Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[xUniquex]

Hi all, some may remember me from a couple of years ago.

I have two boys, who are now 2 and 3 years old and I'm 12 weeks pregnant with baby number 3!

Everyone will probably think I'm crazy, but last preg I was shoved into a suture at 21 weeks and I'm not sure I actually needed it ( waiting on my notes to arrive so I can see).
This time I want to avoid a suture if possible as I carried my eldest to 37 weeks without issue and the pregnancy with a suture was nothing but trouble from the day it was sited!
I've since read some interesting literature about not always needing a suture if the first was hastily placed.

I've decided to opt for progesterone pessaries and cervical length monitoring and hope a suture can be avoided completely (we want very hands off care ) and a home birth

Eating healthily (almost dropped 14lbs! ) and limiting exercise, I just can't wait to see our baby again in just over a weeks time!

 

[chistiana]

Ich, hi hun, i had a stitch and gave birth 8 months ago so now i only just like to come in and read all the nice success ic stories. Just to reassure you, i never made it to me stitch removal date and i went from the start of some pain to two minute apart contractions in less than three hours but my stitch held well and there was no damage whatsoever to ky cervix. I sure that if your baby decides to come earlier you ll have plenty of time to get to the hospital!

 

[lch28]

thx tink, with gestational diabetes the babies lungs develop slower, so unless he is extremely large, they arent so keen on induction before 39 weeks. of course there is every chance that ill go into labor before 39 weeks, and he has assured me that LO will be fine, but if possible they'd like him to stay cooking until then.

tbh the pains do get worse, lol.. im extremely uncomfortable and cant imagine how much worse it will get the next 3 weeks. i feel like ive done a thousand crunches, my abdo muscles are so stretched and sore! my tailbone also cracks all the time! ive never been this pregnant either, never made it to third tri, so all of it is new for me as well

 

[lch28]

thanks christiana - im glad your cervix wasnt damaged. when did you deliver? and did your water break or did you just start with the contractions? i just dont know ill make it to 39 weeks, he is already engaged in my pelvis, im in so much pain and i get shooting pains in my cervix all day! when they took out your stitch, did you immediately dialate?

 

[lch28]

unique why did they put a suture in last time hun? had you had any procedures done on your cervix between your 37 weeker and the pregnancy with the stitch?

congrats on your pregnancy !

 

[xUniquex]

unique why did they put a suture in last time hun? had you had any procedures done on your cervix between your 37 weeker and the pregnancy with the stitch?

congrats on your pregnancy !

Thanks!
Now this is where I need my notes.. Basically I have a didelphic uterus (two wombs) and IC is associated with it. So during my first pregnancy I had progesterone and cervical monitoring fortnightly to be on the safe side.

With my second my pregnancies were very close together (I found out I was preg when eldest was 4 months old!) I got stuck abroad so didn't get to see hosp until 18 weeks and they didn't look at cervix u til week 21.. At that scan the sonographer said I was 2 cm dilated and the registra (our consultant was on holiday!) had me whisked to theatre..
.
I've since discovered that its normal for the cervix to remain slightly open after being pregnant!

As it was the first time they had looked at cervix, we have no way of known if it was changing or if it was fine...

I had second baby at 32+5 and think a lot of the stemmed from the suture as my pregnancy had been fine...

 

[AmyLouise89]

Thank you everyone for Keeping us in your thoughts & prayers. Adalee Hope's funeral was perfect. Was a little disappointed that none of my friends showed up but my family did & that means more to me. Today I am aggravated cause its been a week & haven't received Pics of my baby girl from hospital yet. I called again earlier & photography people says its not showing us in their system so they have to contact hospital to find out what's going on. I'm going to be extremely hurt & angry if they didn't take her Pics cause they asked if I wanted Pics & I said yes so they took her out of my arms & said they were going to take them..these Pics of her isn't replaceable so it really hurts.

 

[lch28]

Amy im sorry your friends didnt show up =\ family is always there though. i will hope and pray that it is just a mix up and you will get your pictures of your beautiful baby girl

 

[Agiboma]

@xunique welcome back, i remeber you from my last pregancy with my son
@Amy i hope you get the pictures without any further delays

 

[Firehol]

With regards to pads.......
With my first bleeding lasted about a month!! I had to use the proper maternity pads for at least the first 2 weeks as the thin ones would not hold all that blood. Plus they give you the extra padding which after an episiotomy you will want!!

This time round bleeding only lasted about 2 weeks. I used the big pads for at least the 1st week. (Just posted 3 packs of pads to my friend as I didn't need then!)

With vaginal delivery you will bleed a lot. With cesarean not as much as they suck a lot out.

I'm not sure if this time round wasn't as much because I bled A LOT in delivery. Now I'm no expert but the blood was clotted that I did loose so maybe as your pregnancy goes on the blood thinnens?? As it was a fluidy first time round and she was born 41 weeks.

Heres some of my hospital bag items.
Antibacterial wipes are a must have for hospital bags!! To clean the bathroom!! Especially if its a shared bathroom. Maybe not for the Americans with clean hospitals but def for us NHS girls!! Plus a fan. (Again prob not for US) soft toilet roll too as you will be very sore!!!

