Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[LaRockera]

Right, I see, very messy situation. In that case, be tactical yet decisive. Good luck, hon, we're all here for you.

 

[ChovieGirl]

Since receiving both my steroid shots in the last two days I have noticed that I now have a bunch of phlegm building up in my lungs and coughing (almost like an upper respiratory infection has started), not sleeping well and my face looks red. My doctor did tell me that I might have the jitters, not sleep well or feel hot flashed, but my lungs have me a little concerned. Anyone who has had one of these experienced this? I am trying to to be overly paranoid, but geeze, I finally found a moderate cure for my heartburn and now this. I know that doctors use steroid shots for people sometimes when they do have upper respiratory infections, usually along with antibiotics, so I was somehow wondering if this is why my lungs might feel the way they do. Maybe I had too much stuff in my lungs before the shots and it has loosened it up? Who knows?

 

[ChovieGirl]

Today was supposed to be my last day at work and my colleagues were planning one. Even before the funnelling etc I was going to ask them to wait as I'm not quite 24 weeks. I'm a teacher and the 6 weeks summer holidays start today so I might go in after the holidays - maybe 32 weeks? They have been very generous with my other baby showers. Saying that though this will be my third shower so they might be a bit fed up with me!

I have to say thank you to you Americans for the baby shower idea - just brilliant!

Whats sip and see?

LindyB-
From what I looked up yesterday, a "Sip and See" is a baby shower that is held after the baby is the born and I think it might involve sipping champagne while opening presents, eating, etc. It definitely sounds like a good alternative if for some reason a normal baby shower cannot happen or if a person would like to postpone their shower until then.

 

[LindyB]

LaRokera - I hope you don't mind me asking but how did the doctors tell that your amnio fluid was low? Did they say why it happened? You did go very close to term didn't you? I love the picture or your little girl - she's so pretty!

 

[LaRockera]

ChovieGirl - hmm... I do remember that the few weeks before I gave birth I had small amounts of phlegm and thought every day I was getting sick. It didn't feel it was coming from my lungs though, more like some sort of mild allergy/mild cold or even irritation from reflux (I was taking Gaviscon for heartburn by then). Not sure if it's the same though. Sorry I can't help more.

Lindy - thank you so much for your kind words, we're so totally in love with her. During one of my visits to a private obgyn in the UK, he asked me if I had any leaking, which absolutely terrified me. He said my fluid seemed little, and then he measured them, and they were find within the normal range, it was just the way baby was lying. However, it was within the lower references of normal (9 when the average was 14). I kept monitoring them and they never increased, nor did they decrease until bubber got bigger, and so around 38 weeks she had just a couple of pockets left (they're supposed to fine four, or at least three). I would have given birth naturally (was going to be induced), but Xanthe was still quite high at 38+5 and so they performed a c-section.

 

[ChovieGirl]

LaRockera -
I did wonder if some of the congestion was more from the reflux. Seems like the Nexium has helped the burning part of the reflux, but stuff still feels like it is caught in my diaphragm/esophagus.

One more question as I think I am on a paranoia kick...
Can the steroid shots harm the baby at all? Or can my stressing harm the baby at all? I stressed all last week about my stomach and making it to 24 weeks and now this! I am just 24 weeks today, did not feel him move much at all yesterday and have not felt him move at all this morning since being up for the last few hours. I know that fetal movements are not constant in the first part of the second trimester, but what about 24 weeks? I have read some people say online that I should be feeling frequent movements by now and some that say not to worry until the 3rd trimester.

God give me some peace for my worries...and for everyone else!

 

[LindyB]

Choviegirl - I've been feeling the same about the baby's movements. I had been feeling loads. The midwife came to visit me last Friday and She felt a lot of movements too. Then today and yesterday not as much. The worrying never ends!
I don't think you stressing will harm the baby. Lots of women on here have had months of worrying and stressing and their babies are fine and healthy. It just makes the experience horrible for yourself.

 

[Goldy]

I just had a Macdonald Cerclage 2 days ago and just wanted to know on what to expect so that i do not freak out. on the day I had light brown discharge and there after nothing. Is that normal, I hear people saying they bleed for days. Was mine done well? I do not feel anything at all no pain nothing...

Never got a chance to speak to the doc after the procedure so will go for follow up next week... Hope everyone is doing well

 

[Hopeful 4 #1]

I just had a Macdonald Cerclage 2 days ago and just wanted to know on what to expect so that i do not freak out. on the day I had light brown discharge and there after nothing. Is that normal, I hear people saying they bleed for days. Was mine done well? I do not feel anything at all no pain nothing...

