Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[chocolatecat]

Sorry to hear about all the drama Ma: ( I'm still crossing my fingers it works for you. As for the bed Reagan, you might not need it. In the UK it's rarely rcommended. Hopefully taking it easy will be enough. And you can maybe get a friend to help take your daughter out occasional?

I'm OK. Cervix fine and partus test negative, I.came home despite still contracting as they weren't going to give me any more drugs. Had a v patronising doctor, which didn't help. Made me feel like I was wasting g her time. All settled now though. Just been wheeled around the mall by dh in a wheelchair!

 

[Prayerfulmom2]

Timk? Agi? We know you're recovering but we HAVE TO see these babies!! The anticipation is killing!

 

[Craigswife]

Hey chocolate cat, how good does that sound shopping in comfort! Hope you have a lovely trip x

 

[karenh24]

well ladies i didn't even get to the hospital, contacted the midwife who told me to ring triage, phoned triage an they basically told me i have a stomach bug and they don't want to see me, just because she asked if i was vomiting.i can't even go to a and e just to get checked out because once your 16 weeks they tell you to go to maternity so now im trying to see if i can get an appointment sooner with the consultant but can't get through!!

 

[HelenGee]

Karen - I wasn't sure triage would see you- they just firefight and deflect whatever they can elsewhere. You won't get hold of your consultant til Monday morning. You could call triage back and insist that you need to be seen. I take it you mentioned your history. Otherwise, call the maternity dept first thing on Monday and ask for an appointment that day. This is what I meant by weeding through the crap; there is no point of call that is helpful and consistent until you get to 18 weeks or until you have a stitch in. The only other option I can think of us mums in Solihull, who may still be open now if you call them quickly x

 

[chocolatecat]

Hey chocolate cat, how good does that sound shopping in comfort! Hope you have a lovely trip x

It was nice! though my bum got numb quickly, will take a cushion next time! It was very tempting to stand up and yell it's a miracle!!
They also have the electric mobility scooters...very tempted by those!!

 

[sweetbuthyper]

just a quick update I've been allowed home well I'm at my parents till Sunday so they can drive me back to Doncaster but I'm out of hospital sorry you didn't get a very understanding doctor chocolate, I think its more of a case they don't know what to do and rivelin wad heaving with people til this morning when the doctor came and discharged nearly everyone x

 

[DAYDAY24]

Congrats on being home sweets

 

[karenh24]

Karen - I wasn't sure triage would see you- they just firefight and deflect whatever they can elsewhere. You won't get hold of your consultant til Monday morning. You could call triage back and insist that you need to be seen. I take it you mentioned your history. Otherwise, call the maternity dept first thing on Monday and ask for an appointment that day. This is what I meant by weeding through the crap; there is no point of call that is helpful and consistent until you get to 18 weeks or until you have a stitch in. The only other option I can think of us mums in Solihull, who may still be open now if you call them quickly x

Helen- my mum works at the hospital nothing to do with maternity but she was at work and phoned them and gave them an earful and asked about why they wouldn't see me with my previous history.They agreed to see me did an internal said my cervix is long and closed but even they were puzzled about why my consultant hadn't stitched me said i would have to talk to her at my next appointment x

 

[chocolatecat]

So glad you're home/out Sweet! that's great!

the woman I saw was just incredibly patronising. She did her job, so I shouldn't complain, but her tone was awful. She did say I could stay, but I didn't see the point, as I knew I wouldn't get much sleep. But she basically contradicted what my consultant said and when I asked why I was getting contractions she said 'oh some women just have an irritable uterus" which is fine, but some sort of explanation would have been helpful! I guess you had to be there!
I always worry that I'm wasting their time going in, but actually with a stitch surely the advice is always to get it checked out, so you're not risking tearing it out?
She sat and went through my history eg: IVF pregnancy, previous loss, IC, unicornate uterus, and now irritable uterus. all of those things are risk factors for PTL - so yeah, I'm scared when my contractions are painful and frequent! All I wanted was my cervix/stitches checking.
Done now anyway, so hopefully it won't happen again and the partus test should indicate no delivery for at least a week

