Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[book.fish2011]

Danielita: I was given dexamethasone last Tuesday and Wednesday when I went with my spotting episode. There were two vials each given one day. Sorry I don't remember the ml. I have GD, so am doing glucose monitoring thrice daily, OB sad my sugars will jump after the steroids. It dd jump for 2-3 readings. After that it's been in control. Am not taking any magnesium lthough I have BH, some even with pain.

Are you having contractions? Could they be just BH?

Chris, glad you are feeling better today

 

[book.fish2011]

Lizzie : do you remember anything with calcified placentas with your twins?

Today I went for my Doppler scan to a specialist. First thing doc said was that I have calcified placenta . But at the end of the scan, she said it didn't matter because blood flow was fine to the babies. They are weighing 1.1 and 1 kg as of today. This doc was okay but when she learnt that my first pregnancy was spontaneous and this is through IUI, she said, a single baby was good enough for me. She didn't understand why I had gone for IUI. I didn't explain to her our sadness after losing our first son in 8th month; and then coming back from work to a childless home with me not being pregnant for an year; my hub having little motility issues, we went for IUI not looking for twins. We went looking just for a baby. It was really not in our hands. So it kind of felt odd and sad hearing this remark from doctor.

So this doc thinks although babies are going okay, there may be a problem because of my size. Am so small, just 5 ft tall. Not to mention the cervix and bleeding incidents. She thinks I should be grateful if I make to 34 weeks - which I know I will be. But even that target looks far. Especially when I went back and read stories in google where water broke or women at 29 or 30 weeks. My own water broke at 30 weeks last time with a single baby.
Don't know what's in store this time.

Please give me some hope to hang on.

(am thankful I made it this far. But with the possible nicu time and insurance issues, I don't want to deliver now. We are all reeling under so much stress including my parents (they are in India, grieving their son and worrying about me). It's all too much really)

 

[danielita]

bookfish , this doppler scan specialist is not a delicate person, in a first place. i would say is really not her business why you had this iui...
second, she is discouraging you, while she should do the opposite. personally, i do not see any reason for you to deliver before 34 weeks. so what if you are smaller than the average? she's overreacting with this. about cervix and spotting, we do know that so many ladies had issues with this and they managed to prolonged their pregnancies!
actually, i think you can stay pregnant more than 34 wks. but you have to believe in you and your babies more than into a negativist opinion which games from a doctor.
regarding your placenta, i would also say that as long the babies are developing normal, should not be any problem.
just for my curiosity: your twins have one placenta? mine have two.
:*

you asked about my contractions: i have some bh, but not more than usually. i asked about magnesium because many people say it helps.

 

[danielita]

LaRockera, thanks for your feedback!

 

[chistiana]

hey Larockera... well you didnt miss anything he just thought i should have them now as i will probably deliver at 37 weeks if not earlier due to the bu. But the thing is i really messed it up...i was so happy this morning and now i am all nervous again...i should have had two vials in a shot today and two tomorrow but i only had one vial today....gggrrrmmmmffff i dont know if this cancels the effects out but i am sooo soo nervous now.

Danielita..i also think i had the dexametasone shot today and i will have two vials tomorrow...i havent been told whether i ll have them again, especially now that i messed up. I am taking magnesium from 12 weeks onwards...dont know exactly the kind but i am taking 600mg daily (which the doctor increased from 200mg after i started experiencing contractions after my stitch was placed) i will be on them until week 35. They do help with contractions according to my doctor but you should make sure to take them with a three hour difference from calcium (if you re on it- i am).

Bookfish- how rude...what's it to him if you wanted 1, 2 or 5 kids...that's not his job or business...anyway, just wanted to tell you that i had a calcified placenta s of 30-31 weeks (i think) with ds and i delivered at 38+4 after he hadnt gained weight for about a week. It was classified as grade 2...it basically means that your placenta is starting to age but it could keep stable for many many weeks...my friend had a calcified placenta at 31 weeks with her 1st dd and went to 39+4 and she has one now this time round (32 weeks). dont worry too much hun, he was just insensitive and didnt feel the need to explain i guess.

Another quick update (other than my f...k up with shots)...i have been experiencing severe itchiness to the point where i scratch my skin so much that it bleeds...so i called my doc today (that s how i found out i was supposed to have had 2 vials) to give me something to help me but he said this is an indication my liver might not be working properly so he ordered more blood test immediately...should i be worried ladies? Lizzie, do you know anything about that? Could a liver problem be causing the extreme heartburn i am experiencing?

