Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[lizziedripping]

Hi ladies, thanks for the updates on all our babies Good to hear they're all doing so well

Shanny, massive congratulations Look forward to hearing the details of your birth story honey xxx

Jadey - What a nightmare time you're having I know that it's easy for me to say, and almost impossible to feel reassured but excess water later in pregnancy is not ominous in the way it is earlier on (before 30wks). It's not an uncommon finding later in pregnancy and apart from causing unnecessary worry, is most of the time harmless.

I imagine with this and little man's growing issues you're living life in a constant state of stress at the moment, for that I'm really sorry sweet - this should be a happy time for you all. I'm sure all will be well so hang in there and you'll be in my thoughts tomorrow. Good luck my lovely

 

[baby_maybe]

We're doing good thanks Tink. Audrey sounds like she's doing great

Ruben was 16lb3oz at his last weigh in which was 1st July. I'm not having him weighed again until September so I'm guessing he'll be around 18lb by then!

 

[sunnylove]

Jadey - thinking of you!!

Lizzy - I have a question for you. Do you really think that if I got an early cerclage at 12 weeks, that I will carry longer than I did this last time? Here's why I'm worried. Because at only 19 weeks I was already .9 cm and continued to get shorter. It wasn't a situation where I was like, 2.4 cm or anything. I was so short. Also, I started to dilate internally a ton at about 24 weeks. Would an earlier cerclage help prevent that, or hold it off longer? I'm not sure if internal dilation happens when it happens, stitch or not stitch. But once I dilated a ton internally, he practically fell out 2 weeks later. So that's kind of what I'm worried about. I'm not sure if an earlier stitch would help prevent that.

I am considering getting a transabdominal cerclage because I really don't want to put another baby through a 3 month NICU stay. But obviously that's a much more invasive surgery than the vaginal cerclage, and you always have to give birth via c-section, and I really, really want to give birth naturally. But with the vaginal cerclage, I'm worried about bedrest. I cannot do that again. Any thoughts (from anyone) would be great!

 

[Craigswife]

Congrats Shanny, look forward to hearing your story.
Jadey, wishing you the very best for tomorrow. You're so close to holding that little precious baby in your arms now and be able to get on with life. I can tell you it's such a relief to put the stress of IC and other pregnancy issues behind you and just concentrate on being mummy.
Twinkle, how's it going with little Alfie? And how's his big sister coping with her new role? Xx

My little lady is doing very well. She's 11 weeks actual age, but 3 weeks corrected. She weighs 8lb 11oz and puts on about 9oz a week. She has reflux which is a bit of a headach, my son who was also a prem had it so its easier to deal with the second time!

 

[shanny]

Hello and thanks for messages!! Jadey am thinking of you-- all the best and STOP GOOGLING

He was 7lb 1oz not as big as I expected - thought it would be closer to 8 but never mind as am dead chuffed its a boy and he's been pretty good so far.

Am now home (to a tidy house -well done husband) and enjoying seeing my other kids they are soooo excited!!

Well the old birth story - read on if you want not very exciting really!! Bits sound ungrateful but I am very pleased to be blessed with another healthy child...........just always dreamed of the perfect birth!!

Saw a doc on Wed (my consultant and mw both on holiday --how dare they) but we had made a plan before they went off..)..he gave me a sweep which was not as bad as I thought and said I was favourable for induction and suggested I came back the next day for induction - part of me wanted to wait til after weekend and see if things happened naturally - but as it never has before I thought we may as well go for it............

so we came back the next day at 10 -- it was busy and we got to labour ward at 130 and they broke my waters (after a few attempts) at 415 and then as nothing had happened they put put me on drip at 615...................

really did not want this as then no water birth/active ness as tied to machine........I did sit and bounce a bit on ball but the sensors kept coming off so I was tied to the bed really -- once the old pains started kicking in -- took ages say 9 pm had some diamorphine and then mixed in with some gas and air.....................well a lot as was pretty out of it for a while-- kept asking husband what was going on !!! MW was really good as did not keep doing internals like last time - (she was rough)

any way finally after what seemed like forever the pushing bit came and that hurt more than I remember-- turns out hand was up by head and boy it smarted !!!

