Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[ShelbyLC]

Hi, ladies T & B had their first pediatrician appointment yesterday. Tegan now weighs 6lbs 6oz (a 15oz gain in the 2 weeks she's been home) and Britton weighs 6lbs 4oz (a 10oz gain in the 11 days she's been home). The doctor was very, very happy with their weight gain and told me, "I am SO proud of you!" when I told her I was breastfeeding. It's a nice feeling, that is!

I'm exhausted and being lazy today, so I'm not going to reply directly to anybody, but that doesn't mean I don't care! I hope you're all doing well.

 

[baby_maybe]

Great weight gains shelby, go you

 

[Agiboma]

@prayerful you are correct IC is very scary. I am following your advice and trying to relax and finally truely enjoy the pregnancy. TBH its on teh preemie board i found the courage to really try again and get pregnant after having my son i was scared silly. Without bnb my son would be an only child.

You're TAC gives me hope to try one last time.

Yes! Based on teh horror stories i read on Abbyloopers and my tvc failing X2 with my son i was very forceful with my DR for a TAC. They kept on saying i can have a tvc if it starts to fail they can always do it again or even do a stronger tvc. I was very firm when i told them no thanks. Take your time to heal very well cause that cut you got on your womb aint a joke. I had the same cut and thats why its good to wait and heal well. I hope your little lady is home in no time sounds like she is thriving.

 

[Agiboma]

Way to go t&b

 

[Agiboma]

I found this video on youtube, of the hospital where i am doing my obstetrics and gonna give birth in a few weeks. I found it funny:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWvnfdgEOcA

 

[Prayerfulmom2]

@prayerful you are correct IC is very scary. I am following your advice and trying to relax and finally truely enjoy the pregnancy. TBH its on teh preemie board i found the courage to really try again and get pregnant after having my son i was scared silly. Without bnb my son would be an only child.

You're TAC gives me hope to try one last time.

Yes! Based on teh horror stories i read on Abbyloopers and my tvc failing X2 with my son i was very forceful with my DR for a TAC. They kept on saying i can have a tvc if it starts to fail they can always do it again or even do a stronger tvc. I was very firm when i told them no thanks. Take your time to heal very well cause that cut you got on your womb aint a joke. I had the same cut and thats why its good to wait and heal wells. I hope your little lady is home in no time sounds like she is thriving.

Go

How far apart is your 25 Weeker and this baby. I was thinking to wait a good 4 years God forbid I was on bedrest again atleast this one would be walking and talking and I won't have to do too much lifting. My hubby is so scared though!

 

[lch28]

i had the same worry! how could i possibyl be on bed rest? lol - nbd, ive always wantd my LOs 4-5 years apart

 

[lizziedripping]

Agiboma, brilliant that you're 31wks! Bet you can hardly believe it!? It does take guts to try again with the nightmare of IC hanging over you, but most of the time stitching early and appropriately really can work. It seems so easy to be confident before you get pregnant tho, but then you 'pee on that stick', a positive comes up and it's instant panic. Even though I sadly miscarried my two most recent pregnancies at 6 and 10wks, I spent those first few weeks in terror, convinced there was no way I'd make term again with twin toddlers to take care of. The harsh reality of an IC pregnancy hit me square in the face - even though I had the success of the twins to give me confidence, I was still terrified

Given a choice I would definitely recommend waiting until your youngest child is 3/4 before trying for another. My eldest were 5 and 7 when I carried the twins and pretty much self sufficient in that they could take care of their own basic needs and didn't have to be carried, dressed or entertained in the way that toddlers do. It wasnt ideal but they could atleast play beside me and werre happy to do so while I rested. I think 3 is a milestone age when toddlers become little people, and are lots less demanding physically and emotionally.

Of course I dont have time on my side so don't have the luxury of waiting for the ideal time to be pregnant again, but you ladies who are younger shouldn't rush things. You feel lots less guilt, panic and downright fear if your older kids are old enough to make bed rest a bearable experience

Shelby, your girls are doing amazingly well! Theyre exactly where they would have been size-wise had they stayed in utero and been born about now! That's such an achievement, as is bf two! Thanks for keeping us posted

 

[Agiboma]

@prayerful and Ich the age difference will be 2.8 years once LO arrives. Lets just say bedrest with a two year old is impossible. I got pregnant when my son just turned two and its a daily struggle really. I was placed on bedrest but never was able to adhere to it. I still do all of his care which involves a lot of lifting cause he likes to cuddle. With a tvc i am sure i would not be pregnant at this stange i am so convinced of that but the TAC has held firm.

 

[sisrael]

Hi everyone!
I have been watching these threads for awhile but am now just posting A little about me..
I have a 22 month old son named Jack and am pregnant again. When I was pregnant with Jack, I went in for an u/s at 25 weeks and found I had funneling and pretty much no cervix left and was dilated 1cm. Long story short, it was too far past for me to have a cerclage so with bedrest alone I was able to carry him to 36weeks4days and he is a totally healthy rambuncious boy now
With this pregnancy, for whatever reason, my dr didn't seem to think I needed the stitch. So of course I listened to her and of course at 19 weeks found I was 1cm dilated and had practically no cervix left. Long story short again, I went on my own to a high risk dr and performed an emergency cerclage on me at 19 weeks and gave me 1.5cm below the stitch and even some above. A true miracle.
I have been getting TVUs every 2 weeks by him to be monitored and always had some length above the stitch. Well this time at 26.5 weeks he said I had no cervix above teh stitch but that he wasn't concerned about it bc he said thats what happens with an IC. My cervix below the stitch went from 1.5 to 1cm also but he wasn't concerned and said the cerclage is holding tight and he even said he thinks i'll make it to 40 weeks! I was very surprised. I feel like 1cm below the stitch isn't good but he said the bag of water is getting heavier and so is the baby. He literally said you are fine, everything is good and that was it. Do any of you ladies have any advice for me?
If my cervix below the stitch got smaller does that mean the stitch is moving down? I am just a little confused...