 

[blav]

I was wondering for those who have had a cerclage did your doctor do general anesthesia or epidural? I had this terrible nightmare about the cerclage last night and wanted to know what you all had been through/recommend. My doctor originally told me they would do an epidural because it's safer for the baby (but has it's own risks) as opposed to general anesthesia. But I really don't want to be numb for hours and hours for a 15 minute procedure. Just wondering what you all had experienced! Thanks, lovlies!

 

[HelenGee]

Hi ladies,
Sorry it's just a quick one, it's been a very very busy few weeks with a very boring explanation so I'll fill you in when I'm more awake!

Anyway, Bookfish, the radiographer is commenting on something that really is not their place to say. I don't know anything about calcified placenta, sorry, but I do know that height is not really an issue when it comes to carrying babies. My friend that I've told you about before carried twins to 38 weeks, at the height of 5 feet. She had some structural issues after the pregnancy - hernia, but that's just logic after carrying 2 chunky babies. So, in my view, height is not necessarily a factor in prem labour. I remember reading after Bella was born about the increase in macrosomia (big babies for no apparent reason) and it was reporting about better maternal health being a factor in more babies being born at a heavier than average birth weight. Anyway, sorry for the snoozefest, but it was interesting that genetics were not an issue, as most mothers were below average height to average height. So, as was I, these were petite women who carried chunky babies to term. The only risks came at delivery and the risk of baby getting stuck, so it was suggested that more presentation scans are done for shorter women, to make sure that delivery is as safe as possible. So what I'm trying to say is that the radiographer is not essentially correct, height and big babies does not mean per labour either.

Also, it is most likely that ic caused your prem labour last time around, which you have a stitch for and all is looking good on that score. When you consider the fact that this radiographer made such a ridiculous comment as asking why you are carrying twins (I mean really, do you actually have a choice?!) and wondering why you had IUI (what would they have said if you were an older lady, who had left IUI until pregnancy risks were increased, that you should have had IUi sooner?) can you really respect and take their opinion seriously? I honestly think they need to improve their manner when dealing with patients! Sorry for the rant, abrupt, clumsy doctors don't realise how much mental stress an ill placed word can cause.

Lizzie-we're all fine thanks, hope you are too

Kate- am not at all amazed that you're still hanging on in there! Bless the little cheeky miss for liking her mummy's tummy so much.

Liven- congratulations my sweet, that's such great news.

Christiana- the itching thing may not be sinister- whilst it can be a sign of cholestasis (reducing liver function) it is very rare. I had PEPs (poly-something eruption of pregnancy) basically my bump broke out in enormous hives, which burst open with blood and itched like crazy. It was basically my over-stretched stomach couldn't cope anymore and my stretch marks burst open a little on the surface. I remember sitting in the cinema with my hubby on our last date as a childless couple, the day before my water broke at 38 plus weeks. I was a nightmare, I had a litre bottle of water in one hand, and bag of chocolate buttons resting on my bump, and a huge tub of calamine lotion in the other hand that I had to keep slathering over my belly. Thank heavens it was dark! You seem so much more relaxed. I can't see that there will be a problem with the steroids, fingers crossed.

I'll do a bigger post soon, need to go to bed! X

 

[chistiana]

HelenGee- Thank you so much for your answer...i ve been reading and reading evil google and now i ve completely convinced myself it is cholestasis...and of course now the itching is so much worse...of course! Anyway, hopefully i ll get the blood results asap as i m going privately tomorrow morning...just my luck..when i was beginning to truly relax..
BTW your last date with DH must have been a blast!!!hihihi just joking, and of course jealous as i havent been out on a date with dh since like forever plus now i m craving for chocolate buttons!!!

 

[book.fish2011]

Thank you Daniealita, Chris and Helen for your supporting words. I really appreciate them. Hopefully I will not go into labour in the next couple weeks. Chris, I don't know mine is calcified which grade. But your friend's story and your story gives me hope. Helen, whenever am down and worried I think about your friend who was my height who gave birth to twins - that shows me a ray of hope.

Just hoping things will be okay.