all that soon forgiven at sight of healthy son and then I got the tea and toast!! followed by a bath which was amazing!!!!!!!!!!

went back to noisy/busy ward for 4am when OH went home -- this was in the big hospital - I then got my request okayed to go back to a smaller hospital near kids (who were at nannys) and had 24 hours there before coming home

Man that was bliss...........own room and bathroom..........had about 4 baths...........2 others girls there loads of attention from staff.................food served in a tv/rest room whilst they watched baby....................so nice to have proper rest before coming home.....should be availbale to everyone and for as long as possible ( I know not everyone likes hospital but such an opportunity for rest/ support)

Anyway home now - he has been pretty quiet the early sleeping lull bit before the storm --am dead chuffed and happy and grateful for a safe delivery...................

Sorry for long post...................but its been a long and lovely shared journey with all of you............

Best wishes to all and Jadey keep us posted xx

 

[Craigswife]

Shanny, I'm pleased it was an eventful delivery, if not what you really wanted. Enjoy your little man and look after yourself. Xx

 

[lizziedripping]

Thanks for that Shanny - just love reading birh stories Glad you're home with your brood, feels so much better than hospital doesn't it Enjoy your little guy, he sounds gorgeous xxx

Sunny - the internal dilation is exactly what the stitch does prevent hun, and if it does happen then theoretically you would dilate no further than it. We would actually expect this to happen to a lady with genuine IC. It's why a stitch is placed. If you weren't prone to dilation in this way then there'd be no point in stitching.

As for being .9 by 19wks, that isn't particularly early shortening for IC. Usually shortening begins as early as 16wks so it can feasibly be that short by 19. How soon the shortening precedes the funnelling/dilation is a very individual thing based upon lots of factors like baby size, physical activity etc. Yours is not an extreme case from what I've read, and there is every chance a stitch placed early can prevent the catastrophic early cervical changes which happened last time.

Consider my case. When my stitch was placed at nearly 14wks my cervix had pretty much zero tone. This meant that when standing it was already likely funnelling as early as 11/12wks because I was carrying two babies (uterus was equivalent to a 17wk singleton size). My consultant had never seen a weaker cervix, and it had the softness of a cervix in full blown labour at 40wks!!! Because it was placed early however it worked. I had minimal shortening and no funnelling until 24wks. I did funnel to the stitch at that point but the stitch held firm under the strain of 16Ibs of baby for another 14wks.

Of course there are some women for whom a transvag stitch just doesn't work, but that's rare hun. They opt for a tac when all else fails, and that is certainly something you could look into but most clinicians would advise trying an elective stitch first. I would advise a shirodkar stitch which is placed higher up at the very top of the cervix. My consultant insisted on it because I was carrying twins, and not all docs are trained in placing them but its worth asking for - I now swear by them.

Hope that helps to reassure you sweet. Of course there are no guarantees but I have heard nothing about your particular circumstances which tells me an elective stitch can't work for you xxx

 

[geordiemammy]

Jadey good luck tomorrow hope its not as bad a birth as your last xxx

 

[shanny]

Sunny
I agree with Lizzie-- early stitches make all the diffenrece - they did to me-- although all my stiches have produced a healthy baby the emergency one gave me a prem at 33 now a huge 7 year old the rest all elective before 16 weeks got me to term each time..............

 

[whistle]

Sunny, I was 6cm dilated at 22 weeks, my emergency cerclage got us to 25 weeks - this was with twins though.

This time round I had a short, scarred cervix (no measurement given) at 12 weeks and a planned cerclage at 13 weeks. I'm now nearly 31 weeks with a singleton and been signed off the high risk dr until they take it out in 5 weeks time!

My biggest fear (aside from losing another baby, of course) was to have another prolonged bed rest for me and NICU stay for baby, but I have had no bed rest this time, apart from a day or two after the operation, and every day I get closer and closer to a take home baby. I have been able to care for my lively 2 year old and I look forward to a vaginal birth with the minimum of interventions.

