear and may his soul rest in peace! also read some where in one of your post about your insurance refusing to cover for your cyclogest, I have got 3 new boxes left over and am more than happy to post them over for you if you want them. just let me know.

Larockera, Helengee, Liven...hope your all well and a massive welcome to all the new ladies....hopefully i haven't missed any one out....

Well as for me I haven't got much to update as they stopped checking my cervix at 30w and am just having growth scans now. I have also developed a very sore tail bone, dont know if its from laying down too much plus all my joints are stiff and very sore. Other than that am just counting down the days to when I will be discharged back home.

Olga x

 

[MikaylasMummy]

Hey ladies.I havnt been in this thread for a looong time (18 months to be precise lol) and I see it pop up every now and then and thought I would drop in as it was a huge comfort for me in my last pregnancy!koby was my second baby after a very traumatic first birth of a large(9pound4) baby I had lots of damage which I attributed to the problems with my second pregnancy with koby.I had slight bleeding up until 12 weeks then at my 19 week scan it was discovered that not only did I have placenta previa but it was dipping down into my shortening cervix and my membranes were funneling down.a vaginal scan measured my cervix at 2.8cms..still within normal range but the funneling membranes alerted them it was shortening.I was sent straight to bed rest and put of progesterone pesseries and nifidepene.a cerclage wasn't an option for me as the previa made the risk f infection too great so we just had to wait and hope to get past 24 weeks,obviously we did then the goal was 28 weeks,then 30 ect.during the rest my cervix lengthened to over 3cms and at 33 weeks I was let off all meds and allowed to ease my rest to just not picking up heavy things(like my 2 year old) I made it to 36+4 then my waters broke and I went straight into labour at 2am and had my ceaser that morning(I also had placenta accreta with my first and it was too dangerous for a natural birth given our knowledge of that) I was so happy with our outcome as we truly thought we would lose our boy midway through pregnancy and the ladies on here were a huge help and support.I'm glad this threads still going!

 

[nhood]

I hope I am not seeming like a nutcase over here, but I have another scare and wanted to get everyon's input.

I haven't had intercourse with my husband since we found out that we were pregnant and after the cerclage was pace my doctor said sex was a no no. At any rate every other night to every 3 nights I keep having without trying orgasms in my sleep. How will this effect the cerclage and is there a medicine I can do to stop it? I am nervous this is going to make my cervix open and I will go into ptl.

 

[lizziedripping]

Yey Olga, thank goodness you are ok

So sorry you've been suffering but I am not surprised. The hospital comfinement and isolation is bad enough, but couple that with the constant fear and anxiety there is little wonder you are struggling. Don't worry hun, once you're home again and heading for the final countdown things will be a little easier to bear. Thank you so much for letting us know you're ok

Danielita - I am so sorry your appt didn't go well Your doctor is correct that contractions can open the cervix and tear through the stitch, but they have to be strong and regular to do so. From what you have said yours are neither strong or regular and have stayed that way for some time? It's 6wks since your surgery but the cramps you have experienced have not yet caused anything more than some funneling (which I had at 25wks too).

Because you had the stitch placed after cervical changes had already occurred, it is possible that you could develop significant contractions BUT as the weeks continue to pass this is less and less likely.

Unfortunately, a stitch cannot stop preterm labour/contractions from opening the cervix, It only prevents a weak cervix from dilating due to uterine stretching and baby weight. They are two seperate issues. However, at the moment I am not convinced you are experiencing contractions strong enough to have a significant effect on your cervix (stitch or not). How long have you been having the cramps now?

You can't prevent proper contractions from happening by shifting the baby away from your cervix hun, but it can't hurt to lie as flat as possible in order to reduce the strain on it.

I found that going on all fours on the floor, sticking my bottom and hips in the air and gently swaying/rocking them from side to side encouraged my lowest baby to move away from my cervix thus relieving the pressure. I often felt him low down, kicking my bladder and cervix and this would often trigger a bh contraction or two! If I had been scanned inthat moment it is possible my cervix too would have been funneled to the stitch.

The important thing Hun is that you funneled and shortened but didn't stay that way, your cervix closed up again. It could well be that your cervix is dynamic and fluctuates like this at the slightest change. This is very different to a cervix which is under the influence of proper contractions and progressively opens until it is fully dilated. In those circumstances it does not open and close at will.

Hope this has helped to explain, please get back to me if not

 

[lizziedripping]

I hope I am not seeming like a nutcase over here, but I have another scare and wanted to get everyon's input.

I haven't had intercourse with my husband since we found out that we were pregnant and after the cerclage was pace my doctor said sex was a no no. At any rate every other night to every 3 nights I keep having without trying orgasms in my sleep. How will this effect the cerclage and is there a medicine I can do to stop it? I am nervous this is going to make my cervix open and I will go into ptl.

