Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[casslong07]

Thank you LindyB that definitely settles my nerves I would love to be able to go back to work if I have a stitch put in I work as a bank teller so I do stand but I do have a stool at work where I can definintely sit down when needed, I hope my doctor would let me go back to work. I hope when I go in for this next scan he will be able to tell if I need a stitch this pregnancy due to my prior pregnancy, and I have been careful on the lifting anyways just a little paranoia I guess. Thank you soo much though it definitely put my mind at some ease

Hi Cass and congratulations on your pregnancy!
With my last child I had a preventative stitch at 16 weeks and I didn't have to do bed rest at all. I carried on working two days a week as a teacher (lots of time on my feet and teaching netball/hockey etc) and looking after my two year old and picking him up. I gave birth at 37 weeks.
This time it's different. I didn't have a stitch until 20 weeks. My doctor wanted to scan me first and the length was ok until 20 weeks when it had shortened and there was funnelling. The sititch went in very well and seems to have resolved the funnelling for now. My doctor said no to bedrest but I am being cautious this time simply because I know my cervix had funnelled and could again. My parents are helping me to look after my two little ones and i suppose I'm doing moderate bedrest.
A preventative stitch at 12 weeks should mean you can get back to normal although your doctor will stay say no to any lifting.

Good luck!

 

[kimbotrav]

That sounds hard Kimbo. Will he play by you while you watch TV and lie down? It's always easier said than done though isn't it. It's very hard not to be up and down with little ones.

hi lindy-b hes a proper lil monkey lol into everything so have to be where i know its all safe but i do try and lay down on the sofa so hoping thats ok its just hard trying to remind your self isnt it i find ill get few pains feels like in my cervix if i over do things so ill dit down luckily my 6 year old is helping so thats sweet of him just cant wait to make it to 24 weeks hope ure ok xxxx

 

[LaRockera]

Casslong - I had an elective stitch at 13+5, and was told to take it easy but no strict bedrest was required. I did, however, put my feet up every chance I got, and did my best to steer clear of infections. x

 

[lch28]

thanks so much ladies =] great info. i have had lots of girl guesses and lots of boy lol!! well im guessing my doc might check my length before.. i am just going to the fetal medicine ultrasound place to get a tvu at 16 weeks. maybe hell do one at my appointment a week after my cerclage. the other dr's are specialists

 

[lch28]

will i get an ultrasound/use the doppler to make sure the baby is okay after?

 

[chistiana]

They used a doppler with me both before and after the procedure. Good luck hun, everything will go great

 

[JJEE]

Hi ladies,

Thankyou for all of the lovely comments about getting so far..I can't quite believe it myself some days, so pleased! I have certainly taken a lot from this thread, and reading people's stories on here have helped me enormously over the last 20weeks!

Millie, eeek..you sound like you are on track for a big baby! Do you have a date for stitch removal yet?

Lizzie, I was rather pleased to read that sex isn't a no no anymore..so was the OH! How about baths? I haven't had a soak in the bath for so long now...should I still wait until the stitch is taken out or can I soak my aching bones?

Good luck for your stitch placement Ich!

xxx

 

[angel229]

Hi all. I am currently 19 Weeks pregnant and was rushed into hospital at 18+3 with a fully dilated cervix. My mucus plug had gone during the day but I want having contractions. The have placed a stitch in my cervix to close it. Altho it was fully open the wall of the cervix was still thick enough to do the stitch. All seems to have gone well and I an now back home on rest for 2 Weeks. I have been having quite a lot of stringy/snotty discharge with a little pink in it. Is this normal. I am so scared that the stitch hadn't worked and would like some reassurance that someone else has had this. The docs don't seem to be bothered but I am

 

[lizziedripping]

Hi Cass - doctors rarely prescribe official bed rest after an elective stitch but because most women put themselves onto atleast moderate rest afterwards anyway, it's difficult to guarantee that resuming normal activities won't be detrimental because so few ladies dare continue as before. That said, if more women did return to normal after stitch, it's likely that most would be fine and not particularly benefit from full bed rest.

My advice would be to wait and see, if you feel more or less ok after the surgery and moving around in moderation doesn't increase pelvic pressure or cause any unusual symptoms, then work should be fine. Given your pregnancy history it doesn't sound as though you suffered with severe IC last time anyway, so a stitch should be more than adequate to give you the extra support this time around, without the need for 24hr rest.

Good luck xx

 

[lch28]

thanks so much ladies.. it is tomorrow. im so nervous.. i am relieved that my baby will be "secured" in there but im just scared of all the risks etc.. also worried about some of the things my doc said. i was never told to stop working.. never told to be on bed rest.. he said i can resume normal activities beginning Wednesday and just to take it easy. I mean.. my job is a desk job.. sometimes i wish i could get up more then i do!

 

[DMJ]

Hi ladies...

Just to say that I was told to resume all activities even sex and not be on bed rest although I didn't listen to my doctor so iv been on nearly full bed rest and have had no sex and my cervix has remained basically the same measurement throughout so far.