 

[book.fish2011]

bookfish , this doppler scan specialist is not a delicate person, in a first place. i would say is really not her business why you had this iui...
second, she is discouraging you, while she should do the opposite. personally, i do not see any reason for you to deliver before 34 weeks. so what if you are smaller than the average? she's overreacting with this. about cervix and spotting, we do know that so many ladies had issues with this and they managed to prolonged their pregnancies!
actually, i think you can stay pregnant more than 34 wks. but you have to believe in you and your babies more than into a negativist opinion which games from a doctor.
regarding your placenta, i would also say that as long the babies are developing normal, should not be any problem.
just for my curiosity: your twins have one placenta? mine have two.
:*

you asked about my contractions: i have some bh, but not more than usually. i asked about magnesium because many people say it helps.

I have two placentas too. Probably we have same amount of contractions, but I haven't asked my doc about magnesium or she never mentioned them.

 

[book.fish2011]

HelenGee- Thank you so much for your answer...i ve been reading and reading evil google and now i ve completely convinced myself it is cholestasis...and of course now the itching is so much worse...of course! Anyway, hopefully i ll get the blood results asap as i m going privately tomorrow morning...just my luck..when i was beginning to truly relax..
BTW your last date with DH must have been a blast!!!hihihi just joking, and of course jealous as i havent been out on a date with dh since like forever plus now i m craving for chocolate buttons!!!

Chris, if this may give you some comfort, I knew a woman in Dubai who around 30 weeks was told she may need to deliver early , because she had terrible rashes . I don't remember if she was diagnosed with cholestatis or not. I just found out she sailed through without any issues and had to be induced at 38 weeks ( because she had GD). Preterm labour was never there.

I had some scary rashes in Feb, they turned out to be due to dry skin, I hope yours is something silly like that

 

[chistiana]

BF thanks hun it is always nice and reassuring to read of similar successfull stories! Well my b/w came back all normal so my doc was happy and just said i agould visit a skin specialist so i guess i ll do that cause the itching is still driving me crazy! But i might give a good moisturizer a go before hand just in case! I also asked him how bad it is me forgetting to have that second vial of steroids yesterday... I know he s just being nice but anyway he said not to worry as i m rather thin so even the one shot will probably do the trick! So back to feeling a little more relaxed now! Ow and i ve now finished all progesterone... Yaaayyyy for that too!!

 

[pinkladyangel]

I was wondering for those who have had a cerclage did your doctor do general anesthesia or epidural? I had this terrible nightmare about the cerclage last night and wanted to know what you all had been through/recommend. My doctor originally told me they would do an epidural because it's safer for the baby (but has it's own risks) as opposed to general anesthesia. But I really don't want to be numb for hours and hours for a 15 minute procedure. Just wondering what you all had experienced! Thanks, lovlies!

Hi Blav.
I had my cerclage at 13 weeks. Was supposed to have a general but they opted for spinal as they said it was safer. I was really glad as I've never had a general before and judging by the state of the women on the ward that had it. I'm glad I had the spinal. It is a bizarre feeling when it's taking effect and wearing off but I preferred that to vomiting.

 

[book.fish2011]

BF thanks hun it is always nice and reassuring to read of similar successfull stories! Well my b/w came back all normal so my doc was happy and just said i agould visit a skin specialist so i guess i ll do that cause the itching is still driving me crazy! But i might give a good moisturizer a go before hand just in case! I also asked him how bad it is me forgetting to have that second vial of steroids yesterday... I know he s just being nice but anyway he said not to worry as i m rather thin so even the one shot will probably do the trick! So back to feeling a little more relaxed now! Ow and i ve now finished all progesterone... Yaaayyyy for that too!!

Glad tests came back normal. I think your doctor is right about the shots - if he hasn't worried, you shouldnt worry too. Great you finished the progesterone. Im asked to keep using mine till delivery - just hoping I can use up as much as I can

 

[chistiana]

BF- even though i was really fed up with the progesterone (hence the yayayayayya) it still kind of scares me now that i m off it...like baby has been moving more today and i m having more pinching sensations so i keep thinking it is the lack of progesterone...ow well hopefully i ll never get to know if it did or didnt make any difference!

 

[chistiana]

Blav, i had general anesthesia hun but i think this is just the protocol in Greece...when i asked my doc beforehand what it was going to be he looked at me as if i was crazy and told me it cant be done without general...well obviously it can but i didnt bother arguing as i m on the far other side of being totally and utterly scared or a spinal and not bother about general. I woke up about 15 minutes after the procedure was done and stayed in the hospital for a couple of hours so they could keep an eye on some painful contractions. I just slept it off in my bed for the rest of the day!

