Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[AmyLouise89]

I'm on progesterone so hopefully it keeps helping & no problems this time at 17 weeks.

 

[lizziedripping]

Why is he waiting Amy? I remember being anxious about having my stitch delayed until wk 12/13 so goodness only knows how you must be feeling

Prayerful - you really don't have to justify your fear to us sweetie, we have ALL been there. I may sound calm after the event, but I spent every day until 37wks feeling terrified. Every twinge and flutter set me panicking about ptl. It's horrible and nothing will ease that except making it to a safe point. All I can say is that lady after lady here find themselves stunned when they make it to 34wks and beyond, usually waiting for baby to make an appearance well past their expectations! I believe you did have IC in your last pregnancy in which case the stitch will work well - IC is purely a mechanical problem which is fixable once identified xx

 

[ShelbyLC]

Well, it looks like going home is no longer an option for me. Despite our attempts to stop labor, the contractions that have been breaking through are continuing to dilate me, and I'm at a full 5cm now. The doctors moved me back down to L&D and wanted to continue trying to stall things, but OH and I decided to stop the medications and let things happen. I've been in slow, active labor for more than a week now and it's exhausting. So while every day counts for the girls, we have no gurantee that they would have gotten much extra time anyway, and have no idea if that extra time would have benefitted them enough to combat the stress they're getting from me.

I also started leaking fluid last night. My waters haven't completely gone, but there's definite amniotic fluid leakage.

Baby A is head down and Baby B is breech (she always has been the trouble maker). The doctors discussed a vaginal birth, and decided that it would be safe to try since A would stretch the exit enough for B to not get stuck. But, the NICU has said that preemies born breech don't do as well in recovery, and suggested a c-section. So it looks like it's a c-section for me. (I'll be given a last-minute ultrasound beforehand to make sure B is still breech, just in case.)

I'm feeling excited to meet the girls, nervous of the surgery, fearful of their NICU stay, guilty that I haven't been able to do more for them, and yet surprisingly calm for now. I'm sure once it's go-time, I'll be a complete nervous wreck.

I'll let you all know what happens - I'll try to update before birth if I can, but if not, I'll update as soon as I have recovered enough. For now, I am trying to work through contractions without peeing myself, since T is on my bladder.

And I don't know if I've said it, and if I have it hasn't been enough, so I'll say it again. Thank you, all of you, for all of the support you've given me over the last eleven-ish weeks. I really don't think I could have made it this far (while remaining this sane) without you.

 

[baby_maybe]

Aww Shelby, you've done absolutely brilliantly keeping your girls cooking for as long as you have, honestly. I know what it's like to slow labour prematurely for days on end whilst the docs try everything they can to keep the baby in for just a bit longer. I was 32 weeks when that happened and it took about 5 days for them to realise that my labour was not going to stop and my cervix was going to dilate regardless of what they did.

Good luck with your labour and delivery whichever route you end up taking. I'm sure your girls will be fine, you've had the steriods which make such a huge difference to lungs etc at this stage and also horrible as it may have been over the past week, slow labours which are drawn out can have a positive effect on the babies as they get exposed to the hormones of birth for a prolonged period of time which in turn helps with the lungs etc as well.

and to you, look forward to hearing your update when you get a chance

 

[Prayerfulmom2]

Why is he waiting Amy? I remember being anxious about having my stitch delayed until wk 12/13 so goodness only knows how you must be feeling

Prayerful - you really don't have to justify your fear to us sweetie, we have ALL been there. I may sound calm after the event, but I spent every day until 37wks feeling terrified. Every twinge and flutter set me panicking about ptl. It's horrible and nothing will ease that except making it to a safe point. All I can say is that lady after lady here find themselves stunned when they make it to 34wks and beyond, usually waiting for baby to make an appearance well past their expectations! I believe you did have IC in your last pregnancy in which case the stitch will work well - IC is purely a mechanical problem which is fixable once identified xx

Lizzie, you should be an IC counselor! You're awesome, thank you

 

[Prayerfulmom2]

Well, it looks like going home is no longer an option for me. Despite our attempts to stop labor, the contractions that have been breaking through are continuing to dilate me, and I'm at a full 5cm now. The doctors moved me back down to L&D and wanted to continue trying to stall things, but OH and I decided to stop the medications and let things happen. I've been in slow, active labor for more than a week now and it's exhausting. So while every day counts for the girls, we have no gurantee that they would have gotten much extra time anyway, and have no idea if that extra time would have benefitted them enough to combat the stress they're getting from me.