Never got a chance to speak to the doc after the procedure so will go for follow up next week... Hope everyone is doing well

Hi hun. Bleeding can vary. I only had spotting for a couple days. Dont think thats in any way an indication as to how well it was or was not done. Only advice I have is to rest as much as u can for the first few days. I had a bit of tummy cramping and backache but everyone os different. hth x

 

[Hopeful 4 #1]

I am freaking out today. I went on Google (I know) & it seems at 15wks when my cervix was 2.3 it is majorly short. Most women with IC were not that length till like 20+ weeks. Freaking out

 

[Hopeful 4 #1]

Steroids will only help your baby hunny pls do not worry. I know its easier said than done. I had them at 24wks in my last pregnancy and now he is healthy and happy Stressing isnt the best so tru and relax as much as u can x

 

[Hopeful 4 #1]

Sorry. Previous post was for ChovieGirl. Dumbass phone!

 

[LaRockera]

Choviegirl - steroid injections will not harm your baby. On the contrary, they'll help his/her lungs mature so if he/she comes early (which is highly unlikely with the stitch), she'll have far better chances. As for stressing, we're talking about a hormone orgy in pregnancy, and if you take into consideration that IC comes with stress as a package, and that most of us, thankfully, had healthy babies, then I'd say no, you cannot harm your baby that easily. I think the only reason for concern is if your heartrate goes berserk, but it takes too much for that to happen. (don't go checking on your pulse now, ok?)

Goldy - I bled for several days post-cerclage so yes, discharge and some bleeding is totally normal.

 

[lch28]

Choviegirl my friends baby was born at 29 weeks due to severe pre eclampsia.. she got the steroid shot and her baby came out screaming. she had quite the lungs on her.

 

[lch28]

p.s. now she is a happy, crazy 8 year old kid lol

 

[lch28]

okay ladies.. so i don't think i can get my cerclage until 12+6. is that waiting too long?

 

[lizziedripping]

Hi Chovie, it's unlikely the steroids are causing you to be chesty hun, and probably due to pregnancy Related stuffiness/congestion which plagued me in all my pregnancies. I felt like I was choking at night with the twins, and only felt able to breath easily through my nose again about a week after their birth. It's probably just coincidental that you took the steroids and then felt like this - if you get worse in the next day or so, it's always worth mentioning tho hun.

The brief steroid dose you're getting wont cause any long term harm to baby either, but I would be questioning their routine use throughout this pregnancy if there is no immediate risk of ptl. Their benefits are amazing, but to have them every week 'just in case' isn't really justified in my opinion (would want explanation as to why if it were my pregnancy sweet). It's a case of ensuring that the massive benefits in having them outweigh the minimal risk of routine use if that makes sense xx

Goldy, don't worry about having minimal post-cerclage symptoms hun. I was surprised at how little bleeding I had considering and it only lasted for a short time. I was in discomfort for a while after, but I had a shirodkar stitch which is more invasive. Your doc sounds very skilled, so enjoy the lack of symptoms - an IC pregnancy is usually so frightening with all it's accompanying twinges, tightenings and pressure so to have none is not only a good sign but also helps to reduce the fear factor

Ich Hun, 12+6 is perfect timing. I went in to have mine at 12+4 but there were lots of emergencies that day, so it was postponed to 13+4! I was convinced it was too late and was already feeling lots of pressure and tightenings - shouldn't have worried. Remember too that mine was a twin pregnancy so my uterus by then was already a 17wk size xx

 

[Alisa F]

Ich - I had my stitch at 12+3. They said they couldn't do it without NT scan results and the earliest you can have NT is 11+4 so you're right on track. I've only got the right half of my uterus if not less so I'm like carrying twins or triplets so if week 12 was good for me according go my docs I'm sure it's good timing for you too

 

[ChovieGirl]

So I called my doctor and they had me come in just to ease my mind. Baby's heartbeat was in the 130's which they said was normal, so he must just be too sleepy or something to move around. They said that you don't normally start feeling frequent movement until around 28 weeks.

Doctor also didn't seem to worried about the steroid shots. Said that my lungs sounded clear and that it is more than likely the Gerd/Acid Reflux causing me issues.

I have to say I love my doctor's office. They seem so understanding and don't hesitate to check me when I am concerned.

My husband on the other hand....I think I might be driving him crazy. lol

 

[lch28]

thanks ladies.. i hope so.. my NT scan is at 12+1.. i have an appointment next thursday and im already freaking out about it. i wish i didn't have low progesterone this time. i never thought id be worried about early AND late loss.. with sophia my progesterone was perfect.