Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[jadey_fae]

Oh god. Thats awful. I am really scared

 

[geordiemammy]

If they know its a possibility I think they will keep a good eye on us ill be pointing it out at every opportunity possible birth labour and during ill tell ya this pregnancy lark is not fun when ya have complications x

 

[jadey_fae]

no it's not! Are you docs happy for you to try for a normal delivery? Is it possible the contractins can break up the scar tissue? I am so confused by the state of my cervix. Obviously the top is weak bcos I was shortening and funnelling from the internal os at the top but prior to getting pregnant I had stenosis (severe narrowing) at the bottom of my cervix that essentially blocked my periods from coming out. Is it even possible to have both incompetent cervix and cervical stenosis at the same time? They contradict each other
How many weeks are u now?

 

[geordiemammy]

I'm 28+2 now my midwife has said she thinks they will medically manage my labour consultant has said I can go in 9 days early midwife says they will probably let me go for 6 hours then do a section if nothing is happening but for me 6 hrs is a long time I was 9cm before any pain with ds4 and then 20 minutes of pain and he was here my placenta is still low though so might even need a section yet which I don't really want but will if I have to!!

As for ic and the scar tissue it is very contradictory but I can see how it can happen without your stitch you might have still got to term cause of the tissue but they wouldn't risk that in case you did dilate normally!! To be honest I don't really think they explain things well the doc I seen at colposcopy on Thursday had also done obstetrics so she was quite helpful but still I'm really unsure of what it all means for me and baby all I know for sure is that my internal cervix (the bit in the womb) is long but its not even flush with the outside of my womb anymore its up inside which is why she couldn't see if there was any changes to the cin 3 that I have had for 2 years but I'm assuming that means she can't see the scar tissue either its all very confusing and like I say they really don't explain enough xx

 

[maa]

Thank you Jadey for replying again. Iam really thankful for your support. Both the ultrasounds were abdominal. First one was 4D (coloured) ultrasound with partially full bladder and second one was normal (black and white) abdominal ultrasound with full bladder. First report says there is a minimal beaking (funnelling) of about 4 mm. and second report says internal os is closed (means no funnelling…I think) and the time of both ultrasound I was 23 weeks 2 days. (17 days before)
Thanks d_b for replying. My doc manually check me all the time and it was my 7th ultrasound in 6 months (its my first pregnancy, I had no complications, never misscarried or anything………..I really don’t know why she recommend ultrasound all the time and why she did not recommended transveginal this time??).
Thank you Sunny for replying again. So happy that your baby is doing well. Though both the ultrasounds were abdominal I hope atleast my cervix length is normal. I am really worried because there is 15 days still left to see my doc. This time I would request for transveginal ultrasound.
Please guide me whether I should go for additional scan in between or should I wait for 15 days more ? Thank you all for your replies once again.

 

[jadey_fae]

If u haven't had a transvaginal scan I would ask for an extra scan in between but make sure it's transvaginal. Abdominal is not accurate for assessing cervical length

 

[jadey_fae]

geordiemammy, I know the midwives on labour ward will know about my weak cervix issues and stitch but I dont think they will know about my stenosis and doubt they will have time to go bk that far in my notes when the time comes. Do u think I should stick it on the front of my notes?

 

[geordiemammy]

I would just mention it when you go in to every one who deals with you cause sometimes they don't even pay attention to the notes I had to tell them I was gbs+ last time before they gave me the antibiotics xx

 

[jadey_fae]

I'm worried about gbs too But they wont test me for it. Last time I felt really un listened too during labour. I hope they listen to me this time

 

[geordiemammy]

You can get the test done privately and pay its quite cheap I think or if something shows up in your urine they will test for it I was meant to be tested at 34 wks but a swab showed it up when I had my big bleed x

 

[therealdalia]

I posted a new thread because I haven't really been diagnosed as having an incompetent cervix, but I got little response. I am re-posting here, hoping to get some insight:

I had an ultrasound two weeks ago and my cervix was at 3.1. When I asked my doctor to clear me for air travel to the Caribbean for my sister's wedding, he said, "I'm sure you're OK but let's do another ultrasound and fetal fibronectin just to be sure."

Well, in one week, my cervix went down to 2.6cm. My doctor sad I'm 1mm away from pre-term labor and I'm still waiting on the fibronectin result. He put me on modified bed and told me to cancel my vacation. From now on, I will need the cervical length ultrasound once a week and restricted to only going to and from work....no housework, nada. Is my trip officially over?

Can the cervix naturally lengthen on its own?

He didn't prescribe anything but told me to prepare for bedrest and weekly steroid injections. Since it's too late for a cerclage, is there any hope here?

 

[sunnylove]

I posted a new thread because I haven't really been diagnosed as having an incompetent cervix, but I got little response. I am re-posting here, hoping to get some insight:

I had an ultrasound two weeks ago and my cervix was at 3.1. When I asked my doctor to clear me for air travel to the Caribbean for my sister's wedding, he said, "I'm sure you're OK but let's do another ultrasound and fetal fibronectin just to be sure."

Well, in one week, my cervix went down to 2.6cm. My doctor sad I'm 1mm away from pre-term labor and I'm still waiting on the fibronectin result. He put me on modified bed and told me to cancel my vacation. From now on, I will need the cervical length ultrasound once a week and restricted to only going to and from work....no housework, nada. Is my trip officially over?