My consultant has the utmost belief in the stitch working. He hasn't even done ultrasounds for shortening/funnelling since placement, just relies on my vital signs and how I'm feeling. It's honestly a dream come true pregnancy.

Ha ha - advertisement over!

 

[jadey_fae]

Thanks ladies!
Shanny just love reading birth stories
Up at 6am bouncing on the ball to make his head stay down!

 

[shanny]

Shall be thinking of you today JAdey.................xx

 

[lizziedripping]

Thoughts with you Jadey, sooo exciting. This little guy I suspect is gonna be running rings around Mummy from the off xxxxxxxx

 

[baby_maybe]

Sunny - same for me as shanny. I had an emergency stitch at 24 weeks the first time and had a 32 weeker (now a hormonal 11 year old!!) and then my next one was at 20 weeks before anything other than funnelling had happened and I got to term, then the next two were both pre 15 weeks and both were term as well.

I've never had to do bed rest and always managed to look after my other kids just fine and making sure I take it a bit slower

Good luck today Jadey

 

[jessiemum]

Hi ladies,
I'm having my stitch out tomorrow & worked myself into a state, any advice that will keep my sane? Also what do I need to bring along to the hospital as the #r never said?
Jadey good luck hun & can't wait to hear your exciting news
X

 

[shanny]

I took my hospital bag and things to keep me amused / relaxed-- you will be fine x I had my I pod on the whole time ,,,,,,,,,,, any tips on night time settling of baby !!!!!!!

 

[lizziedripping]

Lots of love and luck today JM

Shanny what kind of advice hun, what's bubs' night time routine? What do you need to change?xx

 

[Twinkle 3]

Goodluck Jadey

Shanny I bath my little boy at 6pm feed him then put him down in his Moses basket as if not he never settles. In the night I change his bum before his feed so I won't wake him up by changing him after his feed. I keep lighting low and if he's a little monkey and won't go to sleep in the middle of the night.. Which he decided to do for a few hours the other night.. I hold him and just sway side to side with a blanket on him and his dummy in. This settles him enough to put him down. Don't know if that's the sort of advice you was asking for

Have you seen the tommee tippee perfect prep machine for bottle feedings?
(that's if you bottle feed)

I want one

 

[Twinkle 3]

Jessiemum just relax and breath, don't work yourself up. I was very nervous and it wasn't as bad ad I thought. I took my hospital bag in the car incase I needed it

 

[Twinkle 3]

Congrats Shanny, look forward to hearing your story.
Jadey, wishing you the very best for tomorrow. You're so close to holding that little precious baby in your arms now and be able to get on with life. I can tell you it's such a relief to put the stress of IC and other pregnancy issues behind you and just concentrate on being mummy.
Twinkle, how's it going with little Alfie? And how's his big sister coping with her new role? Xx

My little lady is doing very well. She's 11 weeks actual age, but 3 weeks corrected. She weighs 8lb 11oz and puts on about 9oz a week. She has reflux which is a bit of a headach, my son who was also a prem had it so its easier to deal with the second time!

Alfie's great thankyou he's 3weeks old now and 6lb 15. The night feeds are a killer as he feeds anything from 2-3hours, 4 if we're lucky. But I'm not complaining as I am loving being a mummy of a newborn again. He's well worth not having any sleep

My little girl summer loves him. She kisses him all the time and asks to hold him. At first she was a but jealous and quiet but now she's fine and can't wait for him to grow up and play with her lol.

Your little girl is doing great, Can't believe she's 11weeks old.time has flown! Are you still night feeding? I have found a big difference having a full term baby from having a prem one. Alfie seems to grow a lot faster, feed differently etc. such a new experience. It made me realise just how delicate my little girl was when she was born. Even though she was better through the night, apparently the hospital train prem babies up to feed every 4+ hours.. Where as full term babies feed every 2. My little girl suffered with reflux too. Hopefully your little girls reflux will resolve itself soon, bless her x