Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[DMJ]

Hi ladies ...

Braxton hicks ?? I think I may be starting to experience them and I'm slightly worried as I'm only 21 weeks. Iv never experienced these before so hoping that it's nothing serious and affecting the stitch in anyway.

Xxx

 

[lch28]

soo i read online that the shirodkar is permanent and you have to get c section?!?!?! is that true? ill do whatever but my doc never mentioned that..

dmj braxton hicks are totally normal hun call you doc if concerned

 

[nhood]

Lizzie,

I had started to feel discouraged tonight until I read your last post. THANK YOU!!!! I need to hear these things to calm my nerves. This period is in many ways worse. Although things are holding steady, my mind can't escape the things that can go wrong. I am almost at disbelief that I made it this far. I just need to trust myself, God and, my doctors more.

Thanks again for being such a God sent angel to all of us fightin IC. You are really a gem.

 

[lizziedripping]

Thanks for your kind words ladies - I'm just glad that this thread in some way helps you through 'the journey' at a time when everything feels so scary

Dmj - I had terrible bh from as early as 10wks. They eased after 15wks but returned with a vengeance after 20. At the time I did lots of research and discovered that apart from twins causing them more than in a singleton pregnancy, having the stitch present increases uterine irritability. It is essentially a foreign body, and it is abnormal to have it there. As a result your cervix and uterus will react to it, but it doesn't usually lead to contractions or cervical changes thankfully.

Try not to worry sweet, I had them constantly and nothing happened as a result. It's only if they come regularly and more than 3/4 times per hour that it is worth getting yourself checked out. Make sure to drink plenty of water and lie down and rest on your left side xx

Ich - I had the shirodkar, it is placed high and is extra strong which is why it was used in my twin pregnancy. It used to be that it had to be left in and you could only deliver via a c section, but these days they do an adapted version which can be removed before labour begins. In my case I had a planned section and it was left in and removed after the section xx

 

[ChovieGirl]

Hey ladies!

I am needing to vent. I am 20 weeks now and close to the time I miscarried before. I don't know if I am just making myself more paranoid or what due to this, but I keep worrying that my cervix is not going to hold up. I have a doctor appointment this coming Thursday, but almost don't want to wait that long so that I can have some reassurance. I do have the cerclage and I am on the progesterone and still on bed rest, so I know everything possible is being done this time. I feel pressure now and then, which I have felt before, but think I am paying closer attention to it now that I have been worrying more. I want to have faith that it will all work out this time and I am trying to stay positive, but it really hard to at times. Anyhow, thanks for letting me vent. I just needed to get it out...not that my husband won't listen to me, but I didn't want to stress him out more and know that you ladies are all dealing with similar circumstances.

 

[lch28]

lizziedripping - thanks hun. i think he would have mentioned it if i had to have a c section.. either way i don't mind much. would like to have labor but whatever it takes for the baby.. anyway.. wanted to ask a question.. i have had mild cramping since conception. stopped for maybe a few days but started again last night. i am not in any type of pain or spotting of course but it is just annoying me .. is this normal for 6 weeks? should i be concerned? my first scan is Monday.. i am praying everything is okay.


ChovieGirl honey i am sure all is well. your doing everything possible for the baby. have your cervical length checks all been good? when was your last one? i understand your worry, i mean i am only 6 weeks but i am still so terrified. what kind of cerclage do you have in?

 

[bluestarlight]

Hi girls. I'm still hanging around. Catching up on the thread. Thanks for all the support, I am still in the hospital, baby is staying in so far. The only thing that has change is in the last 4 days I have been getting some random contractions that I didn't have before, definately contractions and no BH. My back and shoulders and hips ache from laying down or sitting so much. No bleeding or leaking or anything. Lol, I did fail my 1 hour glucose yesterday though so now am looking forward to the 3 hour fasting one on tuesday...ick. I only get to see my daughter and husband a couple time a week. He had a rough work week due to the extreme heat we had here the last few days, he never handles heat well. He brought my baby girl to visit today but she was super cranky and even though she said "hi' to me, it seemed she only wanted to lay on daddy today. Atleast I know they are bonding well and he is taking care of her. Its just she used to go to me for that stuff and i think she is forgetting me even though i've only been gone for 2 weeks. He told me its been hard handling everything now that i'm in here, all the bills, the cleaning, taking care of her and then himself, then missing me and having to pack her up and travel to visit, etc.
I just wish I could go home. The docs were so confusing last week, one saying 30 weeks the other saying maybe 26 weeks. They both talked I guess and decided to check me again on july 6th when I turn 28 weeks. But only if i'm not "worse" which i'm not sure what the criteria for that is since I doubt my cervix has magically grown in the 2 weeks, let along 2 more weeks to go. I'm so home sick. My mom has brought me 1000 piece puzzles to keep me busy, I have the internet but somedays it doesn't work well with my husbands net book that i have stolen from him.
Anyways, had some nice thunderstorms here earlier, great view from my window, the A/C is freezing in here though, I wish i could feel the summer heat and sun on my skin, i love outdoors and nature.
So many things running through my bored head.
ok, going to bed soon, I'm glad to see the twins were born and everything went good gives me hope.

 

[Alisa F]

soo i read online that the shirodkar is permanent and you have to get c section?!?!?! is that true? ill do whatever but my doc never mentioned that..

dmj braxton hicks are totally normal hun call you doc if concerned

Hi ich , I'm having a modified shirodkar placed on July 2nd and read the same info as you but my consultant assured me that the new modified way they do it can be removed quickly when necessary allowing for vag delivery.

