Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[HelenGee]

Hi!

Vasu - don't panic but definitely mention your leak to your doc. I went to maternity triage almost once a week thinking my waters were leaking. They weren't, I just seemed to have a continual watery discharge, it was always a little sticky. They can do an internal just to check if any fluid is coming through the cervix, then if they suspect it might be, they would probably do a scan to see how much fluid is there and if there's a tear in the membranes. Don't panic, but it does need looking at as a tear in the membranes may allow infection in, they can either give you antibiotics or decide to get the baby out. Having been through this weekly it really doesn't sound like you're leaking fluid, if you were you would have a trickle, then another trickle to the point where over an hour or two you were soaking through sanitary towels or your underwear. When my water actually broke I soaked through about 6 maternity sanitary towels, it was like emptying a bath!

Amniotic fluid is liquid, discharge can be a little sticky and may only come away when you wipe, not drip out of you. If if feels even slightly sticky, I doubt it's amniotic fluid. Mine was a straw colour, whilst urine was always clear for me as I drank so much water.

As for GBS, I would ask for a swab. I had it with my first baby and was regularly swabbed for it. The problem with it is it can just appear, then disappear, so swabbing as close to delivery as possible is the most useful. Susannah is the absolute expert on this though! My swabs all came back clear this time.

Rachael - ooh I love prams, which one did you get? I'm a pramaholic, love them all, don't know why just find it all so cute. How exciting. Xx

Isabella's not quite so chubby now, she was all puffy on those photos, I'll post some more if it will let me. Her arm moved quite a lot in the 5 hours we were up in the night! Fingers crossed, but things seem to be improving slightly every day. It's funny, but I've never been so happy to be kept awake all night, just happy to cuddle her xxx

 

[HelenGee]

Omg Aspen, I missed your post, I'm so sorry. Congratulations! Well done, you did brilliantly and got your twins through safely. I am so pleased for you. I hope you're recuperating, take your time and don't worry. I don't know how you've managed carrying twins, it is so much more fraught than a singleton, and that's bad enough.

Hope you're all home safely soon to begin the new chapter in your lives. Much love,

Helen xx

 

[RachaelS]

It is so wonderful to log on here and see all the people I've met coming home with their babies! Truely inspirational and so, so exciting. I hope all the new people who join our forum take comfort in you all, and your pictures are all wonderful!

Vasu - not long now? I hope you are allowing yourself to get a little excited now, along with the normal worries! As Helen says, I would mention the possible leaking to your Dr. Hope you are well hun.

Helen - I got an Obaby Zezu pramette in red and black spots! Maybe slightly girlish considering I'm having a boy but we just couldn't resist, it's lovely. I have spent so long looking at prams that I think I know more than the experts now! Also put nursery together last week, so I'm actually getting excited now instead of just plain terrified

Hope you are all doing well.xxx

 

[mich1365]

Helen- Thanks for the photos. Now you have two gorgeous kids, and a sweet husband it seems Glad all is improving, barring the bladder issue. I know what you mean about the happiness. I told my husband last night that I dont think Ive ever felt THIS in my entire life, and I had postpartum euphoria after my first. There is simply nothing else I could want for in life now. Well, give me a few months, then maybe I will want some new clothes)))
So your delivery went super fast like mine. Beware to the rest...I think that is a usual progression with an insufficient cervix according to my docs. And I think it is a great thing!

Vasu- Yes to the Strep B test and yes to the Newborn Screen. I had leaking for 16 weeks...but always turned out to be urine. I was completely incontinent during this pregnancy, but went away with the birth. My water broke 1st with both my pregnancies, but they say that happens before contractions only like 25% of the time. Like Helen said, mine was more of a flood...very warm and you cant stop it by "holding it".
Good luck with the delivery...you will do great and be on a happy cloud soon too)))

 

[dippy]

oh helen baby is absoulutely gorgeous a real stunner. xxx

will keep u all updated on my pregnancy. its a shame ur all leaving this forum and having ur babies.... i feel lonely already....lol

actually im extremely happy ur all safe healthy and happy but still sad as weve always had each other from the beginning till the end. im sure i can join u all with a happy story soon. xxx

lizzie i know ur ryt as my cervix is definetely lookin better in this pregnancy than it did at my last but we will not know for sure till tuesday. the funnelling occurred when he made me sit forward, strain and push myself forward (as in the position of having a speculum done but sitting up rather than lying flat).

anyway will keep u posted hunnies. xxx

 

[RachaelS]

Do keep us up to date Dippy on how you're getting on; I know I won't be leaving this board as soon as I've had my baby, so I'm sure you won't be lonely on here

Rach.xx

 

[HelenGee]

Dippy- i'm not leaving the forum, I've been so fortunate to find it and I'm touched by the support and comfort it's given me. Thank you to all of you for the time and care you've provided over this stressful time. It's been a journey and I'm amazed by the strength complete strangers have given me and the courage shown by all the ladies on here. I'll gladly repay the favour 100 times over.