A few straws. So much easier drinking your water in between contractions with them! boiled sweets in case you over do it on the gas and air as it gives you a sore throat, Plus a sugar rush if its a long delivery and youre nil by mouth they sometimes let you have a sweet. Lipbalm as the gas also dries out your mouth.
Flip flops to shower in, slippers (old ones in case they get messy!). Plenty of old or disposable knickers as they get messy too!!

Nursing bra even if not feeding as you will want to give them the first bit if colustrum and will make it easier. Plus if they are in NICU you will want to give them breast milk as it helps them so much so you will prob be pumping.

Eyemask and ear plugs. Hospital usually bright if you like it dark. If you have to stay after and baby is in NICU, you may be on a ward with all the other babies. So earplugs are good to drown out their cries and you won't want to hear them when your without your baby believe me I know. Hand cream is a good one depending how long you stay in for. With all the hand washing when visiting baby it really dries out your hands.

Snacks are essential too! I've never been allowed to eat in delivery with either of mine as both times they thought I might have a caesarean. But after you will want some sugary chocolate treats and any crap you can shove in. Sweet Tea and biscuits after is lovely.

Sorry for long post but if it helps anyone it's worth it!!

 

[lch28]

great advice firehol. they dont let us drink water during labor! only ice chips. its annoying. i was gonna plan snacks but theres restaurants in our hospital open 24/7.. ill have to send someone down..

my brother has promised to bring me my favorite take out meal. boy am i looking forward to eating and not worrying about gestational diabetes!

 

[wunderful78]

Hey everyone I'm 24 weeks today yay for my first milestone .. Firehole that's some really good ideas last time I was flown 400kms away and had no time to pack a bag , I might get started soon,

I was put in hospital because I had lower ab pain 2 days ago it didn't change my cervix thankfully but the put me on nifedipine just precaution! Made me sick ... So sick my blood pressure was 80/50 ! Only just starting to feel better again!

 

[Hope2302]

@ firehol! Really good advice. Thank u!
@ Wundaful, thank God u feel better now and congrats on viability day

 

[Agiboma]

@wunderful congrats on meeting your first milestone.
@hope lovely bump pics

 

[Prayerfulmom2]

So guess who started back with the BH again! I'm so angry and the pain is the worst. Thank God for my mom and husband

 

[mme]

Hi ladies
Only just come across this thread. Its been very emotional reading some of the posts on here.
My story so far.....
Back in 2005 I had pre cancerous cells so had to have laser treatment. The results came back that the cells had in fact already turned into cancer therefore I had to have a cone biopsy. I was 22 at the time and was not ready for children. All I was told is that I would most likely not carry full term maybe around 37 weeks and not too leave it too long to have children. I did not think anything further until I saw a doctor at my 12 week scan. He told me that the 2 operations I had meant that i would need my cervix closely monitoring as its likely I will have the baby early. At 16 weeks I had my first cervical scan and measured at 20.5mm. My second at 20mm, my third at 19mm and on Wednesday just gone was my fourth at 17mm. My third scan was 2weeks before so I basically lost 2mm in 2weeks. My doc decided to start me on cyclogest 200mg once a day in the evenings. I have to go back in 2 weeks for another cervical scan to check the length. I was offered to be signed off work but told the doc I was ok because 1) I don't have a physical job that I only sit in front of a computer and 2) I didn't realise how serious this could be until I looked at this thread. I was told to just take it easy. I have been resting up since then. Now I'm quite worried, I have only just realised how serious this is and I'm scared for my unborn baby that my cervix is not strong enough.

 

[Agiboma]

@mme welcome, yes IC can get very serious at times i dont mean to scare you but its good that you are having a different perspective on it now. Your Dr. gave you teh best advice and that was to rest up, if it means signing off work i would do that also if it was me. I had my son at 25 weeks because of IC we spent 3.5 long months in NICU and special care nursery, with this pregnancy i got an abdominal stitch placed and my cervix has been behaving itself (knock on wood) some women can still carry to term without a stictch with minimal problems and others are not so lucky. Best advice i can give you is to rest like your DR mentioned. GL

 

[Tink_0123]

So guess who started back with the BH again! I'm so angry and the pain is the worst. Thank God for my mom and husband

OMG, you poor thing! I hope they go away soon!! Drink LOTS of water.. pls let us know how ur day goes.. sending lots of ur way..

 

[Hope2302]

@ agiboma, thank u!
@ prayerful, how are things going? Hoping the Braxton hicks stop soon.
@mme, glad your cervix was monitored and now proactive steps are taken and more can be implemented to keep things under control. I would strongly suggest to stay of work as sitting down is tricky too with a shortening cervix. As your obgyn discussed the stitch and would you consider having one in? Mine was placed at 21 weeks and 2 days so its definitely an option if its possible. Wishing u the best and praying for a full term and healthy baby for you Hun!

 

[Prayerfulmom2]

So guess who started back with the BH again! I'm so angry and the pain is the worst. Thank God for my mom and husband

OMG, you poor thing! I hope they go away soon!! Drink LOTS of water.. pls let us know how ur day goes.. sending lots of ur way..

I have a 6x6 cm fibroid that's causing the problem