 

[HelenGee]

Karen- nothing surprises me with maternity there- I am fuming reading what you've written. I got passed from pillar to post, they even used the excuse that the reception area was being renovated in the maternity clinic, so the right person to make an appointment for me wouldn't be available. Your mum did exactly the right thing. I am going to be really honest now, I do think you should change consultants, they should have stitched you by now, or at least have one scheduled for you.
Sorry, I know it's difficult to stick up for yourself when you are so anxious. They should have seen you straight away in triage, but they did the same thing to me a few times. In the end I got wise to it, and made sure that the first thing I mentioned was my stitch, and I'd tell them that I needed to go in. Some midwives are useless, and they turn away whoever they want when they are busy. I have called twice in one day, and the 2nd time they were furious that I didn't come in sooner, even more furious when I told them I'd been dismissed. After a while they got so used to seeing me there, they knew that they couldn't fob me off anymore.

After your earlier post I was going to offer to take you there myself, but my eldest has got chicken pox and I didn't want to put you at risk. Sorry, I'm not trying to be over-bearing, I just know how great and how poor the maternity services can be.

I take it they didn't do a tvu, at least they didn't just side with your consultant, but they should have offered you the chance to make an appointment with another consultant- they can access the booking system from triage.

I'm glad all is ok for you tho, it is reassuring to know that nothing sinister is happening. You are doing so well, this is the most difficult part, soon your stitch will be in and you'll be so relieved. Don't give up and don't feel bad about being insistent. It's their bloody job and they really need to listen to gut instinct x

 

[HelenGee]

Chocolate- I'm fuming for you! How bloody rude. If they don't want to care they shouldn't be in a caring profession. I encountered this so many times, yet my consultant's advice was always to go in if I was concerned. Some staff were fab and checked me over, others were plain dismissive. At the end of the day it is surely in their interest for women to be more aware if the signs of prem labour and react to them. Surely, they would rather allay fears than deliver a prem baby. It is your baby, not theirs and what would they do in your situation? Rant over and glad all's ok for you x

 

[HelenGee]

MA- go for the fertility treatment, the rest will sort itself out. It is worrying, but the financial side of it will iron out. We had to sell my car, which considering I was on maternity leave and didn't need, made no difference. We've replaced it with a bottom of the range, but sturdy old banger! It does the job.

Could your hubby take leave from work just through some of the 18-28 weeks, or could a relative come to stay to help for a few weeks? You wil not be able to lift Amelia, but she can climb onto your lap, or next to you on the bed. Showering instead of bathing is a great idea. It won't be easy and hubby will need to be organised with having meals ready for you both to heat up etc. It is for such a short time, and the end result will be worth it. I share all of your upset at missing time with your elder children, I was heartbroken, but Oliver adores being a big brother, he bursts with pride when we both pick him up from school, and loves telling everyone about his funny little sister. Go for it MA! X

 

[karenh24]

Thanx Helen when i next see the consultant and she doesnt agree to the stitch i am going to ask for another consultant.No tvu when i got there the staff were really nice its was the midwife that i was first on the phone to that just dismissed me but the one i spoke to 2nd was listening to my concerns, it was pretty quiet when i went in wasn't busy at all think some midwifes are just lazy.i appreciate your support your not overbearing at all x

 

[Mommy's Angel]

You ladies are AMAZING! thank you so much for all the input. I REALLY needed it. Especially from those who have been in my shoes.

First, Karen I cannot even FATHOM going through what you are right now. I thought I had it bad with Amelia. I fought and fought with the Dr.'s At least they gave me something to shut me up. While I felt as though everyone was against me I at least had the option of moving on or at least DEMANDING I be monitored.

It seems as though you are having to fight every aspect of this with the system. How FRUSTRATING. I'm with Helen on this. I'd find a new consultant immediately and get that stitch in. I'm SO PROUD of you for standing up for what your baby needs. If it's a matter of being a pain the butt before they'll do anything then I would go ahead and be that pain in the side!