I also started leaking fluid last night. My waters haven't completely gone, but there's definite amniotic fluid leakage.

Baby A is head down and Baby B is breech (she always has been the trouble maker). The doctors discussed a vaginal birth, and decided that it would be safe to try since A would stretch the exit enough for B to not get stuck. But, the NICU has said that preemies born breech don't do as well in recovery, and suggested a c-section. So it looks like it's a c-section for me. (I'll be given a last-minute ultrasound beforehand to make sure B is still breech, just in case.)

I'm feeling excited to meet the girls, nervous of the surgery, fearful of their NICU stay, guilty that I haven't been able to do more for them, and yet surprisingly calm for now. I'm sure once it's go-time, I'll be a complete nervous wreck.

I'll let you all know what happens - I'll try to update before birth if I can, but if not, I'll update as soon as I have recovered enough. For now, I am trying to work through contractions without peeing myself, since T is on my bladder.

And I don't know if I've said it, and if I have it hasn't been enough, so I'll say it again. Thank you, all of you, for all of the support you've given me over the last eleven-ish weeks. I really don't think I could have made it this far (while remaining this sane) without you.

Shelby you're gonna rock that hospital! You're going to deliver and do great! Those babies are gonna be hot, kissable doll faces! They will be in and out that NICU in no time. By the time you're string enough to manage them after delivery, they'll be in the car seats in the way home! You DID AWESOME. Don't feel bad for wanting labor and no more drugs. You've put those babies first since conception! So, breathe honey. C sections are done a million times a day and vaginal delivery of twins have been done since dinosaur ages.... Kittens give birth to more babies... We just have cuter kittens . BREATHE and get ready for motherhood. Gooooooo Shelby!!!!

 

[angel229]

Lizzie - so true, I am definitely stunned that I have reached 34 weeks, lol.

Shelby - Good Luck hun, You and those 2 bambinos will be fine xx x x

 

[penuche]

Well, it looks like going home is no longer an option for me. Despite our attempts to stop labor, the contractions that have been breaking through are continuing to dilate me, and I'm at a full 5cm now. The doctors moved me back down to L&D and wanted to continue trying to stall things, but OH and I decided to stop the medications and let things happen. I've been in slow, active labor for more than a week now and it's exhausting. So while every day counts for the girls, we have no gurantee that they would have gotten much extra time anyway, and have no idea if that extra time would have benefitted them enough to combat the stress they're getting from me.

I also started leaking fluid last night. My waters haven't completely gone, but there's definite amniotic fluid leakage.

Baby A is head down and Baby B is breech (she always has been the trouble maker). The doctors discussed a vaginal birth, and decided that it would be safe to try since A would stretch the exit enough for B to not get stuck. But, the NICU has said that preemies born breech don't do as well in recovery, and suggested a c-section. So it looks like it's a c-section for me. (I'll be given a last-minute ultrasound beforehand to make sure B is still breech, just in case.)

I'm feeling excited to meet the girls, nervous of the surgery, fearful of their NICU stay, guilty that I haven't been able to do more for them, and yet surprisingly calm for now. I'm sure once it's go-time, I'll be a complete nervous wreck.

I'll let you all know what happens - I'll try to update before birth if I can, but if not, I'll update as soon as I have recovered enough. For now, I am trying to work through contractions without peeing myself, since T is on my bladder.

And I don't know if I've said it, and if I have it hasn't been enough, so I'll say it again. Thank you, all of you, for all of the support you've given me over the last eleven-ish weeks. I really don't think I could have made it this far (while remaining this sane) without you.

You have absolutely no reason to feel guilty!!! You have done everything you could do, and your babies will definitely benefit from that. It's hard that so many things can still be out of our control even with our best efforts, but that seems to be the name of the game when it comes to having babies. And now you get to meet your beautiful little girls! You can do this!!! Can't wait to hear the update. Thinking of you!!

