Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[ChovieGirl]

JJEE i was told they take the cerclage out at 36 weeks. i am not well educated on this how ever...

i am having mild cramping today. is that normal? i don't even remember if i had it with my angel cause i was not paranoid

I did not experience cramping in my first pregnancy, but did experience some mild cramping between 5 and 7 weeks this time... Almost like I was about to start my period. I was also semi grouchy. I also had a little spotting around 6 or 7 weeks which freaked me out, but sonogram showed that the bleeding had stopped and doctor said it looked like it was from the placenta attaching. I think that cramping and spotting can be normal from implantation. I have read many sites where women state that they are crampy in the first few weeks and some crampy during their entire pregnancy. Every pregnancy is different and symptoms maybe be somewhat different. Severe cramping and heavy bleeding can be a cause for concern. I would call you doctor to possibly ease your mind and get their opinion. I have called my doctor several times during this pregnancy and have also gone in for unplanned visits when extra worried. That is what they are there for.

I am a little nervous today too. I have a doctor appointment this afternoon and I am nervous to see if my cervix is looking a little better from the progesterone and bed rest or shortened more. Also, hoping that the stitching still look good. The waiting and not knowing can be so hard at times.

I am saying a prayer and wishing you the best!

 

[JJEE]

Thanks Ich, I too was told 36/37 weeks initially, but this week she has decided that it will come out at 34weeks. I didn't think at the time to ask why.

I too had mild crampy, niggly pains around your gestation..almost like my period was going to start..have had it with all 3 of my pregnancies..I think it is a normal pregnancy symptom.

xx

 

[lch28]

thank you ladies, i feel a bit better now, i am a little reluctant to call my doctors office as i have never even met him! lol.. Monday can not come soon enough. It feels a bit like AF cramps, but the thing is i never even got cramps until AF already showed. So i am hoping all is well . i found this online and felt better


Cramping now is normal, and it's a sign of implantation. Some women describe this cramping akin to light menstrual cramps. Mild cramping at 4 weeks pregnant isn't anything to worry about. However, if cramps are extremely painful, or if they are accompanied with heavy vaginal bleeding, chills, or fever, contact your doctor or healthcare provider right away.

ChovieGirl - please let us know how your doc appt went!! i hope all is well

JJEE - i think every doc is different - i am sure she knows what is best hun

 

[ChovieGirl]

So some good news!

My cervix has actually lengthened and baby looks good. Last check up my cervix was around 2.6cm and at check up today, doctor said it was at 3.7cm. The cerclage, bed rest and progesterone seem to be working...Yay!

 

[lch28]

awww great news hun!!!

 

[lch28]

i am scared the high risk dr will refuse to do an elective cerclage and want to do watch and wait. i don't want to do that at all. what if she says i don't qualify or something?

 

[ChovieGirl]

I know that my obgyn didn't want me to go to the high risk doctor at first for that reason, but every doctor is different. Just express to your doctor that you feel it is the best thing for you. If they say no, you might could get a second opinion from another doctor. I would imagine they are going to keep you closely monitored no matter what.

 

[lch28]

i just remember she wanted me to go with a watch and wait approach and i am just not comfortable with that to say the least. if she will not put it in i will find someone who will lol

 

[Stephers35]

Not to break into an active thread, but I have just been classified as high risk and feel like more should be done.

Had a transvaginal scan on Monday that showed my cervix to be 1.7cm. Docs told me to go home and come back in a month. I didn't feel like that was a very good response. Called back the next day to my actual doc and she is referring me to a specialist. Specialist can't get me in until the 18th. The nurse called back to try and explain what contractions feel like so that I can contact them if I feel any. Well, now every little baby kick is scaring the hell out of me. From the reading that I've done, 1.7 seems extremely short and I feel like once I am having contractions, it might be too late. I did make my own appointment at another clinic for next Thursday as well for another opinion. Still seems like a long time to wait. Also, my doc did not give me any restrictions at all; no bed rest, no nothing. I am supposed to be traveling for work in a week and I don't feel comfortable going. Am I crazy that my docs reaction seems lacking?