Rachael - how exciting! We didn't get around to finish sorting the nursery. It's decorated but needs tidying and the stuff putting away! Oops!

 

[ccb725]

mich & helen: a BIG HUG & CONGRATS to both of you! Such wonderful & exciting news! Both of you have such beautiful babies & wonderful pics!

dippy: I'll be here for a while as I'm only 32 wks + 4. I need to get more regular with checking in. You'd think I would considering I'm on complete br : )

vasu: I originally went in because I had some moisture and was diagnosed w/ ic. I was told if it was a true leak or rupture, it would continue to leak quite noticeably. If it continues you can always have it checked out to ease your mind: )

 

[Susanah]

Helen and Mich - beautiful pics
So cute x

Vasu - Yes to GBS, Yes to newborn screening - we have something slightly different here. Dont worry about testing for the steroid shots. it is very rare to have any negative outcome.

 

[Vaudha]

hi ladies, thanks for the replies. Nothing leaked after the first time I noticed it. So I guess it was nothing. But it always feels better If I talk to you all.

My dr said NO to GBS "If you want GBS , go to America" was her answer!!! I left at that point. I need to coordinate with Neonatologist after the baby is born for the New born screening. I am happy that at least they do that here...

I am counting days. Decided to take small walks after I complete 37 weeks. My Gestation diabetes can be helped with walk.

Love
Vasu

 

[Alisa F]

Hi ladies

Hoping to get some more advice… I saw a different consultant today who said, after listening to my account of events leading up to my preterm delivery, that absolutely no way do I have incompetent cervix. She was adamant that because I had contractions that meant that it was nothing to do with IC… This is after being told by another consultant a couple of weeks ago that IC was highly likely based on what symptoms I described to him.

The day I delivered, we went straight to the hospital as soon as I felt the fist few intense pains (contractions) although I had mild pains all day and excruciating lower back pain a few hours earlier. We arrived at labour ward in about 30mins and was immediately told I was already 10com dilated (so I was 10cms 30 mins after feeling a proper strong contraction). I delivered within an hour of arriving at hospital. So this all happened in about 1.5 hours….

Is that true? When you go into preterm labour due to incompetent cervix, do you not have contractions?

Alisa

 

[ejsmom]

When I had preterm labor.. I had occasional contractions..They only became consistent when labor hit. My docs told me I did have contractions and i am diagnosed with IC. I get a cerclage to keep me closed.

Good Luck.. go with the doc you feel most comfortable with. I wish I could give you better advice.

 

[heychickie]

I had no contractions of any kind when I delivered at 24 weeks due to IC. The IC allowed my cervix to dilate and the sac to bulge then break without any. Preterm labor and IC are two separate things, I'm pretty sure - though someone could certainly experience both, or the IC could in some instances stimulate the contractions perhaps, depending how far along someone is.

I am TTC very diligently at the moment, so I can get my cerclage and hold the next one in longer, so that hopefully he or she can come home with me this time.

graysonsjourney.com
findingjoyafter.com

 

[lizziedripping]

heychickie - lovely to see you back with us hun, and so sorry about your little man XXX - stay with us and lets help you get you thru your next pregnancy my love XXX

Alisa - Welcome. IC doesn't usually cause contractions, and if it did, they generally amount to nothing more than mild period-like cramps and dull back ache. Genuine IC is when the cervix literally opens under the weight of the growing uterus. It is incompetent because it literally gives way and opens without being softened and effaced by contractions.

I had nothing at all except a mild low back ache, and extra discharge. When I arrived at hospital I was already 3cms dilated I did begin have stong contractions ince the emergency stitch had gone in becaue infection had made it's way into my uterus by then - a huge problem once the cervix has dilated.

In your case, it can't hurt to have a stitch, but it won't prevent preterm labour caused by other factors than IC. For a weak cervix it is however brilliant. Good luck X

 

[Sherri81]

Well, I am back from surgery, and yes, my stitch is in, and as of yesterday, the baby was still alive. But no, the surgery wasn't the most successful thing in the world.

I wrote how it all went down where they called me on Monday afternoon and asked me to be at the hospital 8 hours away, by 7:30AM on Wednesday. Well, I went down. Risked mine and my husband's life to get there, as there was a massive snow storm with white out conditions for the last 3 hours of the drive. So anyways, we pull in 2 hours after our expected time, so 1AM, and we have to be up at 5AM to be on the road to the hospital by 6AM. My husband went home then and his MIL took me. HAd my first ultrasound, which was good. Very detailed. Two kidneys, both working, fluid in the stomach, so kidneys are working, she did the nuchal scan even though it wasn't called for and she said it was perfect but never gave me the measurement. I thought I might have seen a diddle when it spread its legs, and I think the tech maybe thinks so too, but she can't say for sure at this point.