 

[AmyLouise89]

Why is he waiting Amy? I remember being anxious about having my stitch delayed until wk 12/13 so goodness only knows how you must be feeling

Prayerful - you really don't have to justify your fear to us sweetie, we have ALL been there. I may sound calm after the event, but I spent every day until 37wks feeling terrified. Every twinge and flutter set me panicking about ptl. It's horrible and nothing will ease that except making it to a safe point. All I can say is that lady after lady heim not re find themselves stunned when they make it to 34wks and beyond, usually waiting for baby to make an appearance well past their expectations! I believe you did have IC in your last pregnancy in which case the stitch will work well - IC is purely a mechanical problem which is fixable once identified xx

I'm not sure..from what I understand he does all his stitches this late but he had said before he was doing mine early cause of my past history..guess he changed his mind since everything is going fine so far...

 

[Hopeful 4 #1]

Good luck Shelby hunny. & well done x

 

[angel229]

Question with tmi - I have just got over a cold with chest infection. I can't stop throwing up with diarrhoea and to top it off I have piles (told you it was tmi, lol) can I pass these bugs and germs to baby across the placenta?

 

[HelenGee]

Shelby, wishing you and your babies a safe and healthy journey. You must be exhausted honey, with all the to-ing and fro-ing with drugs. Trust your instinct now, you must feel uncomfortable and you and your babies need some respite from that. I have every faith that your girls will sail through NICU. Good luck, you've done them proud.

AmyLouise- I understand your frustration and am sure you'll be fine with a stitch at 17 weeks, but I would be tempted to push your doc for an earlier stitch. My consultant said that if we decided to have another, she would do the stitch by 14 weeks. Don't be afraid to push them, althoughy I know how daunting this can be. It will be a relief to have it done sooner rather than later xx

 

[HelenGee]

Angel- I don't think your illness will have any effect on your baby. It is more likely to make you feel worse than ever and put you under even more physical strain. Unless the vomiting is caused by some kind of poisoning, it won't affect your baby. Your body is managing it and you probably feel it more because your immunity is low. I had a chest infection when I was pregnant with my first, the only risk was that later in pregnancy your lung capacity is reduced as everything squashes up, which increases the risk of lung complications for you. If it is being treated, there is little risk. Have you had a flu vaccine? X

 

[lizziedripping]

Absolutely no chance of infection crossing the placenta Angel If anything you'll transfer the antibodies to those infections to her and she 'll be born with your immunity temporarily xx

 

[lizziedripping]

Shelby honey, tho not ideal, your girls will be just fine Premature girls do very well, as do twins (whose major organs develop more rapidly than those of singletons born at the same gestation) born before 30wks. Considering where you were 11wks ago you have done brilliantly to stay pregnant this long.

It has been a long and arduous journey for you, and I know only too well how it feels to try and stay pregnant, whilst all the time feeling absolutely no control over your body - very stressful, and a huge responsibility which at times is utterly overwhelming. I used to pray so hard to keep Evie 'in utero' til 29wks but sadly didn't manage it - you have, and you should feel proud for giving. Your girls such a great chance.

My thoughts and prayers are with you lovely - be brave and let us know when they're here xxx

 

[Prayerfulmom2]

Who would have thought laying on my couch all day would be so uncomfortable. Going into week 3 of bedrest. That's good news because I'm still pregnant but IM GOING NUTS. I want to walk around the block...go For a walk..... Ahhhhhhh. How did you guys do it? Really? I feel like I'm being punked. Where's Ashton?

 

[Agiboma]

@ Shelby you have done incredibly well, if you need to we got a great group of ladies in the premature section, where a small group but very very supportive with lots of NICU expereince and inspiring stories. The girls are @ a good gestation possibly will need no or very little breathing help. GL

 

[Agiboma]

Are you on strick bedrest, im on modified bedrest because i got a TAC, but it oes not stop me from doing all i got to do daily, even with my 28 month old, who is so busy all the time. Try reading a book if possible, or finding a low stress activity. In my down time im studying for a professional exam.

 

[Prayerfulmom2]

Are you on strick bedrest, im on modified bedrest because i got a TAC, but it oes not stop me from doing all i got to do daily, even with my 28 month old, who is so busy all the time. Try reading a book if possible, or finding a low stress activity. In my down time im studying for a professional exam.

I can drive to dr appointments, get a quick snack from the kitchen, go to the bathroom and shower. Down side is because I've been laying so much, when I get up for more than a few minutes I get dizzy. When did u get the tac and how was it??

 

[angel229]

Scarlett Elizabeth born 6.01am weighing 5lb 1oz by section at 34 Weeks +4 x x x x