 

[JJEE]

Hi Stephers,

Welcome to the thread!

I just wanted to share the advice I was given by my doctor, at 15wks my cervix was measuring 2.8cm, I was told that it isn't a huge concern unless it goes below 2.5cm, I was however told I must take it easy and advised not to travel..we were due to go to New York the next day..I had a follow up appointment the next week where it had shortened further so I was scheduled for a cerclage the next day.

I would definitely advise the same as what my doctor told me, to keep off your feet as much as possible, and keep really hydrated. There are plenty of knowledgeable ladies on here who will give you the best advice and reassurance.
Have you been prescribed Progesterone at all? It seems to be quite effective in helping to strengthen the cervix.

I am sure your appointment next week will answer more of your questions. Good luck. xxx

 

[ChovieGirl]

Hi Stephers,

My doctor pretty much said the same thing to me regarding concern of the cervix length going below 2.5cm. I also agree with JJee that staying off your feet and getting plenty of fluids is important.

You might see if your current doctor has another specialist they like. Maybe another specialist would have an opening sooner. I am glad that you called another doctor for an earlier appointment and second opinion. I know that waiting until next Thursday is going to be hard.

Prayers and hugs going your way!

 

[chistiana]

Stephers- welcome on the thread girl. 1.7 cm at 19 weeks sounds to me (no expert though) a bit on the short side so i would definitely push for closer monitoring and a cerclage sooner rather than later. Of course your cervix could well remain stable in length but i guess you would have to stay off your feet as much as possible to make it a little safer. i d try not to travel at least until you get checked again. I really dont mean to scare you but i think your doc isnt monitoring you close enough. It could well be that you re fine as it is and everything goes just fine but i just think its better to push for close monitoring just in case.

 

[lch28]

stephers i agree with the other ladies.. try to take it easy and don't travel until you go to dr again.

 

[bluestarlight]

hi all. I hope everyone is doing well.
I have been keeping an eye on this thread but haven't had any further info to make a post. Well...today I had my follow up after 3.5 weeks of modified bedrest.
Apparently it wasn't enough and neither was the 200mg nightly of progesterone they had me on. Today they did an ultrasound and baby is happy and healthy and definitely a girl but my cerivx has funneled in a "U" shape now and I only have 0.7cm left they sent me right over to labor and delivery unit and checked me externally, i'm 2-3 cm dilated. I've been admitted for steroid shots over the weekend. I haven't been having any contractions or bleeding or signs of labor so that is good they said. they monitored me for quite a few hours and nothing showed up on them. They are confident that I can go at least a few more weeks. They are unsure whether they will keep me in the hospital for monitoring after the shots or for how long I will be here. I may be allowed home on bedrest, but i'm being taken off work for at least the next 4 weeks. My doctor doubts I will make it to term but thinks I can get far enough that baby will be out of the most severe dangers. I met with the nicu doc for more info and frankly it actually made it all hit home and scared the crap out of me. I'm just crossing my fingers at this point and hoping to hold on. My husband is unable to visit me tonight but hopefully tomorrow with our daughter. It is gay pride day in boston with parades and everything so he may have trouble getting in and parking so may not come sigh. We were supposed to go out shopping tomorrow to get her a special bday present for my daughter's first birthday and some new maternity shirts for me and summer sandals. I will probably still be in the hospital when she turns 1 on tuesday...

So thats my update....going to bed soon.

 

[lch28]

aww hun i am praying for you i hope everything is okay your doctors sound like they are taking good care of you. good thing is is that you are 24 weeks and i am sure you will make it longer. do you have a cerclage in?