I had to smile when I read this post Natalie because I had the exact same problem when pregnant with the twins (a new experience for me). Orgasms will not affect your stitch or trigger ptl Hun so please don't worry.

There are lots of complex mechanisms involved in triggering full blown labour, and orgasms in isolation aren't one of them unless it is the right 'time' i.e. at full term. It is true that they temporarily cause the uterus to contract, but this is too brief and mild to be a real issue.

Intercourse is the issue in a pregnancy with complications because there is a risk of introducing infection, but even then the actual risks are unknown and probably minimal. Sleep well in the knowledge that these harmless 'events' are just that and will not affect your pregnancy sweet

 

[nhood]

I hope I am not seeming like a nutcase over here, but I have another scare and wanted to get everyon's input.

I haven't had intercourse with my husband since we found out that we were pregnant and after the cerclage was pace my doctor said sex was a no no. At any rate every other night to every 3 nights I keep having without trying orgasms in my sleep. How will this effect the cerclage and is there a medicine I can do to stop it? I am nervous this is going to make my cervix open and I will go into ptl.

I had to smile when I read this post Natalie because I had the exact same problem when pregnant with the twins (a new experience for me). Orgasms will not affect your stitch or trigger ptl Hun so please don't worry.

There are lots of complex mechanisms involved in triggering full blown labour, and orgasms in isolation aren't one of them unless it is the right 'time' i.e. at full term. It is true that they temporarily cause the uterus to contract, but this is too brief and mild to be a real issue.

Intercourse is the issue in a pregnancy with complications because there is a risk of introducing infection, but even then the actual risks are unknown and probably minimal. Sleep well in the knowledge that these harmless 'events' are just that and will not affect your pregnancy sweet

Hey Lizzie,

I was hoping that you reply. Whew, that makes me feel a lot better. I just don't know what goes on at night, but my mind and body seems to be in love with each other. all I can think of when the orgasm wakes me up is my poor babies.

 

[kcmb0886]

Happy Easter to all!

I've been coming to this board and reading every once in awhile recently and reading a lot of inspiring stories!

My own story begins with having to have two LEEP procedures in the past year - both for severe dysplasia. The first time, the doctor took as little as she thought she possibly could, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough; the dysplasia was either much worse than we knew, or it just completely took off after my first surgery. But I ended up going to a new doctor in a new practice after I found out that the dysplasia was still severe and had a second LEEP in October which was successful and I had a normal follow-up Pap right after I became pregnant!

Of course, now that I am pregnant, my cervical length is being monitored and I have a follow-up plan of every two weeks. My doctor told me that she had to remove a lot of my cervix when she did the LEEP, but that there's an outer os and an inner os and the inner os is the one that we need to be worried about so she tried very hard not to take anything out of the inner os.

Still, when I went for my first cervical length measurement at the beginning of this week, my cervix was only measuring a little over 3cm. I've read that I'm supposed to have at least 3cm of cervix in order to maintain my pregnancy although I've also read that I could have as little as 2.5cm. Either way, the perinatologist said that my cervix is looking good and is an excellent length right now. But I'm worried anyway. My cervix was only 3cm at 16 weeks, so is it likely to become even shorter? Or does that not always happen?

Hi KC and welcome

Given that you had a quite extensive leep procedure done, 3cms is actually pretty good at 16wks. There are some women in your position who have short but strong cervixes and go to term with ease. Your cervix will naturally shorten as the pregnancy progresses, but if it is strong might not necessarily shorten significantly as a genuinely weak and incompetent cervix tends to.

I'm assuming your doctor is 'waiting and seeing' for now? Is there a plan to stitch if your cervix has shortened further at your next appointment?

For now I'd say yours is not catastrophically short and it is theoretically possible to carry a baby with a cervix of much less than 3cms so don't assume the worst. Keep us posted and let us know what things are looking like at your nxt appt. take care xxx

Thank you, Lizzie! The plan is just to wait and see for now and I'll be following up every other week throughout my pregnancy to monitor my cervical length. If it does start to shorten, then I'll be sent for a circlage. I saw my midwife today who looked over my cervical length results and she said it looks like my cervix is "good and long," so I guess that makes me feel a little bit better.

 

[chistiana]

Natalie, thank GOd you asked that, i felt too embarrased to do so myself!hahaha it happens to me quite often too and each time my belly rolls us in a very tight ball and hurts...i scare the s**t out of me!! And good thing we ve got lizzie here to reassure us (lizzie thanks!!)!