Then I had my MFM appointment, where he just said his whole speal over and over again. "I'm so glad you changed your mind about the antibiotics preventatively, and I'm so glad you changed your mind about the Nifedipene. I'm so happy we are on the same page finally."

Whatever. No point in telling him I have been on antibiotics since 8 weeks and my OB up here is giving me Nifedipene at 20 weeks. He's an ass, so he doesn't need to know. So anyways, the surgery is scheduled for 11AM the next day. All is good. I haven't heard of the surgeon before, but am reassured she is one of the best.

I meet her before surgery. She says they don't usually perform preventative cerclages, so this is different for her, although she learned on 13 weeks patients before, so she is confident with it. Although, she did feel the need to drill into my head that there is a 2% chance of miscarriage from the surgery...

Then they try to talk me into a spinal, which I refuse as I hadn't been told to stop my aspirin or fragmin, and neither would have had a chance to leave my system entirely before surgery anyway, since there was only like 36 hours from my phone call... So they agree to do General, so I won't get a spinal hemmorage.

Okay... so glad I had the General now, and I think they might be happy too!

I went under and thought everything was fine; why wouldn't I?

Woke up to a vastly different impression. Apparently the first thing that was an issue was my pelvis. Apparently it is too narrow and has bony spurs, right where they needed to place the stitch. And since there are only 2 different size needles for this, and they were using the smaller one already, they didn't know what to do. So the surgeon just kept trying, for like an hour! She finally gave up, and she called in another surgeon, who had just as many problems. After an hour, she finally got it!!

Don't ask why they didn't convert to a McDonald at this point. Obviously my anatomy was an unknown, so I really think they should have rolled with the punches and changed it up when they had so many difficulties. I mean, it would seem to be the 'right' thing to do... They are now under the impression that I can't deliver a term baby naturally, as my pelvis is too narrow at the end... so I guess I am now a c-section candidate.

The other thing was my heart got messed up. I don't know how serious it was really, but they had to call a cardiologist in, and I don't know what she did, but she advised them to keep me after surgery for at least 24 hours for observation. And she came to see me twice the day of the surgery, as well as the day after. So I was supposed to have been discharged after surgery, but instead I was kept for observation, and I woke up in recovery to find like 15 little heart pad things ALL over my body, from some EKG they performed on me during recovery. I just kept finding those damn things everywhere!! On my legs, shoulders, forearm, all over my heart.... Ridiculous!!

Now, while I was away from home, it snowed 3 feet, so no one really wanted to come get me. So we enquired about flying, and as of now, I am not allowed to fly until my heart is investigated further, and I was told I had to stay down on the coast for at least 5 days, just to make sure I was okay. I guess what happend was my ventrile started beating first, and then there would be a pause, and then like 4 extra beats really quickly. She said the extra beats were to clear the blood from the heart that accumulated when my ventricle went first, and it went first because it was receiving a bad electrical signal from somewhere. So this is called Premature Ventricular Contractions, which led to Atrial Fibbrilation, apparently.

They tested my calcium and electrolyte levels and found I have almost no calcium in my blood. She was going to put me on calcium, but the MFM's said no, as extra calcium can apparently cause uterine contractions.

So now that I am home, I will have to arrange to wear a heart monitor for 48 hours and I will need an echo to see if there are deformities. And I guess we just go from there.

The shitty thing is, I have been having weird 'off' spells, where I just feel wrong, get sort of dizzy, but not where I am spinning, but my surroundings are moving, I get chest pain, and I get really exhausted when these episodes happen. They usually last half an hour or so, and can happen up to 2 times a day, but sometimes I don't get them for like a week. I also have noticed the missed beat followed by the extra fast pounding beats afterward... Well, I told my Dr this (the one I had when pregnant with Devon. The one who said I wasn't in labour and sent me home on T3's and sleeping pills), and well, he never listened to my heart or anything, he just said 'you have chest wall pain. Everyone gets it.' And he sent me home. So I just assumed I was okay. Now we know I'm not...

The other thing was that something went wrong with my breathing. I don't know why, as I have been under so many times. Anyways, they put that 4 inch tube in my throat like they always do, and I guess something happened and they had to pull it out and put the tubes down into my lungs instead.

And they must have done it quickly, because I woke up with whiplash, couldn't hold up my head, and I ended up getting bruises down the front sides of my neck. So I don't really know what happened there...

Basically, this surgery just seems to have been a mess since the word go. But the stitch is in, and they think it is about 1.2cms up, with 1.7 cms above it. Oh, and they were in so long, and had so many retractors in my pikachu, and they slipped a few times, giving me first and second degree tears which needed to be sewn shut. So I am full of stitches besides the Sharodkur, which they did do with the tape.