 

[stephb1981]

Hi ladies,
Congrats to those that have had their babies. Its lovely to read about a positive outcome. They are all beautiful.
Ich i was told not to use bottled water for formula as it contains vitamins and minerals that tap water does not. Regular tap water boiled in a kettle and cooled is fine. Tho that is in the UK im sure its the same for usa. I used to sterilize the bottles boil the kettle and fill the bottles with boiled water to where you need. Then put them in the fridge. That way you can add the formula when needed and no waste. But well done on getting so far with the breastfeeding. I only did 6 months and then found it to hard trying to juggle everything when i went back to work so switched.
Hope everyone else is doing fine and hanging in there.
I've been a little bit down for the past couple weeks and i am finding it really hard being on bed rest and doing nothing. I know it is the best thing for both of us and will continue to do it but its so frustrating. My house isnt as clean as i would like it and i can see things that need doing. I have been doing some easy cleaning but argh nobody in this hse cleans as good as i do IYKWIM. lol Any tips to keep my sanity would be very much appreciated

 

[xUniquex]

thanks ladies..

lizzie he is being wonderful surprisingly. he is so good with Jonathan. We are giving it another shot but taking it slow.

im super stressed. i cant find any answers to this question. what kind of water do i use for formula???????????!!!??? bottled, nursery, tap, boiled??!? right now im using bottled water that i boil.. and im scared this is the wrong thing to do!

Tap water which has been boiled is best, bottled water shouldn't be used because of the soduim content xxx

 

[lizziedripping]

Sisrael - welcome How many weeks are you now? Your doc is correct that even with no cervix left it is possible to carry a baby to term with a stitch - impossible as that sounds. It is quite normal for a cervix to funnel all the way to the stitch, and then shorten below. So long as this process doesn't trigger ptl then you'll be fine, which is why I ask how many wks you are. To have made 30wks with no ptl and some minimal cervical changes post stitch is a very good sign.

Asyour cervix shortens below the stitch remains where it is, but is the only thing stopping your baby from coming out! As baby gets bigger this is much less of an issue because labour is required to get a 3Ib+ baby through a 3cmdilated cervix (what it would dilate to due to incompetence) i.e. your cervix has to dilate under the influence of contractions to allow a larger baby to pass through it. Hope that makes sense xxx

 

[lizziedripping]

Dayday - you ok? I saw you tried to pm me sweet, hope all is ok. Inbox emptied again xx

 

[lizziedripping]

Just read your pm Day Will answer here cos my message system is playing me up! The weekly ob appt is fine, it is actually a good thing that you move around occasionally and that's a perfect opportunity. Complete bed rest is the best thing with twins, I daren't take any chances with mine, and it more than paid off xxx

 

[DAYDAY24]

Thanks lizzie I just didn't want to over due it and be on my feet a lot

 

[Agiboma]

Welcome to all the newbies.
@hope and tink how are you ladies doing have not herd from you in a few days

 

[Hope2302]

@ sisreal, welcome. I think lizzie has answered your question exactly what I wanted to say. In a nutshell as pregnancy progresses and baby becomes bigger, the risk of IC reduces unless something else triggers stuff.
@ lizzie, very good advice you give as usual. Thank you. I am praying for healthy and full term baby now but I am so done with two. I couldn't go through this again even though I am almost 27 years old another baby isn't an option. Too much emotions and fright involved
@ agiboma, how are you?I am so glad that you are 31 weeks. Go you welldone! I am good. Just doing more as I am 28 weeks now. Trying to fix easy meals, doing a bit of washing up and going downstairs more often and off course doing more of my toddler's care. My body tells me when I need to lie down and I obey.

I also had my 28 weeks visit and baby is about 1187grams not sure what that is in lbs. My obgyn doesn't think I'll make it to 36 weeks but I am keeping the faith that it is possible. Stitch will be removed at 36 weeks.

I hope everyone is fine?

 

[ShelbyLC]

I also had my 28 weeks visit and baby is about 1187grams not sure what that is in lbs. My obgyn doesn't think I'll make it to 36 weeks but I am keeping the faith that it is possible. Stitch will be removed at 36 weeks.

I hope everyone is fine?

2lbs 9.6oz Great weight!

 

[Hope2302]

I also had my 28 weeks visit and baby is about 1187grams not sure what that is in lbs. My obgyn doesn't think I'll make it to 36 weeks but I am keeping the faith that it is possible. Stitch will be removed at 36 weeks.

I hope everyone is fine?

2lbs 9.6oz Great weight!

Thank u shelby! The girls are chubby princesses with a good weight gain. You are doing a good job!