 

[2016]

I'm going crazy over here. Just 4 days until my next cervical measurement scan but I am so so worried. I keep having a dull ache in my cervix and it's making me paranoid. Can't remember if I had this last time. Only time i think i remember this feeling was in labour with DS...but couldnt it just be babys position this time? Have resisted calling L&D (think I'm too early anyway) but they will only strap me on the monitor and say I'm not contracting. Incidentally three different monitors I was put on when in full blown labour with my son didn't register my contractions. Only right at the end did they show "possibly braxton hicks".
I am back on 200mg progesterone and trying to rest but this is nearly impossible with a toddler and now a houseguest!

What can I/should I do? I can't go to hospital and potentially get admitted for the weekend until Tuesday. The hospital won't internal scan until Monday earliest anyway.

 

[bluestarlight]

good morning everyone. Got a massive headache from not sleeping well last night in the new hospital bed with hospital sounds. Always takes me a few days to adjust. No, I don't have a cerlage, at my 20 week anomoly scan they spotted that i was a little shorter than normal at 2.2cm then checked me a week later and was 2cm so they put me on the progesterone and said they would check again on june 8th. They told me because i was so far along that it was more risky to put a stitch in than to just bedrest and monitor. i've been overmonitoring myself from every ache and pain and had nightmares but those passed and i was figuring everything was going ok since i had no labor signs or anything but they checked me at my appointment yesterday and even before they said anything i could see it on screen. I'm at a really good hospital though, with one of the best nicus around. I believe they will take great care of me. A lot of the nurses think this was caused by me getting pregnant so soon after my first but my doc doesn't think so. She came by and talked to me yesterday, said its definately IC because I had cervical changes without pressure or ptl. She did tell me to wait at least a year, possibly 2 years because that would help with my next one and that i am a great canidate for a cerclage next pregnancy Of course i want this one to come out fine and healthy first or i may not even think of a next one. sigh. i wanted this one to be our last anyways because i suffer horrendous morning sickness for the first 18 weeks. I was just starting to feel happy and eating better when all this happened. never ending worry game. I really hope my husband and daughter come in today, i miss her already. i'm usually the one that gets her to bed at night, its like our time. my husband did great though, i think he is freaking out on the other end but i have yet to see him face to face, i can hear it in his voice over the phone.

 

[ChovieGirl]

good morning everyone. Got a massive headache from not sleeping well last night in the new hospital bed with hospital sounds. Always takes me a few days to adjust. No, I don't have a cerlage, at my 20 week anomoly scan they spotted that i was a little shorter than normal at 2.2cm then checked me a week later and was 2cm so they put me on the progesterone and said they would check again on june 8th. They told me because i was so far along that it was more risky to put a stitch in than to just bedrest and monitor. i've been overmonitoring myself from every ache and pain and had nightmares but those passed and i was figuring everything was going ok since i had no labor signs or anything but they checked me at my appointment yesterday and even before they said anything i could see it on screen. I'm at a really good hospital though, with one of the best nicus around. I believe they will take great care of me. A lot of the nurses think this was caused by me getting pregnant so soon after my first but my doc doesn't think so. She came by and talked to me yesterday, said its definately IC because I had cervical changes without pressure or ptl. She did tell me to wait at least a year, possibly 2 years because that would help with my next one and that i am a great canidate for a cerclage next pregnancy Of course i want this one to come out fine and healthy first or i may not even think of a next one. sigh. i wanted this one to be our last anyways because i suffer horrendous morning sickness for the first 18 weeks. I was just starting to feel happy and eating better when all this happened. never ending worry game. I really hope my husband and daughter come in today, i miss her already. i'm usually the one that gets her to bed at night, its like our time. my husband did great though, i think he is freaking out on the other end but i have yet to see him face to face, i can hear it in his voice over the phone.

I am so sorry that you are going through so much. I know it is scary. It stinks to feel like you are doing better and then to hear bad news again. I know hospital bed rest must be really hard. It is never comfortable like home and and not being able to see your family as much really stinks. On a positive note, it is great that you are at a really good hospital. Maybe you can rest assured that they will be monitoring you closely and take good care of you.