Olga dearest sooo sooo happy you re still around hun! Please dont ever think you can be a downer...we re all here for each other (in sickness and in health-yeah i know i sound married to the thread but bed rest sucks!!) and if it helps you to talk about your worries and fears you shouldnt think about it never again. I m so glad baby is fine and yayayayay for making it to 32 weeks...your troubles and nearly over and once you re out of the hospital time will fly! Anyway, take care!xo

Now i m a little worried here (well not too much but thought i d mention)...you know how i ve always complained bubs isnt moving?...well she s been going crazy over the last 4-5 days carate kicking every possible inch of my belly (it feels like on leg is going to come out from down there and the other from my mouth!) so i was telling my friend and she said maybe the baby is in distress as they re supposed to kick less as time goes by...what do you ladies think? I have a scan on wednesday, do you think i should call my doc earlier??

 

[book.fish2011]

Olga: so glad to hear from you. Even I worry sometimes that my updates will dampen others spirits. Am constantly depressed too. But we were really worried about you. I'd imagined you didn't have access to net at all. But so glad you and bubs are well. 32 weeks is great, brilliant milestone. It seems ages away for me and I'd give a lot to get there. Time's just dragging. Thanks love, for offering to post cyclogest. That's so so sweet of you. For now I've gone and bought it myself already when insurance rejected to pay for it. So I have some stock. I will let you know if I need them in future but thank you so so much.*

Lizzie : thanks for that explanation. Am taking it as easy as I can but I still walk to the bathroom to pee. There are no stairs in my house luckily. I spend about 20-30 mins in the kitchen thrice a day. To make 3 meals. Rest of the time, I spend on my bed, not necessarily sleeping but sometimes just sitting with my legs propped on a pillow. Do you think I should be lying down more?

Chris: you know am so poor at offering any logical advice but I couldn't help thinking why would babies kick more if they were in distress? Wouldn't they go quieter? I think your daughter is a super active baby. And you may be going to have your hands full when she's born.*

 

[JJEE]

Hi Ladies,

Thankyou Lizzie, it is so lovely that you take the time to answer all of our worries, and your knowledge is incredible!

I think i got slightly carried away yesterday with my good news at the hospital, and totally overdid it..rest assured i am back on the sofa today..i did have a period of about 3hrs yesterday when i was standing..not all at the same time..but today i feel like i did too much, i sneezed in bed and it hurt around my stitch area.. is there anyway of knowing if you are doing further damage? Would i feel it?

Makaylas mummy...funnily enough i am in the process of reading this thread from the very beginning..and i am following your story as we speak! It is comforting to read all of the good outcomes, i am only 19weeks at the mo, and i am worried constantly, i have never wished time away as much as i am right now!

I wonder if Kate has had her baby?
Hoping everybody's cevix's continue to behave!

Lots of love xx

 

[chistiana]

BF- thanks for the reassurance hun! Yes i d think the same, if she was unwell she wouldnt be dancing around...that comment just freaked me out, you know it s one of those things that you know doesnt make sense but once you ve heard it you can help but wonder! And...well my boy is a full time job already (even my friends
used to vote and say i have the most active little monster!) so i wouldnt expect her to be any different (although it d be nice to have an easy baby!!)...ow well as long as she comes out healthy i m happy!
Even though it s no twins so totally different in that respect when i asked my doc at the beginning of this veeeeery very long bed rest whether i could just sit in bed or whether i had to stay horizontal he said to sit in bed (you know that semi reclined position). I mostly did that (nowadays i do get around the house a little more) but whenever i felt extra pressure or contractions i d just lay horizontal with my bum and feet up. Xo hope you re feeling better

 

[JJEE]

Hi Chistiana,

I just wanted to reassure you that an active baby i am sure is not a reason for distress, with my previous children they were both very active inside, my son literally kicked and squirmed inside me all day and night, i think as was already mentoined that it's when the movements drastically reduce there may be cause for concern!

I hope that it isn't too painful! ;-) xx

 

[chistiana]

JJEE thank hun, iniatially i was worried bacause she wasnt moving enough, now about moving too much!! But you ladies help put my mind at ease!! It is a little painful, it feels like she want to rip everything apart in there!! Thanks again!

 

[kateqpr]

Hi everyone!

Good to hear you're all still going strong and doing well.