Chocolate, how Appauling of a treatment! I have come across some nursing staff that shouldn't be in that line of work. In fact, when I had Amelia in the room I kicked 2 of the nursing staff right out of the room and demanded to be discharged immediately! Instead of having me out in 6 hours time I was out in an hour because I made so much ruckous. I fear that since that was the second time I made a big stink (the first being the negligence with our son) I'll be in the system as a "pita" Pain in the rump. Whatever they need to know I mean business though! I hate to come across as a bully or jerk but sometimes where we've been...it's just not something we should be willing to put up with. Hugs to you sweet friend


AFM: I just want to thank you all again. You've given me some great insight. The sonogram showed a huge cyst from this last cycle so I'm out for a few more weeks until it goes down. We'll try naturally this month (I guess anything can happen right??lol )

In this time, I'm going to take the time to unwind a little and also I'm going to juice a bit to lose some more weight. I've gotten my blood sugars down better than they have ever been. I'm going to take the next few weeks to start making some meals to freeze for bed rest and I'm going to take your advice about the most crucial weeks and maybe come up with a plan with my husband. We have nieces and nephews who are homeschooled. I'm wondering if my sil and niece would be willing to come up for a few short weeks to help out. We'd pay for room and board and give them whatever we have budgeted to keep for themselves.

We'll see.

In the meantime I see this as God telling us to lighten up a bit for the month and we can start again next month. I think I'll also make an appointment for acupuncture and massages for the two of us. Luckily insurance pays for most of those so it's very little out of pocket expense and I think we could REALLY use a small stress relief.

So I'll use your advice wisely and start preparing foods and things right now while I can.

Again, thank you so much!

Rooting for all you ladies and also can't WAIT to see the new babies that were just born. So happy for you all!

Happy Easter to everyone!

 

[ShelbyLC]

Those of you with older children, specifically preemies - when did they start teething? I feel like my girls are showing signs of teething (lots of drooling, hands in mouths, Tegan was grabbing/pulling her ear yesterday and Britton has what feels like a tooth coming up - but no fever, extra fussiness, etc). I don't know if I'm just being paranoid though? Because I am TERRIFIED of teething.

 

[Mommy's Angel]

Shelby, it sounds like teething. The way it was said to me from the pediatrician is that they'll have days where the teeth are working up, then they will sometimes be fine, then more days of the teeth coming up and then cutting through. Amelia has the end of a cold right now and is cutting some molars. Very clingy and whiney poor kid.

I was told that to tell the difference between ear infections and cutting teeth....ear infections will have high fevers with them and cutting teeth only has low grade fever to none at all. hope that helps.

 

[wunderful78]

Shelby my 30 weeker started at 7 months but I'm sure you realise all babies even termies are different it could very well be teething for your two babies

 

[HelenGee]

Shelby- both of my children started teething at about 16 weeks, exactly as you described- buckets of drool, hands in mouth, pulling on ears and low fever. They cut their first teeth at about 5 and a half months. As MA said, it comes in waves, teeth push and then stop for a few days. It was prolonged for both of mine, and I can count the number of sleepless nights when I count their teeth. They are beautiful babies and it seems like they're right on track. I love the pics xxx

 

[Craigswife]

Karen, that's shocking what you have experienced at the hospital, changing consultants might be a good idea. In a way I wish I'd done that in my first pregnancy, my consultant was like a wet blanket, useless, but it's not till you're pregnant again that you're more informed yourself and able to push for what you know is right and having a different consultant this time who is very proactive confirms what I thought about the first one!. I hope you get some more positive news next week.

MA, sorry this round of treatment didn't work. My son was a result of 6 years of TTC, stacks of clomid and 3 attempts of IVF. So after all that we hadn't been taking any contraceptives, thinking it'll never happen, well low and behold I fell pregnant naturally this time, so miracles can happen!!!

Shelby, my premmie teethed at 9mths. Teethings tough going and it's usually on hindsight you realise why they were fractious, drooly and generally grumpy!!