Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[Lou78]

Hi ladies, had my stitch put in yesterday under general anaesthetic. So glad to read that the blood is normal...it is quite disconcerting! Think mine was a bit heavier than spotting as doc said that my cervix didn't look 'normal' so he took a sample to get tested. Said it's probably just from previous birth and the LEEP, but still it's a bit worrying. I had a smear test about 3 months ago and that came back ok so I'm hoping it will be fine. I feel really bleurgh though, like my body has been violated...has anybody else felt like that afterwards? I know I should be glad to have had an elective stitch, but I just can't relax yet. It's probably just early days and once I get test results back, will feel better (hopefully!)

 

[mayaa]

Hey Ich... I'm on 17P shots...I have done 8 of them since 23 weeks...I have 4 more to go till 34 weeks... I rub the area well though some nurses dont... Depending on the way you inject, you may or may not develop a lump.. my doc does it so well, I dont even feel a thing... but some nurses are brutal with it...such a big needle and that oily stuff...urrggghh... Only when it is sore, I put a warm compress, otherwise no need... it will be itchy for a couple of days...

 

[lch28]

hi maya -
where do you do your shots? i got mine in my thigh and i am in agony. it didnt even bother me the day i got it (monday) yesterday it was a little sore and today i can hardly put weight on my leg. the odd thing is.. it doesnt hurt where the injectino sight is. it hurts about 8 inches below it on my leg. i cant even touch it!

 

[baby_maybe]

Hi ladies, had my stitch put in yesterday under general anaesthetic. So glad to read that the blood is normal...it is quite disconcerting! Think mine was a bit heavier than spotting as doc said that my cervix didn't look 'normal' so he took a sample to get tested. Said it's probably just from previous birth and the LEEP, but still it's a bit worrying. I had a smear test about 3 months ago and that came back ok so I'm hoping it will be fine. I feel really bleurgh though, like my body has been violated...has anybody else felt like that afterwards? I know I should be glad to have had an elective stitch, but I just can't relax yet. It's probably just early days and once I get test results back, will feel better (hopefully!)

Hi Lou, I had my suture done on tuesday under a spinal and I did feel bleugh on that day and the day after, you might be feeling worse because you had a general too. I hope your test results come back ok, I know Lizzie's cervix wasn't in the best shape when she had her elective done with her twins, so she may be the best person to ask about that. I'm 2 days post-op now and I have to say that although I felt better yesterday, I feel much better than that today. So maybe by tomorrow you will as well

 

[Lou78]

Hi ladies, had my stitch put in yesterday under general anaesthetic. So glad to read that the blood is normal...it is quite disconcerting! Think mine was a bit heavier than spotting as doc said that my cervix didn't look 'normal' so he took a sample to get tested. Said it's probably just from previous birth and the LEEP, but still it's a bit worrying. I had a smear test about 3 months ago and that came back ok so I'm hoping it will be fine. I feel really bleurgh though, like my body has been violated...has anybody else felt like that afterwards? I know I should be glad to have had an elective stitch, but I just can't relax yet. It's probably just early days and once I get test results back, will feel better (hopefully!)

Hi Lou, I had my suture done on tuesday under a spinal and I did feel bleugh on that day and the day after, you might be feeling worse because you had a general too. I hope your test results come back ok, I know Lizzie's cervix wasn't in the best shape when she had her elective done with her twins, so she may be the best person to ask about that. I'm 2 days post-op now and I have to say that although I felt better yesterday, I feel much better than that today. So maybe by tomorrow you will as well

Thank you baby_maybe, that does make me feel much better. Glad you are feeling better and it is such a relief to share experiences on here as no one I know seems to have heard of this condition or cervical sutures.

 

[baby_maybe]

Oh I know, there isn't another person I know in real life that has the same problem. Although funnily enough there was another suture procedure on the same day as mine which is unusual for where I am. It's quite a small hospital that only places about 1 every two months!