We are here for you. Prayers going your way!

 

[ChovieGirl]

I'm going crazy over here. Just 4 days until my next cervical measurement scan but I am so so worried. I keep having a dull ache in my cervix and it's making me paranoid. Can't remember if I had this last time. Only time i think i remember this feeling was in labour with DS...but couldnt it just be babys position this time? Have resisted calling L&D (think I'm too early anyway) but they will only strap me on the monitor and say I'm not contracting. Incidentally three different monitors I was put on when in full blown labour with my son didn't register my contractions. Only right at the end did they show "possibly braxton hicks".
I am back on 200mg progesterone and trying to rest but this is nearly impossible with a toddler and now a houseguest!

What can I/should I do? I can't go to hospital and potentially get admitted for the weekend until Tuesday. The hospital won't internal scan until Monday earliest anyway.

I also, not constantly, but frequently get a dull ache in my cervix. I kept thinking that I could just feel it shrinking or something; however, when I went to my doctor appointment the other day, my cervix had actually lengthened. I am no expert so I don't want to say don't worry, but it might be nothing to worry about. Is your only choice to call L&D or does your treating doctor have an on-call service? If I call my doctor after business hours, I am prompted to leave a message and a doctor will normally call me back withing 15 minutes or so. If you the aches are constant and getting worse, I would definitely try to get a hold of someone or even go to L&D if that is your only option. If anything, just to ease you mind.

I am curious, how do you take the 200mg progesterone? I am on a progesterone gel that you insert vaginally like a yeast infection cream and it took me a while to get used to it. My doctor said that the gel can dry and irritate the vaginal walls.

Also, how far a long are you and do you have a cerclage?

Try to rest as much as possible. Praying for you!

 

[lch28]

aww hun i am sorry, that must be hard. i hope that everything is okay. sounds like you have really great doctors taking care of you. it must be hard not to see DD, hopefully after a few days monitoring you can go home? my last pregnancy with my angel i had terrible ms too. i am not experiencing any at the moment so feeling worried.


ladies i have a question. i am seriously terrified to have sex.. a few days before i lost Sophia we had sex and i know either way i would have gone into early labor but i feel like the orgasm made it happen quicker and now i am terrified to do it AT all. is it okay to do in the early months? i know i will be on pelvic rest later in my pregnancy

good morning everyone. Got a massive headache from not sleeping well last night in the new hospital bed with hospital sounds. Always takes me a few days to adjust. No, I don't have a cerlage, at my 20 week anomoly scan they spotted that i was a little shorter than normal at 2.2cm then checked me a week later and was 2cm so they put me on the progesterone and said they would check again on june 8th. They told me because i was so far along that it was more risky to put a stitch in than to just bedrest and monitor. i've been overmonitoring myself from every ache and pain and had nightmares but those passed and i was figuring everything was going ok since i had no labor signs or anything but they checked me at my appointment yesterday and even before they said anything i could see it on screen. I'm at a really good hospital though, with one of the best nicus around. I believe they will take great care of me. A lot of the nurses think this was caused by me getting pregnant so soon after my first but my doc doesn't think so. She came by and talked to me yesterday, said its definately IC because I had cervical changes without pressure or ptl. She did tell me to wait at least a year, possibly 2 years because that would help with my next one and that i am a great canidate for a cerclage next pregnancy Of course i want this one to come out fine and healthy first or i may not even think of a next one. sigh. i wanted this one to be our last anyways because i suffer horrendous morning sickness for the first 18 weeks. I was just starting to feel happy and eating better when all this happened. never ending worry game. I really hope my husband and daughter come in today, i miss her already. i'm usually the one that gets her to bed at night, its like our time. my husband did great though, i think he is freaking out on the other end but i have yet to see him face to face, i can hear it in his voice over the phone.