Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[lizziedripping]

Hi Dippy. That's a tough question love. If you feel fine, no pressure or cramps etc then it's probably ok to increase your activity levels - within reasonable limits. I personally stuck to almost complete rest, and only got up for the toilet, the occasional shower, and to make the odd lunch/dinner. I felt physically wrecked, and had all kinds of tightenings, pressure and aches and pains so I daren't move. This was probably due to it being twins tho, and in a way I'm glad I was forced to rest because I'm not sure that with the extreme size of the boys I would have made it otherwise - for reasons related to carrying twins, and NOT my cervix.

Remind me Dippy, was the stitch placed at 12wks, or later on? x

 

[dippy]

hey hun.

well my stitch was placed at 19+4 but my cervix had just shortened from 4.5 to 2.5 but no funelling or dilatation but i undoubtedly needed the stitch.

i have real bad spd at the moment but lots of women get that so im hoping that in return doesnt affect the cervix/stitch.

should I just stick to bed rest for maybe another 2 weeks. I mean iv had this much help and support surely they wont mind another 2 weeks.

 

[lizziedripping]

I'd say if you can squeeze two more weeks bed rest in then you should chick. It's only a few more weeks now, and then you'll pretty much be back to full fitness, and all this will be behind you. It really is worth it to take a full-term baby home x

 

[mich1365]

Sherri, Dippy, MA...so glad you are all still holding on. But what frustrations. I DID see the news with the report on the 5k progesterone shots. I was sick watching that for all the mom's who know they pre-term labor and need these. Its infuriating and disgusting and the govt better step in FAST.
As for the bed rest, I only got up for quick every other day showers and bathroom breaks until 35 weeks. Water broke 5 days after getting up. I could feel the pressure building each day and so it was no surprise when it broke and I was thrilled that the nightmare was soon to be over. MA..they refused to stitch me too...several peri's all citing many of the same reasons, minus the pre-term labour risk since I went to 37 weeks with my 1st born.
Caring for a toddler is very hard, even when you have the help as I did. I agree with Lizzie that it just works itself out. BUT the emotional aspect of not being able to take care of your own child is not to be underestimated. I was putting my toddler to bed the other night, after being off bedrest for months, and started to cry just thinking of all the nights I missed this beautiful experience and remembering how much he missed me too. Its all worth it, but still just plain hard.
We are all well, minus the baby still working out his digestive issues. Reflux is gone but now he is not pooping much. He goes for 7 day stretches. They say that is fine for a breastfed baby if they dont seem uncomfortable, but the problem is that 50% of the time he does and can not sleep. That is taking a big toll on us all. Going to the doc again....
Love and best wishes to everyone.
Michelle

 

[Sherri81]

Hi everyone!!

Hope everyone is hanging in there; and that's for everyone who has their babies, and those that are still pregnant.

I am now, officially, the most pregnant I have ever been in my entire life! I delivered Greg at 6:20AM on 25+0, and here it is now... 25+0, and 5:35PM. So I have officially gone where I have never gone before.

I thought about posting that in 2nd Tri, but I think I'm still superstitious.

Feeling okay still, thank God. For the most part I am kicking back at home, but I do get up to use the washroom (obviously), and I have walked a few laps in the back yard, or I walk some laps through all of our dining rooms. I have been to the store for short trips every now and then. Was actually out for 2.5 hours today. Got flowers for Devon's grave, was looking for crib sheets, got some groceries, went to look at fabric stores, then went out to the cemetary. I did alot of sitting in the Jeep in between, lol. But I figure I would like to see what my cervix looks like on Wednesday after doing things like that, since I am looking at an 8 hour car ride on Sunday. I want to see how I hold up with light activity. Plus I have to keep my blood flowing with my clotting issue and heart issue.

So yeah, so far so good. Should be interesting to see whether I have beaked or funelled on Wednesday. Obviously I hope not, but I had to see how I was holding up realistically. I honestly feel pretty good and pretty normal though. When things started going south with Greg and Devon, I started getting this bad gut feeling (22 weeks with Greg and 21+4 for Devon), and so far I don't have that bad gut feeling. I just feel like a normal, uncomfortable pregnant woman.

 

[lizziedripping]

Brilliant news Sherri I know it's still early days, but for you things have normally started "kicking off" by now so things are (dare I say it?) looking good. So thrilled, and fingers crossed for the TVU

 

[Kiki09]

Hi I wonder if I could pick you lovely ladies brains, I had a colposcopy about 9 years ago. 2 years I had to deliver my baby at 15 weeks but I did not dilate and the surgeon came and had to manually remove my baby, he had got as far as my cervix I think and then nothing. At the time they told me that The scaring on my cervix from the colposcopy is what caused the problems and that I would need a ceaserean when I get pregnant & come to give birth. I am worried about this pregnancy as I feel "a bit heavy" at times already & if I put my arms under my little bump it feels better straight away. Should I mention my colposcopy to my midwife & consultant or am I being paranoid?

