Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[Twinkle 3]

Jadey have you tried a natural cough linctus to suppress the cough such as glycerin and honey

 

[jadey_fae]

yep. Nothing is working I am scared

 

[Twinkle 3]

Jadey try not to worry The stitch is so thick and tied so tightly, i can see why your worrying though but I'm sure you will be fine I doubt a cough will be powerful enough to tear through a stitch. Have you tried asking your midwife her advice on it? It might reassure you a little x

 

[jadey_fae]

I think I will ring her. Sorry that I am always posting panic posts!

 

[Craigswife]

Jadey, my stitch was elective. I had it placed at 14wks. Maybe you should try and speak to your midwife in the morning about your cough and concern with your stitch.

As for me, I think I have a bug, I'm feeling really poorly today. I nibbled a bit of toast this morning but feel too sick and generally unwell to eat anything. I've just been laid on the sofa all day churning out the DVDs for my son, he thinks its great coz usually im the strict one about the amount of tv he watches! hubbie has worked a short day so will be home soon to sort little ones tea, I really can't face it. I'm off to bed when he gets in. I struggled to the surgery to get my whooping cough jab and the nurse wouldn't do it as I felt poorly. She's re-booked me for Monday. Go away illness you're not wanted! xx

 

[faibel]

Hi Ladies I just wondered if I could pick your brains!
Last year I lost my twin sons when they were 6 days old after I went in to spontaneous preterm labour at 24+3W I was told that I would have cervical monitoring and possible a stitch in future pregnancies but both the Obstricians that I have seen seemed to think that it wasn't true IC as I was in quite a lot of pain which I now realise were contractions and they seem to think I would have dilated silently.

Fast foward a little bit and I am now 20 weeks pregnant with annother set of twins (total fluke no fertility treatment or reall family history.

At 12 weeks I had a cervical scan that revealed that my cervix was 3.7cm and totally normal. This was reviewed yesterday and was found to be 2.6cm. The hospital don't seem too worried. They say that there cut off for interevention is 2.5cm and for stitches is 1.5cm.. There was no funnelling and no dilatation. the also pushed down on my tummy and got me to cough and nothing budged! They have said that if it has shortenned further in 3 weeks that they will give me cyclogest but that it isn't proven in twin pregnancies and that the stitch is riskier with twins too. I don't know what to think. am at the top hospital in the north of England but 2.6cm seems to near to 2.5cm for me to relax! Any advice welcome!!!

Hi Katy..welcome!

Congrats on the twins... I'm right there with you 21 wks with twins! I had a stitch at 14 wks due to losing my last baby at 21 wks. This is the hardest bit..but so far so good!

IC typically presents from 16-26wks, however with twins it can present earlier than your last preterm delivery, so for me my dr guessed 18 wks would be the start of it. I would definately recommend weekly scans, as things can change dramatically and very quickly in a short space of time (don't mean to worry you)! However if changes occur and its caught in time, a stitch can be done. Also, I would request the cylogest, even if not proven in twins, I'm taking it (throwing everything at it!) as an extra precaution ( the trials are not always on point, it depends on a lot of factors, so I would rather have it than not).

My consultant is of the opinion of throwing everything at me and hoping it works! After last time when she took the wait and see approach, it didn't work out, I think she knew not to even suggest it again! Hoping the proactive approach is sucessful this time!

In my first pregnancy, I delivered at 26wks, they thought due to infection. I appeared to labour normally, pain etc. However, looking back now they believe my cervix was dialating and thats how the infection got in. So I don't believe no pain/contractions is always indicative of IC as they don't know what was happening before hand. Did you have any infection present? Sorry I don't mean to worry you but sometimes the drs need a kick up the bum.

I'm up north too, Newcastle.

Hoping your cervix stays firmly closed and a long uneventful pregnancy!

 

[lizziedripping]

Hi ladies Wow, Day massive congratulations You had the babies and what excellent weights they were How are you? Twins is hard work but so unique sweet and it does get easier Keep intouch lovely and if you need anything at all you know where we are

Jadey, why are you scared hun? A cough will not affect things - AT ALL. I promise

 

[lizziedripping]

Welcome KatyB Faibel has answered so brilliantly already so I don't want to risk repeating her advice, but as a lady who has successfully carried twins to term with a stitch I can only urge that you push for one hun. If you had one baby on board I'd say that it would likely be ok and that your last experience was due to you carrying two babies, and all the additional complications (and cervical strain) that brings.