Olga - yay, you're still there and wow, 32 weeks. That is just brilliant. And God, please don't stay quiet when you feel depressed or low. We've all been there, to varying degrees, so you won't be saying anything any of us haven't felt before. And you have been in hospital for so long, i really don't blame you for feeling depressed. I was in for a week and left a total wreck, through exhaustion and stress. You really don't get rest at a hospital, sleep is difficult, and it is a lonely existence, no matter how many visitors you get. But you're nearly there! Have they given you an idea as to when you can go home?

nhood - ooooh yes, nightly orgasms. I went through a stage of having those every few days, right at the point when i was most frightened of them (around the 22 - 26 week mark). I think it's just a psychologically cruel trick that makes you not want them through fear, then your stupid girl bits go and do it anyway while you're peacefully sleeping. If it's any consolation, i am now stitch free, but have had LOADS of orgasms recently to try to bring on labour, and they have done absolutely nothing to my cervix. i am still as tightly closed shut as weeks ago! I am so sure nightly O's won't harm your stitch, and really there's not a lot you can do to control your wandering mind, so try not to think about it too much.

JJE - i had the same as you - would move around alot for a day or two (well, a lot of movement for me, when my body was used to total sedentary life!) and would get twinges etc in my bits. I found a day of resting always sorted it out, so just take it easy and go with your instincts when you feel you're over doing it a bit.

Bookfish - nearly 27 weeks! You're so so nearly there! Do you feel in any way less stressed or worried about things? I do hope so, as i know when i started to get towards 28 weeks i definitely felt a slight shift in my mindset, and the total sheer fear i'd felt before subsided a little, and i started to believe that maybe, just maybe, this pregnancy wouldn't end in a bad way. I hope you can see a tiny light ahead of you. You need that light honey, so grab it with both hands if you feel you can.

Christiana - hello my lovely. I do have days when LO is very active, even now, when apparently she is meant to be stuck for room! Then the little madam will scare me with few movements, just in a bid to get me to the hospital and on a monitor i think! i think activity is a much better sign than inactivity, and am sure it's all normal. Just go with your instincts i guess, but at 30 weeks there is still 10 weeks left of growing and space to give you a good kicking, which is i'm sure what she's doing.

Hope everyone else is good and coping well with the various trials and tribulations these naughty cervixes throw at us. Lizzie & Helen - hope you're both enjoying the school holidays with your gorgeous LO's.

I'm am STILL PREGNANT! No signs of labour, even though i think i keep on imagining contractions or period pains, just to pass the time now. I am very uncomfortable with real pain in my hips and back when i'm walking. But i'm trying to be philosophical and enjoy these last few days with just Poppy at home, as i'm aware all our worlds are about to be turned upside when the new baby comes, so i should treasure the cuddles and love i can show her now with no distractions.

But i am mentally gearing myself up for induction - just in case. It's what i had with Poppy, so i'm not worried about it as its my only other experience of labour. God i wish someone could off told me i'd have been in this position three months ago. All of the stress and fear of an IC pregnancy is just awful - if only us ladies could see that everything was going to be alright in the end, it would save us a lot of heartache and tears throughout those difficult 9 months...

Right - bed time. It is way past my sleep time!

Night all

XX

 

[chistiana]

Kate! You can say that last bit again hun!! If only we could know..!!! Hahaha i cant believe your cervix..39+3 and still closed...if it could it would just laugh in your face!! Has baby shifted at all? With ds i went to the doc on a monday 8pm and i was sceduled to be induced on tuesday 7am...my waters broke at 3.30am...so who knows, maybe little bubs in there wants to make an entry!but i guess what will be will be and i am sooooo excited for you!!!!!

 

[book.fish2011]

Pinkish discharge when I wipe.

I had this exactly two weeks ago. Went to ER. It turned out to be nothing. My next appointment is on Wednesday.

Do you think I should wait?

Am not having any pains but am really worried.

Lizzie, Kate, chris...all others. Pls pls help

 

[kateqpr]

Hello Bookfish,

Personally i would go to your hospital. Not ER, but your labour / maternity ward. If you remember, i had this repeatedly (every two weeks or so) from around 22 weeks, and each time i was examined, stitch was fine, but was kept in for 24 hours to make sure the bleeding stopped. It always did, and it turned out to be nothing other an cervical irritation and a polyp. Totally harmless. But i was always told to be extra cautious, and to be honest it always made me feel better that I knew everything was okay with the stitch, rather than sitting at home and worrying 24/7.

I'm so sure its fine, especially if you'e had it before and it turned out okay, but i think your peace of mind is important too, so go get it checked out so you can relax

XX

 

[lizziedripping]

Hey bf, Kate has said it all really. It never hurts to get checked, but she was plagued with bleeding (sometimes heavy) and look at the lovely lady now, beggin this lo to put in an appearance lol. This is much more likely harmless 'superficial spotting' than anything sinister xxx

 

[lizziedripping]

Chris hun, an active baby is rarely a bad thing and certainly not a sign of distress. Relax darlin' lo is just 'limbering up' whilst she still has the room xxx