Can the cervix naturally lengthen on its own?

He didn't prescribe anything but told me to prepare for bedrest and weekly steroid injections. Since it's too late for a cerclage, is there any hope here?

It's hard to say hun, because you're not at a diagnostic length yet (but close, it's 2.5). And you are not 1mm from preterm labor. Maybe your doctor said it wrong, but if you get to 2.5, you are not automatically going into labor. I'd probably follow your doctor's advice and take it easy. See what your next exam shows. The FFN tests aren't accurate, especially with women who have short cervixes. Women with IC are going to have the proteins (or whatever it is) that tests positive on those FFN tests, but it doesn't necessarily mean anything even if it's positive.

 

[shanny]

Jadey make a list as part of your birth plan / stick on front of notes that can be seen and to remind you of anything

we have always been treated as high risk even at delivery due to my history (but delivery is not really an issue with me!)

So anyone - like geordies mummy said - with some sort of history - like all of us! will be hopefully kept a closer eye on - my husband although fairly useless most of the time was also pretty good at saying stuff - as soon as my waters break we are straight into hospital and they once tried to send us home - he was like no we are staying now.........

Also discuss all concern with MW you see now and tell her everything you want them to be aware of xx

I am sure it will all be fine xx

Just enjoying some child free holiday time -- Nanny taken them for a walk and I got dressed in peace!! hoorah

Baby still in but was very niggly last night

xx

 

[maa]

As per the suggestion of Jadey and also because I was feeling less movements yesterday. I went for another scan today my cervix length is 3.8 cm (same as it was at 23 weeks I am 26 +3 now) and everyting is fine. I asked them for transveginal cevix length measurement and it came out 3.7 cm (transveginally) internal os is closed and diameter is 1.9 mm . I think thats pretty normal and I can relax now. Thank you everyone for replying and guiding me

 

[Twinkle 3]

I'm worried about gbs too But they wont test me for it. Last time I felt really un listened too during labour. I hope they listen to me this time

Jadey try not to worry about things. my first birth the midwifes were shocking they didnt listen to me and they didnt stay in the room with me, i was pushing and had to shout the midwifes in. everything was hectic. this time was completely different. the midwifes were amazing. I went in at 4cm dilated and they knew i would go fast to 10cm so they stayed with me all the time. even though i was low risk and it took 3 hours to get to 10cm!!!

Eaxh labour is a different experience. hopefully you have a nice one. i was worried about scar tissue and gbs too. i hope you have a nice labour and birth x

 

[jadey_fae]

Thanks shanny and Twinkle!

Geordiemammy, I have been reading about how lots of c sections are preventable when the reason for them is failure to progress bcos of scar tissue on the cervix from previous procedures like in our case LLETZ. Basically if the scar tissue is there and preventing dilation then typically the woman would be 100 % effaced but 0 dilation. Apparently some midwives massage the scar tissue to break it up (normally with evening primrose oil) and then the lady very quickly progresses. I am going to be asking about this when I have my stitch out as I definitely had stenosis 2 years ago

 

[geordiemammy]

Think ill enquire about that too its my worst fear like I say I may need a section for other reasons but would much rather have a nice speedy normal delivery like my last one x

 

[lizziedripping]

Hi ladies, what did I miss? Everyone ok? New ladies welcome xx

 

[jadey_fae]

Hi Lizzie, can I pick your brains? You always give amazing advice.

I am basically pooing my self about the previous stenosis I had on my cervix after my LLETZ 3 years ago.

My cervix was blocked from the external os and my periods couldn't come at all. I had ultrasound scans that showed a build up of fluid in my uterus so I was booked for a cervical dilation under GA.

A week before my scheduled op I had contraction like pains for a day or so (definitely wasn't pregnant) Then one night woke up in a pool of blood. I had basically exploded. The doc compared it to a champagne bottle cork! The pressure just built up and I exploded. lol

My periods then returned into a regular pattern but were extremely painful the day before and the 1st day of. Colposcopy showed that my external os was still very small, that they couldn't get an adequate sample for my smear test. So the doc recommended that she try to dilate me slightly there and then with rods. She managed a little but said it prob wouldn't last.

After this I got pregnant and really wasn't expecting to have the weak cervix that my transvaginal scan showed. If anything I was expecting to have problems with dilation.

My understanding is that the stenosis or narrowing was at the bottom of my cervix but the transvaginal scans showed shortening and funnelling from the internal os. I am scared of not dilating properly during labour. Do u think this will be a problem for me? Or do u thing that if my body was able to contract my cervix enough under the pressure of fluid build up in my uterus then it will be able to dilate me to 10 with contractions? Or does the fact I had shortening and funnelling mean that if anything the whole cervix will be weak? Sorry for rambling and thanks for reading

 

[selina2013]

Hi don't know if any one remembers me .. I forgot my username so have had to make a new profile it's selina I have ic. And was pregnant last year

Well to update you all very late lol my stitch burst at 24weeks plus 1 my son was born on that day weighing 675grams. He was in nicu for 5 months and has proved such a fighter after battling loads of problems he is now 14 months old weighing 14lb and on home oxygen we are very blessed he is here. After loosing my first son due to ic at same gestation he is a real miricle.. hope your all well. X