I'm now 28 weeks this week but I'm finding being on bed rest harder the further I get .. Did anyone else find this? Hard to explain why maybe because chance of survival is better the further you get. ( I no this sounds silly but cant think of any other reason ) I just want to start doing the housework again and have a good tidy up of the house.
Iv lost 2 babies to IC so I'm literally doing anything I can to make sure this baby gets here healthy and safely.

Hope everyone is ok xxx

 

[chistiana]

DMJ congratulations on reaching such a great milestone! For me bed rest felt easier the further along i got as i felt i was nearing the end and i felt even more determined. It was harder being in bed and not being able to play with my son when i didnt even know if i would ever hold my daughter. But i guess everyone is different. Do you feel you can feel safe enough if you change to a more moderate bed rest? Maybe go out for a coffee (have someone drive you right outside and then pick you up) once a week? Anyway, congrats, you re so close to holding your little miracle!

 

[Alisa F]

They found GBS in my urine again!!! Got to take antibiotics, this time was given Cefalexin 500mg 3x per day.

I think thats too high a dosage, anyone else been on Cefalexin and can remember their dosage?

Hopeful - i remember you said you were on Cefalexin last month and metronidazole, any chance you remember dosage?

The lab results were faxed to a GP who doesnt know me and i dont think it was made clear to them that i'm pregnant so i wonder if they prescribed me higher dose not knowing im preg....

 

[DMJ]

Thanks for your reply. Iv been getting out for a little while every few days when my partner has days of work. I'm not doing much walking as I'm having problems with my pelvis so it becomes too painful. I think it's just the change of scenery I'm after. X

 

[Hopeful 4 #1]

They found GBS in my urine again!!! Got to take antibiotics, this time was given Cefalexin 500mg 3x per day.

I think thats too high a dosage, anyone else been on Cefalexin and can remember their dosage?

Hopeful - i remember you said you were on Cefalexin last month and metronidazole, any chance you remember dosage?

The lab results were faxed to a GP who doesnt know me and i dont think it was made clear to them that i'm pregnant so i wonder if they prescribed me higher dose not knowing im preg....

Hi hun. I am so sure it was the same dose I was on. Have thrown boxes away. I checked my mat notes n its not there. Have u spoken to a doc?

 

[lizziedripping]

Hey Ich lots of love and positive vibes for tomorrow honey You're gonna be fine and don't worry, the complications associated with stitching are usually after emergency cerclage - even then the risk is so minimal as to be negligible. I remember having exactly the same worries, and the aches and pains you might experience immediately afterwards certainly test your nerve - but hold your nerve sweet because you're doing absolutely the right thing for your baby. Lots of love

Alisa hun, 500mgs tdi does sound quite high and it's usually around 250mgs bd for urine infections etc. It is however totally safe in pregnancy, and the higher does is probably because they're treating gbs and need to eradicate it totally. I took it for a possible uti at 14wks and the babies were fine - I can't remember the exact dose but it was likely lower than yours. Query the amount with them if it makes you uneasy (it's your right), but tbh I think you'll be fine sweet xx

Dmj - bed rest is harder in those later weeks mainly because the fear begins to subside, confidence returns and being 'normal' again is so tantalisingly close. Don't be tempted to over do things tho hun - you've come so far and been through so much. Now that you've got to this point, every week extra will be a bonus and making it to full term is so therapeutic after previous loss.

Moving around a little more can't hurt now, but avoid any lifting, heavy housework etc. so glad you're reaching the 'home run' darlin - you deserve it

Btw ladies, I'm on Twitter now, so please feel free to follow me because I'm hoping it will become a valuable resource for all things baby and bump (I need lots of 'traffic' to make it really work) - link below

 

[Alisa F]

Thanks Lizzie and hopeful x

I got a call back from a doc late this evening she said 500 mg is ok. I'm seeing her Thursday for cervical measurement. I'm really anxious now cos this is 3rd course of antibiotics and I'm only 17+

Inflammation of placenta - not sure if I've mentioned this in the last week, but got a letter last week from consultant saying pathology report of my stillbirth showed inflammation of placenta thought to be caused by infection. We are hearing this for the first time around 18 months after our loss!!! Feeling furious, disappoited and sad at same time :'(

 

[Hopeful 4 #1]

Alisa I took met and cef and one other lot all before 19wks. remember they will not give something that will harm baby, and to take them is better than not to. So sorry about your news, I suppose u can now to a degree keep pushing them to test urine etc if perhaps u may be more prone to them. Esp with a stitch. I am sure it has come at a really bad time but u can keep a more watchful eye now on discharge changes etc. I hope u feel a lil more at peace very soon xx

 

[LindyB]

That's a pain about the GBS again Alisa. At least they are keeping on top of it.

Did the pathology report really take 18 months? Thats such a long time to wait. Hope you feel better soon x x

 

[LindyB]

Hopeful I've just notice you are 20 weeks already! Are you having a scan this week? Will you find out the sex? We tried to a couple of weeks ago when my consultant did a scan at 24 weeks but the baby wouldn't open his/her legs!