 

[Mommy's Angel]

Hi ladies,

I just got back from a jaunt in the hospital. I ended up with a stomach bug and diarrhea. Violently vomiting for 9 hours straight and having diarrhea every time I vomited. It was HORRIFYING.

Anyways, during the process we had a pretty thorough sonogram to be sure the baby was alright. They took a sonogram to see the baby, my colon and my cervix. In the process they found I have a heart shaped uterus or septated. I guess it's another issue that can cause preterm losses. SO, it's going to the perinatologists office and we're going to discuss whether they'll continue the protocal they already have in place with 17p shots and measuring the cervix OR if they'll cave and do the preventative stitch. It could be an answer to prayer thanks to the sonogram. We'll see what the perinatologist says.

Anyways, after a horrific stay at the ER, I was transferred to the labor and delivery unit where they had to keep giving me saline and some other kind of bag to rehydrate me and feed me something similar to gatorade because of the baby. They found bacteria in the stool so I was given a bag of flagyl, another bag of something for acid reflux as the 9 hour vomiting session caused quite a bit of rawness and acidic feeling. THEN they found out I was low on potassium and had to have two bags of potassium and two more doses by mouth.

Finally I was able to leave last night with a little nudging that I was ready to go home. The diarrhea hasn't come since this morning and though I have a headache and feel like I've been run over by a truck, I'm glad the baby is okay.

They've given me a 14 day dose of oral flagyl to continue to get rid of the bacterial issue.

I slept most of the day today and my blood sugar runs low, but nothing too low.

I've been nervous about the flagyl as I hear all kinds of negative things. I'm 13wks3dys today. I know many of you have had flagyl. Do you think it's safe?? They keep saying they wouldn't give it if it wasn't, but I've heard some scarey stories.

As for the 17p, after the news story, the gov't decided they won't enforce the cease and desist letters that were sent to the compound pharmacies around the nation making the cheaper version of Makena. So I should be just find with it in 3 weeks time. What a praise report that is!!

Hoping your all doing well and I'll continue to keep you updated one the stitch issue as the wks get closer.

I can't thank each of you enough for the support and encouragement you've shared with me.

 

[lizziedripping]

Kiki hun, welcome. It is always worth mentioning your gyny history to your consultant. THe pressure yu describe can be normal, and at this stage is probably due to usual pregnancy aches and pains, but it can also be a warning sign of a weak cervix. Given your colposcopy, cervical scarring and previous losses, I'd not take any chances chick. Get onto them straight away, if nothing else they can give you regular scans to check the cervical length. Do you know the starting length of your cervix btw?

MA - So sorry you have been suffering. Yuck, nothing worse than a tummy bug, especially when pregnant Let's hope some good comes of it, and the stitch is placed afterall eh hun? Are you taking good care of yourself MA? You sound low on a lot of generalised vits and minerals - I fear that you have neglected yourself amidst all the recent stress love. Rest well, and let hubby treat you like a princess for a few weeks to get you back to full fitness. In fighting for this baby, you are forgetting that you too need to stay well - typical of a caring Mum I think

I don't know much about flagyl, but will do some "scouring" and see what I can find. Much love x

 

[Mommy's Angel]

Hi Lizzie,

Well, I think you may be right about the taking care of me issue. I'm resting now and Doug is actually bringing the tv upstairs and I plan to start light bedrest for now. I've been on vitamins though. The prenatal vitamins with Dha, vitamin b complex and vitamin D are what I've been taking. Though not since I've been sick though. I think in recovering and just light work is helping and having told the family finally of our news I've actually been feeling like it's all really and am more able to enjoy this pregnancy. I plan to find out the sex of the baby so I'm more able to bond with the baby now. I think I'm just ready to move on and enjoy this pregnancy. So hopefully the next 6 months will be without a hitch.


Sherri, I think you may have been on flagyl for bv right??

 

[berryblue290]

Mommy's Angel- i have a heart shaped uterus and was also on progesterone ( i did the suppositories) but I am overdue!! Wishing you all the best the bicornuate uterus caused a lot of bleeding for me in first trimester but it seem to have grown with the baby so *fingers crossed* doesnt seem like much of an issue for delivery. Good luck!

 

[Mommy's Angel]

Thank you so much berry blue. Did you have a cerclage or just the suppositories?? I haven't had any bleeding the first trimester and I'm just going into the second trimester. So praying all goes well then. Please keep me updated on your birth story. I'd love to hear how it all goes.

Thanks again for sharing your story. It gives me so much hope in this pregnancy.