Docs are very anxious about placing stitches with twins, but only on the grounds that twins can come early for host of different reasons and that a stitch cannot cater for all of them. My argument is that atleast the stitch takes care of the mechanical issue that IC poses, which is a huge problem potentially and thus one less thing to worry about. i know its hard to go against your current medical opinion, but totally worth questioning the decision. I had an elective stitch at 12wks and carried the boys to 38wks. Without it I would have lost them at 16wks. As it stands your cervix doesn't actually look too bad for 20wks, but e fact that it has shortened over time means it's worth watching and acting if that is at all possible. Good luck xxx

 

[jadey_fae]

Thanks lizzie, I am scared because I have this horrid cough. I am having coughing fits most of the day and they are deep big coughs. Everytime I do cough the stitch hurts :/ gp scared me by saying it wasnt good to be coughing like that with IC and stitch and prescribed me codeine linctus which I don't really want to take. I am scared I will send myself into labor.

 

[Twinkle 3]

Lizzie can you offer any advice? Iv been having constant tightenings for two weeks now, by constant I mean more than 4-6 an hour, they wasn't changing my cervix but since then I get a crampy Feeling and have backache with about 6 of those tighetings a day, a few times I have thought I was in early labour, I have also been losing little bits of mucus plug. Is this normal with a cerclage? Or is it a sign labours coming soon? The hospital only wants to see me when i am in deffinete labour

I have all achey hips aswel and now my legs gone achey and dead due to the pressure so think babies on a nerve

 

[katyb1982]

Thanks for all your help.
Faibel, I'm in Newcastle too! (well Gateshead)- Are you at the RVI? Do you mind me asking what your cervical length was when you had your stitch?
I've rang my consultant and she's giving me a call back tomorrow Think I'll just ask about being monitored a bit more closely and having the cyclogest. It does seem to vary hugely regarding progesterone on who your Dr is. At the first hospital I was at they were very anti it at all. At the one I'm at now they seem a bit more open to it and these hospitals are literally a 15/20 min drive away from each other!

 

[DAYDAY24]

Ladies if you pray please say a prayer for my son trent he has pneumonia

 

[Tink_0123]

Omg Day! I Hope he recovers quickly.. I will keep him in my prayers hun.

 

[jessiemum]

Day, Trent is in my thoughts & prayers. He's in the best place & I expect getting all the help in the world. Lots of love x x

 

[faibel]

Day - thinking of you all and praying for a speedy recovery for Trent x

 

[faibel]

Katy - I'm under Dr Smith at the Rvi, shes the best up here for cervical issues and preterm. I live in Chester Le Street. She wouldn't measure my cervix, however when she did stitch she said it looked a good length and the procedure was straight forward, I take that as good! She has insisted I only have one CL scan at 23 wks to determine if steroids are needed at that point. Her point is it will only stress me out more and theres not a lot else that can be done. I disagreed and booked a private cl scan at 19 wks but at the last min decided to take her advice, so I didn't go ahead!

She is also quite adamant that bedrest doesn't work, on this we differ and I've been following a moderate bedrest (I have 2 other children) plan and hope it has helped, at least I know I tried everything. If nothing else I've had far fewer bh than in previous pregnancies at this point, fingers crossed thats a positive! ( you gotta take the positives where you can!).

When I presented with twins, the initial answer was 'no' to the stitch from Dr Smith. However, after some discussion we went ahead and I feel that she is really fighting my corner now. I would def speak to dr and really express your concerns, as Lizzie said if it were a singleton pregnancy it wouldn't be quite the concern. With twins again I would push to be heard. The stitch going in now with that cl length would be much more effective than waiting until your membranes are bulging!

GL with the dr tomorrow, I hope they listen to your concerns, keep us posted!x

 

[faibel]

I've been up all night, really bad tummy ache. I think (or hope) I've picked up a bug. Trying not be sick, sounds stupid but afraid it will strain the stitch. B****y google again, read a story about a lady being sick and that broke her waters! Aaahhhh! My girls aren't very well either, rough night!x

Jadey - Hope you are feeling better hun. I would be scared too but Lizzie said it won't strain the stitch ( I believe her over a gp!). The g.p's freak out about anything like that and I really don't think they have a clue. I would speak to your mw to ease your mind x

 

[sunnylove]

Faibel, your water can break even if your cerclage stays put. I wouldn't worry much about it failing...Mine has basically failed and I'm still in the game with no contractions, bleeding or leaking (and I am 100% effaced with no cervix left!).

 

[MomC]

Hello.. Just wanted opinions I am 24 weeks and after I've done quite a bit of walking I feel pressure in my rear area. Is it possible it's just baby's position or do I need to speak to my dr? I've had the stitch in last 3 pregnancies and never had this issue

 

[jadey_fae]

Day, praying for your little mans recovery!

Fabiel, don't worry too much about being sick. I have been sick a lot this pregnancy. Every morning some weeks and that is since the stitch. My multi vit sometimes doesn't agree with me!

MomC, when did u have your stitched placed? Was it elective or emergency and with how much cl? I feel extra pressure down there if I have been on my feet a while. It normally goes if I lie down. If this is abnormal for you though, I would contact the midwife.