lizziedripping
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Day - my stitch took me all the way to my scheduled section at 38+2 with mild funneling to the stitch from around 25wks. An elective stitch can absolutely take you all the way, even with twins xx
Ich - steroids have a limited life in that once given their positive effects for a baby on the outside are good for a week or two. This doesn't mean they are useless and have no effect beyond a week or two, but clinically they are proven to help with lung development and function once baby is born for up to a week or so after administration. Steroids are very potent but short acting. Evie had to have a 5 day course of steroids to support her in weaning off the ventilator at 6wks old. They reduce inflammation around the body and so enabled her lungs to function better for long enough to breath other own (without them her lungs just weren't coping every time they switched off the vent). Over that 5 day period they slowly weaned the vent u til she was breathing air alone. The ventilator keeps babies alive, but causes inflammation and damage which in turn weakened her lungs so she just couldn't make the transition without the help of the medication. Steroids only act for as long as they're in your body, so after they were stopped Evie was 'on her own' as it were. By that point she had however 'learnt' to manage without the ventilator and her lungs were strong enough not to need it because of the support given by that short course of steroids.
It's similar for a baby in utero. The steroids give a blast of support in which they temporarily mature the lungs for long enough that the baby can breath and function better for themselves in that initial period on the outside. Once that has happened and the effects have worn off, the baby takes over with an, 'at core' stronger respiratory system than would otherwise have been. A 30wk baby for example might not need breathing support anyway, but the steroids increase their chances of breathing air immediately, and continuing to do so once the steroids have cleared their system.
The best case scenario is to give two shots atleast 24hrs before delivery and with 24hrs between doses. It is why timing is crucial because giving them unnecessarily and repeatedly isn't that good for you or baby, but giving them just before a delivery is excellent for baby. Your docs will likely give them if there is an obvious sign that delivery is about to happen (within a week). If not then they're kind of pointless because the benefits to baby genuinely do wain after a week or so - it is like your baby hasn't had them if he is born over a week after they're given. I've waffled but hope that explains it? xx
Prayer, glad all is looking ok. I had several visits like that to delivery suite convinced labour was about to happen, it's bloody terrifying, but if it helps, my weird aches and pains never amounted to anything xxx
Ich - steroids have a limited life in that once given their positive effects for a baby on the outside are good for a week or two. This doesn't mean they are useless and have no effect beyond a week or two, but clinically they are proven to help with lung development and function once baby is born for up to a week or so after administration. Steroids are very potent but short acting. Evie had to have a 5 day course of steroids to support her in weaning off the ventilator at 6wks old. They reduce inflammation around the body and so enabled her lungs to function better for long enough to breath other own (without them her lungs just weren't coping every time they switched off the vent). Over that 5 day period they slowly weaned the vent u til she was breathing air alone. The ventilator keeps babies alive, but causes inflammation and damage which in turn weakened her lungs so she just couldn't make the transition without the help of the medication. Steroids only act for as long as they're in your body, so after they were stopped Evie was 'on her own' as it were. By that point she had however 'learnt' to manage without the ventilator and her lungs were strong enough not to need it because of the support given by that short course of steroids.
It's similar for a baby in utero. The steroids give a blast of support in which they temporarily mature the lungs for long enough that the baby can breath and function better for themselves in that initial period on the outside. Once that has happened and the effects have worn off, the baby takes over with an, 'at core' stronger respiratory system than would otherwise have been. A 30wk baby for example might not need breathing support anyway, but the steroids increase their chances of breathing air immediately, and continuing to do so once the steroids have cleared their system.
The best case scenario is to give two shots atleast 24hrs before delivery and with 24hrs between doses. It is why timing is crucial because giving them unnecessarily and repeatedly isn't that good for you or baby, but giving them just before a delivery is excellent for baby. Your docs will likely give them if there is an obvious sign that delivery is about to happen (within a week). If not then they're kind of pointless because the benefits to baby genuinely do wain after a week or so - it is like your baby hasn't had them if he is born over a week after they're given. I've waffled but hope that explains it? xx
Prayer, glad all is looking ok. I had several visits like that to delivery suite convinced labour was about to happen, it's bloody terrifying, but if it helps, my weird aches and pains never amounted to anything xxx
they are now fixed tough at last 
have been desperate to see how you are and update you all on how i am. how are things wiht you now hopeful??? i have had my wonderful little bundle of joy 
This is classic IC and absolutely terrifying. I've been there and it's sooo worrying, BUT ladies in your position do hang on and get surprisingly further regardless. You're absolutely right to get off your feet completely now sweet - don't leave anything to chance. Bed rest (especially in hospital) is tough, but the days and weeks will pass and it'll allbe worth it 
Though your cervix is short, to have gotten to 23wks without funneling or dilation is actually a positive sign hun. Though you're not out of the woods yet, there is still a good chance you could make atleast 30wks on a short cervix with plenty of rest and close observation. Your cervix could actually remain short but tightly closed for the duration - the reason it's important to be cautious however is that a shortening cervix usually (not always) precedes funneling if there is a genuine weakness there. 
