Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[penuche]

Hi ladies - I could use your opinions on this one, if you don't mind! I just had my first appointment today with my new OB (I was formerly with midwives, but had to be transferred now that I am high-risk), and I'm worried that I don't like him

I knew I would inevitably need to be transferred to a doctor anyway since I'm having twins, but since everything was going so well, the plan was to wait until 30 weeks before we made the switch, so that I could have shared care and my midwives could still attend the birth and handle postpartum care. Since there was a group of OBs who work together to handle deliveries at my hospital, I asked my (lovely) midwives just to refer me to whoever had the nicest bedside manner (I am a sensitive person even when I'm not pregnant, so this is important to me!). All was going to plan, until of course we got word of my shortening cervix and I needed to have the cerclage. As a result, I was transferred automatically on that day to the OB who happened to admit me to the hospital for the procedure (not the guy I was planning on going with at 30 weeks).

I'm sure he is great at his job - he is a renowned fertility specialist, and appears to have many, many grateful patients - but he is kind of harsh and abrupt. It is a little jarring! I don't particularly have very strong beliefs about my labour experience - ultimately (and especially now) I just want to carry my babies as long as I can and have them come out healthy. But he does seem a little rigid, and I do worry about feeling pressured during my labour for potentially unnecessary interventions. Coming from midwifery care, where they are more encouraging of delivering as naturally as possible, and where they will be present for your birth the entire time, even if it takes a while, I feel a little unsupported with my new doc. (When we were discussing my March due date he said the exact date didn't really matter, as I'd be "begging him to cut those babies out by Feburary anyway").

I know I'm probably jumping the gun a little bit here, since I've only seen him once, and I probably won't go to full term, and there's even a pretty good chance he won't even BE at my delivery if he isn't the doctor on call that day/night, but I do feel a little uneasy. My husband says it isn't worth trying to switch, given that we still want to deliver at that particular hospital and it will basically be luck of the draw as to who will actually attend the birth, but given that my ONLY request was that my OB be a nice person, I am a little disappointed.

Have any of you been in a position where you didn't like your doctor? Think it might be worth trying to switch, or am I making a big deal out of nothing?

 

[ShelbyLC]

penuche - If you really feel like you would do better with a different doctor, definitely ask to see someone else. I will tell you though that the doctor that is overseeing my care while I'm in the hospital is a man that I hated in the beginning. He was very short with me, acted as if he didn't have time for me, and spent very little time talking to me. I hated him and didn't even want to deal with him. Now, 9 or 10 weeks after first meeting him, he's one of my favorite doctors. At this point, I am actually relieved when I see him and not another doctor.

My grandfather, who is also a doctor, says that the doctors with the worst bedside manners are usually the very best at what they do.

 

[lch28]

my doctor seemed very short and snippy with me when i first met him and i was not impressed. i now adore him. he is an amazing doctor. sometimes his bed side manner is eh but once you get to know him you just know that is his tone

 

[Firehol]

Mpg.
I had cervical scans up till 28 weeks and they were reluctant to give me any after 24 weeks as that us the norm. (I'm in uk) doc says don't normally give them after 24 weeks as your cervix starts to shorten from then anyway. I only had it so he could see if it was a huge difference. I'm not having anymore now.
Tingling hands is something I got quite a bit also which apparently is also normal. I'd forgotten about it so it must stop at some point!!
As with pressure, I kept feeling it in my lady bits. When I saw my midwife she told me the baby was lying sidewards and on an angle so it would give me that feeling and also I would go to toilet even more. So it could be due to baby positioning??
Good luck and hope you get answers soon x

 

[kimbotrav]

How are u Kim?

hi hopeful ok thnakyou still hanging on havig the odd pains and keep gettig awful back ache stil then thinking ohh maybe it wil be tomoro and nothing lol just weird where i think i had it in my head as soon as my stitch come out the baby would want to pop out lol 36 weeks this sunday cant belive it so thrilled but getting anxious to meet baby now got a csection booked 6 days beofre chrimbo but hoping i go into labour before.....how are u??? xxxxxx

 

[Hopeful 4 #1]

Ah thats good! I am 35+1 today.. i really should update my ticker lol. I am getting daily pains and daily tightenings but nothing either. If I dont go into labour i will be having a section on 19th too! Hoping i will tho as id love to try naturally. Almost 36weeks is so brilliant! x

 

[Hopeful 4 #1]

Anyone heard news from Angel?

 

[Hopeful 4 #1]

Anyone heard news from Angel?