Now, they don't do ultrasounds apparently after surgery, but they did one for me on the Friday, and the baby was still doing fine. I thought I saw some funnelling on the top of my cervix down to the stitch, but they told me not to worry as it was just blood and mucous above the stitch giving it the appearance of funnelling, even though it isn't in actuality. I really hope they aren't jacking me around with that... She said the blood will either come out or get absorbed, and once it does, the 'funnel' will disappear.

So I bled way more than I did with the McDonald. It finally slowed to pink spotting with mucous on Saturday. The presence of mucous made me worried I had a post op infection. So I saw a Dr on Monday, who listened for the baby's heartbeat, and she found it, so all is good there. Well, she said since Devon's labour was brought on by Bacterial Vaginosis, and since I'd just had surgery, she said she didn't think it would do any harm to give me 7 days worth of Flagyl. She said if I have the beginnings of that infection, then this will clear it up before it causes problems, and if I don't have an infection, but I take the entire dose, it won't hurt me, the baby, or cause a super infection later. So she said to er on the side of caution, and gave it to me. So I am covered in that respect.

So that is that. I am here. Baby is here. Whiplash is healed sort of. Have a horrible head cold now. Which sucks when you're trying to recover from surgery. Not too much pain from the surgery (knock on wood). Some pressure and pulling feelings, but that's it.

 

[lizziedripping]

Hey Sherri. Phew hun, what a saga for you.

First, the SHirodkar stitch is very invasive it took me an age to recover from the surgery - and that's without all your added complications. It is sewn thru the bladder, and the vaginal walls are actually cut away from the cervix - recovery was painful, and I felt generally very unwell.

At 21wks my consultant initially thought I had dilated completely thru the stitch, as it turns out I had lots of "gunk" up there which was giving it that appearance - on closer inspection you could see the long thin line which was a tightly closed cervix amidst all the mucous (black space). I wasn't dilated, nor was I even funneled, so your docs are probably correct when they say it is blood and mucous. I did funnel at 25wks to the stitch, but still had 23mm of closed cervix below the stitch for the remainder of the pregnancy. COnsultant explained that I had lots of mucous up there due to the presence of the stitch.


As for your atrial fibrillation - I am no expert, but I understand it is common, and not necessarily life threatening, but in later life can increase the risk of stroke. I personally however would insist on being monitored more closely and get a thorough check up hun - especially since you are pregnant.

I do hope the shirodkar works for you hun, I swear by it but then I havne't got your complex history. You deserve some happiness now, and I am hopeful this just might be your turn xxx

 

[ccb725]

Heychikie: great to see you here : ) Sending positive thoughts and ((hugs)) to you!

Sherri: So sorry you've had such a rough go of things. Hope you have a positive turn of events soon!

I have a question. I've been on complete bed rest since 22 wks for ic, dilated to 1.2 cm w/funneling. I'm 32+6 and my dr. said he would make house calls every two weeks. Well he hasn't. Last time he came out was 3 wks ago. He doesn't seemed to be too concerned w/my progress either. How often are you all being seen and monitored? Do you ultra sounds and/or fetal heart tones?

 

[Vaudha]

Hi ladies,

I have been gaining weight evenly so far. I have gained around 12 kgs. (I was 49kg before pregnancy and now 61.2kg at 37 weeks).

When my dr weighed me at 34 weeks I was 61.4 and at 36+4 I was 61.2 kgs!!
In between 34 and 36weeks I was in hospital for 3 days with steroids shots, high diabetes, stitch removal etc. Before I got discharged from the hospital, they did a scan and the gestation age was 35 weeks which is perfect.

So now my concern is does this happen? I am not gaining weight but baby is growing fine? My dr seemed not concerned at all about me not gaining weight. I did not ask her , I am not sure why.

Also, I am not allowed to eat a lot at a time. I eat limited food at a time and I need to wait for 2 hrs before I eat anything else.

No weight gain since 34 weeks (lost 200 grams) bothering me. I am 37 weeks now finally. My dr is not talking about inducing me after 38 weeks. I thought doctors normally suggest for inducing if mother has Gestation diabetes. I am confused

Please help
/love
Vasu

 

[RachaelS]

Hey Vasu,

I think the induction thing is case specific for GD, so your Drs are probably monitoring you and will offer induction if they think it's needed? I know a woman I worked with had GD and they actually let her go ovedue.

As for not gaining weight, so long as the baby's growing normally and healthily then don't worry - your baby's obviously just eating everything your eating and taking it all for themselves!!

Congratulations on getting to 37 weeks, it's so exciting when you think about sitting here all those weeks ago wondering how far along we would make it?!

Good luck.xxx

 

[jessabella]

vaudha...baby will take what it needs, i only gained total 11kgs and you see how big Olivia was!!