 

[Alisa F]

Ladies, I'm so constipated I could cry! Having modified shirodkar placed in a weeks time and I know when it's in I must not strain to poop. But that's the only way I can poop even after taking lactulose. Sorry for tmi but I'm already in so much pain and discomfort as I write this, just wanted to know if you have any remedies?

 

[chistiana]

Bluestarlight- i just wanted to tell you i went through the same thing with my son when i was on bed rest. It was 5 months but at home but still i couldnt even sit up for the most part of it and my ds soon got clingy with his dad and didnt want to spend any time around me. I felt very rejected and alone. I gave birth to my daughter on 18/5 and even though i spend long times bfing and taking care of her i can definitely tell you i am no 1 for my son again!!the only difference is that he s bonded very well with his dad too, and i m very very happy about that too.
Try not to let these things get to you, you ll have your baby and will instantly forget about your worries.x

 

[ChovieGirl]

Ladies, I'm so constipated I could cry! Having modified shirodkar placed in a weeks time and I know when it's in I must not strain to poop. But that's the only way I can poop even after taking lactulose. Sorry for tmi but I'm already in so much pain and discomfort as I write this, just wanted to know if you have any remedies?

So funny that you mentioned this...I was stressing myself out last night about this. I have the McDonald cerclage and strained so much last night that I was worried that I did something to harm the baby. I am worried now that I could have put too much pressure on my cervix.

Some natural remedies for constipation: Drink lots of water, prunes, even grapes help and eating food with plenty of fiber.

My doctor also said I could either take Colace or Miralax, but I am really scared to take anything.

Lizzie - Since I strained so much last night, is it possible that I could have helped push the baby more on my cervix and caused my cervix to start opening/funneling even though I have the cerclage? I felt a little uncomfortable this morning, but I don't really feel so bad at the moment. I know that my straining did something a little to my cervix as I am on the progesterone gel and the remnants of it were also pushed out while straining. Sorry tmi. Thanks for your help!

 

[ChovieGirl]

ChovieGirl honey i am sure all is well. your doing everything possible for the baby. have your cervical length checks all been good? when was your last one? i understand your worry, i mean i am only 6 weeks but i am still so terrified. what kind of cerclage do you have in?

Ich - My last cervix check was pretty good as my cervix went up from 2.6cm to 3.7cm, but that was almost two weeks ago and I know that things can change quickly. My next appointment (this coming Thursday) cannot come soon enough! I have the McDonald cerclage, which I know is still good, but I wish I would have had the Shridokar one. I want my baby to make it well beyond 24 weeks, but I will be able to breathe maybe a slight bit better to make it to there.

On a positive note -- I think I can feel little movements now.

 

[ChovieGirl]

Bluestarlight- I am glad that the baby is still staying put for you! I am really sorry that you are having such a hard time staying at the hospital. I know it must be really difficult.

Hugs and prayers for all!

 

[lch28]

ChovieGirl i am sure you will make it much farther then 24 weeks hun... yay for feeling movements! i felt movements at 19 weeks and it was amazing

 

[Skyy82]

Hell ladies, I'm off for my 20 week scan tomorrow,was 2.2cms 3 weeks ago so got fingers crossed for higher numbers! Still lurking and reading all the great info and advice given on this thread. X

 

[Alisa F]

ChovieGirl - we have Lactulose here in UK and my consultant said it was ok to take during pregnancy so I'm assuming those American products you mentioned are ok too. But I'm a bit hesitant to use it regularly after I had an "accident" first time I used it. Thank goodness I was at home when it happened

 

[Alisa F]

Hell ladies, I'm off for my 20 week scan tomorrow,was 2.2cms 3 weeks ago so got fingers crossed for higher numbers! Still lurking and reading all the great info and advice given on this thread. X

Best of luck, I've got everything crossed for you.

 

[Goldy]

Hi ladies happy to see this thread. I was diagnosed with an incompetent cervix 2 years ago when i lost my twins at 17 weeks.

Am currently 12 weeks and have switched doctors since, How do you actually get the doc to place the cerclage before it starts funnelling. I really need to convince my doc to have this cerclage before it becomes an emergency? My last question is how far along do you have to be for the cerclage to be placed?

 

[lch28]

Welcome Goldy. Have you talked to your doctor about getting the stitch electively? i am getting mine at 12 weeks, my dr does not beleive in the wait and watch method, but i suggest you demand to get it done or perhaps switch docs again.. good luck honey

 

[Alisa F]

Hi Goldy, thankfully for me my doctor doesnt want to wait and do it later when it is too late or wait until things go pear shaped before she takes action - so I'm having a suture next Monday when i will be 12w+2.

I don't understand, if you have been actually diagnsoed with IC why on earth your doc doesnt want to do cerclage?! Does s/he have much experience with IC? That could be a factor....

Speak to your doctor and tell him/her you dont want to wait until things get bad. I was told that best time to place the cerclage is 12-14 weeks. You know you have IC so there is no reason they shouldnt do cerclage for you... Unless they're not experienced/confident in the procedure in which case you need to switch docs anyway... Perhaps also do some research and phoning around in your city and see if there are any doctors specialising in IC and cerclages... High risk ob/gyns should also give you a more favourable second opinion.

Best of luck x