 

[kimbotrav]

Ah thats good! I am 35+1 today.. i really should update my ticker lol. I am getting daily pains and daily tightenings but nothing either. If I dont go into labour i will be having a section on 19th too! Hoping i will tho as id love to try naturally. Almost 36weeks is so brilliant! x

its a strange feeling isnt it makes you think ohhh is something happening and then nothing very strange i also went to get checked as my back was so bad and they told me i wasnt even dilated at all which was a real shock as i have been loosing my plug and having lots of pain...thats great so were boht set for ame day wonder if something will happen beofre or not. hope you can try naturally i would love to but wont be allowed as ive had 2 sections now which is a shame xxx

 

[angel229]

Hi all,

Just a quick update. Still in hospital and very sore from section. Scarlett is doing wonderful, she came of the ventilator today and they are going to try feeding her shortly. I have just had my first cuddle. She is so light it is untrue. Can't upload photos from my phone so might have to wait a while to see her x x x I should be allowed home tomorrow or Saturday but Scarlett will be here for a few Weeks yet.

I just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone on here. You have all been a great help through what has been 1 of the most stressful times of my life. Thank you all and I will keep you all posted x x x

 

[Prayerfulmom2]

Hi ladies - I could use your opinions on this one, if you don't mind! I just had my first appointment today with my new OB (I was formerly with midwives, but had to be transferred now that I am high-risk), and I'm worried that I don't like him

I knew I would inevitably need to be transferred to a doctor anyway since I'm having twins, but since everything was going so well, the plan was to wait until 30 weeks before we made the switch, so that I could have shared care and my midwives could still attend the birth and handle postpartum care. Since there was a group of OBs who work together to handle deliveries at my hospital, I asked my (lovely) midwives just to refer me to whoever had the nicest bedside manner (I am a sensitive person even when I'm not pregnant, so this is important to me!). All was going to plan, until of course we got word of my shortening cervix and I needed to have the cerclage. As a result, I was transferred automatically on that day to the OB who happened to admit me to the hospital for the procedure (not the guy I was planning on going with at 30 weeks).

I'm sure he is great at his job - he is a renowned fertility specialist, and appears to have many, many grateful patients - but he is kind of harsh and abrupt. It is a little jarring! I don't particularly have very strong beliefs about my labour experience - ultimately (and especially now) I just want to carry my babies as long as I can and have them come out healthy. But he does seem a little rigid, and I do worry about feeling pressured during my labour for potentially unnecessary interventions. Coming from midwifery care, where they are more encouraging of delivering as naturally as possible, and where they will be present for your birth the entire time, even if it takes a while, I feel a little unsupported with my new doc. (When we were discussing my March due date he said the exact date didn't really matter, as I'd be "begging him to cut those babies out by Feburary anyway").

I know I'm probably jumping the gun a little bit here, since I've only seen him once, and I probably won't go to full term, and there's even a pretty good chance he won't even BE at my delivery if he isn't the doctor on call that day/night, but I do feel a little uneasy. My husband says it isn't worth trying to switch, given that we still want to deliver at that particular hospital and it will basically be luck of the draw as to who will actually attend the birth, but given that my ONLY request was that my OB be a nice person, I am a little disappointed.

Have any of you been in a position where you didn't like your doctor? Think it might be worth trying to switch, or am I making a big deal out of nothing?

I might catch some heat for this comment but just want to be honest with you. I work with doctors all the time. I would rather a jerk who was highly recommended and skilled ( as long As he listens to your concerns) over a sweet doctor who has patients that don't do so well. I know it's important to have a nice doc I would love one too but at the end of the day I want the best possible outcome. I work with this surgeon( I take care of his patients) and he is sooooooo sweet. His patients love him. I would never let him touch anyone I know let Alone care about. They allllllll have complications. At the end of the day, you have to do what you feel is best. Trust I'm not trying to be negative but I just want you to look at everything. ( don't be mad :/ )

 

[baby_maybe]

Angel - congrats on the birth of your little girl

 

[lch28]

angel - congrats on your little princess . Hope for a speedy recovery for you both and that she will be out of the NICU soon!

 

[penuche]

Not mad at all, Prayerful! It's actually helpful for me to hear that. Big thanks also to Shelby and Ich28 - nice to hear all hope was not lost with your docs!

I know that the hospital I'm planning on delivering at (so long as I make it to 32 weeks) has a great reputation for L&D, so that's comforting. I guess as long as I just continue to concentrate on my priorities being having the healthiest babies I can get regardless of how they come out or how my prenatal appointments go, we'll be satisfied with the outcome. He did seem a little negative yesterday about my prognosis, but then again, he is also probably trying to be cautious until I hit 25 weeks (our next big milestone). I think it's just starting to really sink in that these babies are going to have to come out at some point, and it might be much sooner than I expected. I feel very unprepared!!!!