 

[Sherri81]

MA, I believe as long as you don't take the Flagyl until the second trimester, that you are fine. All of the organs have developed their shape and function etc... they just need to grow after that... so the risk of taking anything like Flagyl in the 2nd trimester or after, is theoretical.

I have taken Flagyl orally anytime it could be questionable as to whether or not I had a BV infection. I took my first 7 day course of treatment at 14.5 weeks after my Sharodkur. I took it again almost 4 weeks later as I was having discharge that wasn't acting like Yeast. And I did a 2 day course while in the hospital as I started having some discharge again. I have another prescription of it sitting on my counter right now, to prevent that time when the pharmacies are closed etc, and I think I have BV.

I bet what they think you have if C-Diff. Its an intestinal bacteria that is opportunistic and will flourish in someone who is immune compromised or has been on antibiotics for a long time. This runs rampant in hospitals here. Flagyl is actually one of the only antibiotics which will kill off C-Diff. A 2 week course makes me think its this.

I think you should be okay. Two weeks seems excessive, but if its C-Diff, then you need to do it to get rid of it. In the long run the C-Diff would cause you worse problems. I think the only other one they can give you would be Cipro, and I think that one is worse in pregnancy.

Ultimately, they won't give you something unless you need it. They know you are pregnant, so I guess your need is the one they are managing for right now.

 

[Mommy's Angel]

MA, I believe as long as you don't take the Flagyl until the second trimester, that you are fine. All of the organs have developed their shape and function etc... they just need to grow after that... so the risk of taking anything like Flagyl in the 2nd trimester or after, is theoretical.

I have taken Flagyl orally anytime it could be questionable as to whether or not I had a BV infection. I took my first 7 day course of treatment at 14.5 weeks after my Sharodkur. I took it again almost 4 weeks later as I was having discharge that wasn't acting like Yeast. And I did a 2 day course while in the hospital as I started having some discharge again. I have another prescription of it sitting on my counter right now, to prevent that time when the pharmacies are closed etc, and I think I have BV.

I bet what they think you have if C-Diff. Its an intestinal bacteria that is opportunistic and will flourish in someone who is immune compromised or has been on antibiotics for a long time. This runs rampant in hospitals here. Flagyl is actually one of the only antibiotics which will kill off C-Diff. A 2 week course makes me think its this.

I think you should be okay. Two weeks seems excessive, but if its C-Diff, then you need to do it to get rid of it. In the long run the C-Diff would cause you worse problems. I think the only other one they can give you would be Cipro, and I think that one is worse in pregnancy.

Ultimately, they won't give you something unless you need it. They know you are pregnant, so I guess your need is the one they are managing for right now.

You hit it right on the nose Sherri. I have C-Diff. I have NO IDEA how I got it. Last time I was on antibiotics it was clindamycin for bv early in my trimester. I am now in my second trimester. Thank goodness because they got the positive for c-diff. I used to be an aide and I kept telling them it didnt seem like it. You know the smell when you have contact with it. it didn't make the whole room smell so I kinda figured it wasn't. Sorry for the tmi here.

We had family over that had the stomach bug, but if they had c-diff wouldn't they know it? The kids especially. I don't think it'd go away without treatment. The only other place I'd been which Doug reminded me was last friday we were at the perinatal center. It may be there I caught it.

I was trying to figure out if I had c-diff then what's the correlation to the violent vomiting. My husband thinks I had so much of the bacteria lingering in the belly that it caused the vomiting as well. So now we have clorox wipes all over the place and everytime I use the bathroom I wipe the seat down with clorox. How embarassing is that??

I'm concerned about infection now though. I wiped and had brown come out on the toilet paper from the vaginal area. light brown of course but enough to make me wonder what it is. Could it be yeast?? Just in case I have a cup of natural cranberry juice because I felt like it hurt a bit down there to pee. So was also wondering if it could be uti. Goodness. I've had enough with the issues. Thank you for putting my mind to rest. I was concerned but now that I hit the second trimester, I feel more confident about what you've said!

 

[Kiki09]

Kiki hun, welcome. It is always worth mentioning your gyny history to your consultant. THe pressure yu describe can be normal, and at this stage is probably due to usual pregnancy aches and pains, but it can also be a warning sign of a weak cervix. Given your colposcopy, cervical scarring and previous losses, I'd not take any chances chick. Get onto them straight away, if nothing else they can give you regular scans to check the cervical length. Do you know the starting length of your cervix btw?

~Thank you for your reply, I have no idea re the length of my cervix as I had never heard of incompetent cervix until my friend told me to her friend who had a colposcopy and her cervix was weakened by it, this got me googling and searching on here! I will def mention it to my midwife and to my consultant when I see him on the 21 April, like you say its better to make them aware than risk losing my baby!