 

[lizziedripping]

Hi ladies

Lou - it is usual to feel yuck after the procedure hun. I felt physically unwell for a few weeks after (almost like I was getting the flu), but was told that the shirodkar stitch is pretty invasive to place and would leave me feeling grotty.

As for your cervix, it could be that it appears scarred and oddly shaped due to your previous surgeries. Mine was intact and not scarred, but just completely lacking tone on the day of the surgery. It should be firm and difficult to dilate at 12wks, but mine was floppy and admitted a large speculum with ease It is just incredibly weak and damaged from my first traumatic full term delivery. There is a lady on here however who had almost no anterior cervix left when they placed her second stitch. She still made it to term however, and doctor managed to get a good closure with the stitch.

Hard as it is, try not to preempt anything before you know for sure. The fact that you had a clear smear tests only months ago is a very good sign

Ich - are you still taking progesterone suppositories too hun? If so you're more than covered by them and adding injections will serve to back that up. Adding warmth and massaging the are might not increase efficacy, but will help to disperse the meds quickly. Intra muscular jabs can hurt like hell, but won't cause any damage honey xx

 

[angel229]

Its being offered progesterone normally?. Everyone on here seems to have had it or on it. I gave never been offered it, what are the benefits? What is it for?

 

[baby_maybe]

I've never had it or been offered it either hun. I think it's more of a 'normal' thing in the US to be honest. There is a research trial for progesterone here in the uk at the moment called opptimum which is trialling if progesterone helps to prevent premature labour. I don't know if they are doing it at your hospital, but I was offered to go on it as I have had 2 births before 34 weeks in the past. Basically you are either given the actual stuff or a placebo and you have to use it for a set number if weeks when they tell you. I don't have my appointment for it until November so I'm not on the suppositories yet, but I know the are other ladies on this thread on the same trial. Might be worth asking your consultant about it.

 

[millieboo1111]

Hey Ladies,

Ive not posted for awhile but you ladies are all in my thoughts and prayers daily. I try to catch up and stay up to date on this thread but it moves so quickly!!

I am fast approaching due date and no signs of baby yet!! I am having the odd tightening but they dont amount to anything Every day I feel like a kid waiting for christmas except i dont know will it be today?

Im so happy I made it Im the last in my group of ladies in the hospital with complications to hold their bundle. I cant believe after everything im going to have a baby soon

Thank you so much to everyone on here and your support and good luck to all you ladies try to stay positive and persevere with the tough time and miracles can and will happen xxxxxx ellie xxxxxxxxx

 

[babydoodle]

ok im new to this thread and hoping that you all can help me...i previously had the leep procedure done about 2 years ago...now am pregnant 7 weeks and concerned about my cervix's ability to support a baby for the pregnancy. I know there is visible scar tissue from the surgery because during an exam one time, a doctor stated that he saw scar tissue, asking me about surgerys ive had. I went to my first appointment for this pregnancy a week ago and doctor said that he would check my cervix at 12 weeks with a sono. Is there any way to tell when the cervix is thinning or opening and need a stitch, or just by sono?? Also, doc told me they dont regularly do stitches??? So what would i do??? I guess im just nervous and want to know any advice or info about this or if you had a leep procedure what happened????HELP!!!

 

[pinkladyangel]

Well ladies I shall be 37wks on monday and having my stitch removed 2 days later. I'm so pleased to have made it this far and I know I wouldn't have been able to get through it without the likes of Lizzie, Christiana, Larockera (sorry if I've missed anyone). Thank you soooooo much.
Still dont know what to expect but my baby boy will be with us soon.
X

 

[Alisa F]

Angel - I was given progesterone (cyclogest) around my 18 week scan when my cervix was around 28mm even with stitch. My doc wanted to make sure my cervix stays above 25mm until 24 weeks. They use prog liberally in USA but in UK its still in trial stage. My doc said we have “progesterone police” here in UK - doctors who are against using prog until the findings of this trial they’re doing are revealed, but luckily she is not one of them and prescribed it to me until 32 weeks.