 

[penuche]

Hi all,

Just a quick update. Still in hospital and very sore from section. Scarlett is doing wonderful, she came of the ventilator today and they are going to try feeding her shortly. I have just had my first cuddle. She is so light it is untrue. Can't upload photos from my phone so might have to wait a while to see her x x x I should be allowed home tomorrow or Saturday but Scarlett will be here for a few Weeks yet.

I just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone on here. You have all been a great help through what has been 1 of the most stressful times of my life. Thank you all and I will keep you all posted x x x

So happy to hear things are going well, and that you and Scarlett were able to have a cuddle!!!!! Keep us posted on her progress

 

[Hopeful 4 #1]

Hi all,

Just a quick update. Still in hospital and very sore from section. Scarlett is doing wonderful, she came of the ventilator today and they are going to try feeding her shortly. I have just had my first cuddle. She is so light it is untrue. Can't upload photos from my phone so might have to wait a while to see her x x x I should be allowed home tomorrow or Saturday but Scarlett will be here for a few Weeks yet.

I just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone on here. You have all been a great help through what has been 1 of the most stressful times of my life. Thank you all and I will keep you all posted x x x

Pleased bubba is doing well hun. Hopefully she will have an extremely short stay in hospital.and be home woth u soon. Hope u recover as pain free as possible also. Much much easier said than done but she is in THE best hands and she will be fine so try ur absolute hardest not to stress. Thinking of u all xx

 

[Hopeful 4 #1]

Ah thats good! I am 35+1 today.. i really should update my ticker lol. I am getting daily pains and daily tightenings but nothing either. If I dont go into labour i will be having a section on 19th too! Hoping i will tho as id love to try naturally. Almost 36weeks is so brilliant! x

its a strange feeling isnt it makes you think ohhh is something happening and then nothing very strange i also went to get checked as my back was so bad and they told me i wasnt even dilated at all which was a real shock as i have been loosing my plug and having lots of pain...thats great so were boht set for ame day wonder if something will happen beofre or not. hope you can try naturally i would love to but wont be allowed as ive had 2 sections now which is a shame xxx

As if your not even dilated! Wellll looks like baby may decide to stay put after so many months of stress eh!

 

[lizziedripping]

Hi ladies, (inc. the new ones - Twinkle welcome )

Twinkle, so sorry for the loss of your little boy sweetie I can't promise that you won't feel atleast some of the same symptoms as last time, since having a stitch definitely causes some side effects which for me mimicked ptl. but I can say that stitches work extremely well if placed early, and much of your anxiety will be groundless hun (tho pretty terrifying all the same). Pregnancy after loss is never 'normal', but you can feel confident that despite the worry and associated physical symptoms that came with IC and the stitch, it is likely you 'll make term and have a happy outcome darlin' xx

MPG - I so feel for you love. I remember these Tightenings well and their ability to cast doubt. It is normal to have them, and I was plagued with them from 18wks with the twins. I also had the pressure in my back passage you describe, but that did ease off from 22wks ish as the babies moved up and into my abdomen. You'll find that this will happen for you too.

If your tummy feels hard then it probably is, but again these bh type contractions seem to come earlier and more frequently in ladies with stitch (probably due to it's presence and associated uterine irritability).

All that said, they should be doing atleast one or two tvu exams partly for your peace of mind, and partly to check your cervix in order to have a baseline measurement. In the UK internal u/s isn't necessarily routine after stitch, and depends very much on consultant preference, however I would ask outright for one to be certain that these painless contractions aren't having an effect - just to be on the safe side. For what it's worth, they really don't sound strong, consistent or uncomfortable enough to be affecting any changes tho my lovely

You're entering the really scary stage at this point honey. What are inconsequential pregnancy symptoms to most women, take on a sinister edge for us and make the middle trimester pretty unbearable at times The majority of the women here have felt these exact same symptoms at this point (some much worse), yet have thankfully gone on to make it to term without incident. With an elective stitch it is rare to encounter problems.

It is still more likely that your stitch is aggravating your pelvic region rather than something happening cervix-wise mpg, but why worry or take the risk. Ask for that tvu hun - if your regular appointments can't accommodate you, then go to L&D, ask to see a registrar and demand one. It is your right, and you won't be refused. Good luck and pm me if you need to reach me in a hurry xxx

 

[lch28]

i amm sooo happy to say I am 28 weeks today!! i feel so blessed my scan is in 5 hours, ill update after!

 

[lizziedripping]

Yey 28wks Ich Good luck at your appt xx