 

[Susanah]

Hi all
Flagyl = metronidazole
It does cross the placenta but it not thought to pose a significant risk to foetus, used frequently in 2nd trimester. 2 weeks does seem like quite a long course, we would usually give 7-10 days, but everyone is different and everywhere is different.

Wow there is so much to catch up on... MA and Sherri glad you are doing well.
MA - sounds like a horrible few days you've had. Hope you are recovering and getting pampered now I would get swabs done vaginally also as antibiotics cause thrush etc to flourish. C.Difficile is awful. poor you.
Berryblue good luck!! wow exciting.

Welcome to the new people!

We are doing well. Baby is 4 weeks old tomorrow and Ive just loved every minute so far. I am going through all the first time mum things - like very sore nipples and exhaustion but am so totally besotted with my little girl that nothing is bothering me at all. Charlie Jane is still a bit yellow - and I have been ignoring it (as the babes I have seen in my own medical practice that have had true jaundice have always been much more yellow than she is).... BUT the health visitor has referred her to hospital and we are going tomorrow to get her bilirubin levels checked. I must take my medical hat off now !! or at least try to!
Lizzie did your little girl have her operation?

Susanah

 

[nkbapbt]

MA - Massive hugs...I didn't have C-DIFF but I had a food poisoning much like it (which is kinda crazy since I don't eat meat and it came from meat...eww). And I literally wanted to just die. So I totally get how you were feeling and I am so sorry you went through that! I hope things settle for you soon, as in ASAP.

Sherri - That's such good news. I don't know why, but I have always had a good gut feeling about your pregnancy. Which is odd because most of the time I don't get actually "feelings" about other people's pregnancies.

I hope every one is ok, sorry I know I've likely missed people!

 

[Sherri81]

C-diff is like the easiest bacteria to pick up from a hospital/care home/medical center. Apparently it is resistant to everything but a 10% solution of bleach and water. So if someone has wiped etc and they have it on their hands and touches a sinck, a counter, a wall.... The bacteria will just live there until someone uses bleach and water to clean it. And most hospitals don't use that unfortunately.

The good thing is C-Diff on its own won't cause problems for the baby, just you. So the sooner its cleared up, the better. And yes, even though Flagyl is for BV and C-Diff, it can still lead to yeast over growth.

Thanks for the positivity my way nkbapbt. I've had a lot of people say they've had good feelings about this baby, which is good to hear. I just hope everyone is right lol.

I'm glad to hear you are doing well Susannah. Hopefully your little one's jaundice clears up soon.

I saw my OB again yesterday. Once again, all she did was an external ultrasound, and it appears as though my cervix is about 2.4-2.6cms long. She applied pressure to my fundus and there was no change from the amniotic sac. That was all after standing for 30 minutes in a fabric store... So it sounds as though everything is working well still. She said if I get to 32 weeks, then she will allow me up to do more things. She said she is starting to feel safer with this pregnancy, as he's had the steroids for over a week now and would be able to breathe if he was born now. But of course I am trying to keep him in as long as possible, as one day inside is the equivalent of three days growth outside the uterus, or so the Drs have told me. So I consider everyday that I'm pregnant to be one to 2 days less of a stay in the NICU in the end.

Baby appears to be growing good, and since it was just a small machine, she couldn't do measurements etc, but she estimates he is about 2 pounds now. So half a pound bigger than my biggest baby I guess.... lol. The only issue I'm having at this point with this pregnancy, is the GI issues from the amount of progesterone I'm on. My stomach hardly ever empties its food anymore, so I feel sick all the time. But hey, we're both happy if my only problem is a slow moving stomach...

 

[JulieWoolie]

I had a baby boy! 5 weeks early, and we've just spent 2 weeks in Special Care but we're now home and everything is fine. So to all the people who are worrying, be strong and rest up. I had a 2.1cm cervix at 20 weeks, but had no stitch. Took Cyclogest daily and rested. I did get signed off work as a teacher, too long on the feet but managed to get to 35 weeks without a stitch. Good luck to you all. I understand the heartache you are feeling, but be positive and trust in your body. x x x

 

[lizziedripping]

Susanah - beautiful little girl Glad you're getting to grips with motherhood - it's hard work, but the best thing you'll ever do!

As for jaundice, Zach was very yellow til he was 8wks old, probably due to breastfeeding, but fortunately I had a HV who was more relaxed about the whole thing, and let it settle before sending us off to hospital. She allowed him 4wks, and tho he was still yellow, it had subsided so she let it go. He was completely fine by 3 mths. How did you get on today?

We opted out of op for Evie as it happens. A very lovely ENT guy said she would be growin gout of enlarged adenoid very soon, and it wasn't worth putting her thru the op. She breaths fine now - he thinks maybe it was the nasty virus we had before Christmas which made things worse for her. Certainly her sats didn't seem to be affected by the apnea, not significantly anyway. Thanks so much for asking x