I’m really confident using it, even if doesn’t work it cant do any harm. Its actually quite inexpensive too, I remember I had to take it in the same dosage when I did IVF and it was about £16 from ASDA for a 2 week supply. If you really want it and are persistent I’m sure your doc will prescribe in on NHS, if they refuse, ask to see them privately and get a private script, I mean its so cheap and I reckon totally worth it as my cervical length increased a few mm’s within 2-3 weeks of using it….

 

[Alisa F]

Babydoodle – Why doesn’t your doc regularly do stitches? Is it that they just don’t see too many women with cervical issues or are they against stitches?

Certainly if your cervix is short at 12 weeks, particularly with your history, I would think they would do a stitch. Perhaps you need to use the next 5 weeks to get referred to another doc or hospital for a second opinion. My hospital does stitches daily, they have a whole clinic that specifically looks after cervical and stitch monitoring, maybe you could find something like that. But I don’t know where you are so might not be as easy for you depending on where you are….

I know exactly how nervous you must feel, and I really think if you found another doctor more experienced with stitches that you will be reassured. Good luck x

 

[Alisa F]

Well ladies I shall be 37wks on monday and having my stitch removed 2 days later. I'm so pleased to have made it this far and I know I wouldn't have been able to get through it without the likes of Lizzie, Christiana, Larockera (sorry if I've missed anyone). Thank you soooooo much.
Still dont know what to expect but my baby boy will be with us soon.
X

That is so amasing, i'm so happy for you. Yaaaay!!! Good luck x

 

[baby_maybe]

Yay! pinkladyangel thats great news, congrats for reaching term

 

[bluestarlight]

Woohoo! 38 weeks today! Random contractions have started back up last night. Stopped overnight but I have been getting them again since about 9:15am, but still not regular or anything. Sigh. Had my doc appointment and ultrasound today. Baby looks good, doc got to feel one of the contractions and said I probably won't make it to my next appointment next friday She also gave me better guidelines on when to head to the hospital so baby isn't born in the car or something. Still dilated to 4cm and 50-60% effaced she said. Contractions 5-10 mins apart (depends on time of day/traffic conditions 5 mins if its nightime and not much traffic, 10 if its rush hour because it could take an hour or more to get in) or if my water breaks which she said may happen from the random contractions. She called her the miracle baby because she never thought I would get to full term or now even another week after I really can't wait for her to come now, after all that worry she wants to stay in still, lol. My back is so sore and i must have peed at least 6 times last night.

 

[bluestarlight]

Way to go pinkangle feels good that its now safe for them to come out

 

[WTBmyBFP]

Congratulations bluestarlight!!! It's so wonderful to know you've made it so far!

 

[mpg1502]

Hi girls,

13 weeks - incompetent cervix - elective stitch

Well I had my stitch done this morning and all seems to have gone well. Luckily they brought my surgery foward as my cervix had shortened to just 1cm or so from last weeks 2.5cm - eek! My consultant had to a Shirodkar stitch with an extra stitch to close the cervix at the bottom to ensure my mucus plug stays in.

So fingers crossed1 I had a general anaesthetic as opposed to spinal/epidural last time. Have to say despite my worries i felt much better and got home after 4 hours! They assured me that it was a very minimal amount of anaesthetic as the procedure could be done quickly so is no worse for the baby than the spinal.

I feel a little sore but no more than a deep period pain really and am enjoying the morning sickness free day due to all the anti sickness they gave me with the anaesthetic...I hope that lasts! I had some more bleeding this time round but it seems to have stopped now which is great. No progesterone this time and just antibiotics intravenously, none to take home. Glad not to take too much as I think this little bean has been through quite enough already!

So in bed with a cup of tea and a chocolate muffin and finally feel I can maybe start to feel a little more positive and relaxed to enjoy this pregnancy.

Hope all you girls are doing fine, and little munchkins are staying put!

M x