 

[lizziedripping]

Hey everyone, so sorry I missed some posts in the last 24hrs - my twinnies turned 2 yesterday (26th) and one of them was quite poorly to boot - upshot is I didn't have any time to myself I will probably be repeating some of the advice given by the others so sorry in advance if I do.

Bf - I am appalled that your consultant felt it necessary to pass comment on your choice to have IUI! This is none of her business nor should you need to justify your choice to anyone. If you or anyone else choses to have IUI/IVF, adopt a child (or adopt 100 for,that matter) for no other reason than you felt like it, then it would still be ok because it is your choice and your business. It's made me so angry that you were treated in this way - you just don't deserve it

Your small stature has no bearing on your ability to carry singletons or twins honey. There are shorter women with a wide pelvis, and tall women with a narrow pelvis (like me), and it is this which determines your ability to birth a larger baby easily or not, but it does not mean those women can't carry a baby to term. Your previous ptl was nothing to do with you being small, and there are thousands of petite women who deliver perfectly healthy full term infants and twins. Please try not to worry about your own ability to,carry two babies, you are no greater risk than any other lady carrying two, and should feel confident that you have every chance to make it well beyond 34wks.

As for the calcification. A calcified placenta is basically one that is ageing. All placentas age as they near term, and probably begin to do so quite early on. Just to put it in some perspective, at 33wks as many as 50% of placentas have some degree of calcification. Statistically speaking it is a normal finding and one which isn't really any extra cause for concern. All they need to do is to keep checking that the babies are growing well every couple of weeks or so, which is usual with twins anyway. A calcified placenta has eseveral more weeks of nourishment left in it hun, so there's plenty of growing time yet

Christiana, it's a bit late for me to comment now but glad that your itching turned out not to be OC. It's actually quite rare, but harmless pregnancy itching isn't, so a much more likely explanation. I had intense itching across my abdomen with the twins, it drove me crazy! I actually took the odd Piriton tablet just so that I could get some sleep. Mine was just hormonal and excessive skin stretching.

Don't worry about taking one vial of steroid - one vial is still better than none, and since you'll be taking it several times over coming weeks that initial dose won't count anyway. The benefits to baby of steroids expire within a week of taking them, which is why they have to be repeated if bubs doesn't deliver within that time frame

Blav, don't worry about the epidural Hun. I've had a few over the years and they've never been a problem, are relatively easy to recover from and perfectly adequate for something like stitch placement x

Danielita, how's it going? You mention steroids and contractions, are you still struggling with them? How many weeks since stitch are you now?

Hi Helen, great to hear from you That goes for everyone else too, sorry if I've missed anyone xxx

 

[book.fish2011]

Lizzie - happy birthday to Noah and Zach!!! They must have decked up and looked so cute and handsome at the party. Much love to them and kisses.
We missed you too. I had assumed you were traveling or something. Thanks for your support Lizzie. It's really given me some hope. Take care

 

[chistiana]

Hey lizzie and happy happy birthday for your los! Wow 2 years old... Our babies are very close in age, nic will be 2 on the 18th of may!! One day i need to cross check notes with you, nic is definitely in the terrible two s and he is driving me crazy more often than not...or maybe i am hormonal!!!! I think my itching might be hormonal too even though i have a feeling it might also be psychological. Anyway, needed to ask you....my doc didnt say anything about repeating the steroid shots..it was just those two days (x 2 vials per day) and that s it. I wonder what s the point if they expire in a week???i thought he d told me 3 weeks so it made sense to have them at 32w to take me to 35... Maybe different shots last longer???i have another appoitment on wednesday so i ll ask him. Anyway thanks for the support hun, we really missed you! How are yoy doing otherwise?

 

[lizziedripping]

Hi Christiana Steroid effects are typically up to 2wks tops, which will take you to 34wks after which point they're not thought to be needed since a newborn's lungs are developed enough to do well on the outside.

I think I got confused with your post because when reading late last night there were a few of you who touched upon the subject, and I mixed up who was taking it and for how long. In your case the one dose (given 24hrs apart) is fine considering that you are now 32wks pregnant. I think you'll go well past 34wks anyway so no need to worry too much about it xxx