Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[nat2]

Hi Ladies, i wonder if any of you can shed some light on this or whether its common or not.

Since yesterday morning i have been having what i believe to be Braxton Hicks. They are painful, just extremely tight and uncomfortable.

there is no pattern to how long they last or how often they appear however yesterday was like one big one as i was on my feet the majority of the day and my bump was constantly tight.

However today they come and go, and i keep feeling like i need to go for a wee but when i do go there is nothing but a tiny trickle! sorry tmi!

I've heard barxton hicks can be from being dehydrated but i have been drinking a lot of water today and they are still there.

Also i thought they were supposed to get better if you changed position or lay down.

Mine seem to come no matter where i am - lying down, sitting up, walking etc! They come and go constantly.

I am starting to get worried as they are extremely uncomfortable and i have a cervical stitch so keep thinking that i could be going into labour and she could rip right through my stitch.... can anyone recommend anything?

Hot water bottle, bath, rubbing stomach etc?

Im 25+5 today xxxx

 

[mills80]

I have been having BH since 16 weeks. Thy started out mild but now I get thm several times a day nd r sumtimes pretty intense. Feels Like my whole tummy goes hard for several minutes thn it goes away.

If you are worried best check with your midwife. I had thm in my last preg nd thy did not affect my cervix or stitch so I am not concerned abt mine.

Mills

 

[Bec C]

Hi I haven't been on here for a few days, this thread moves fast!! I'm 30 weeks and 3 days with the stitch in.Time is dragging now, but I am so scared what I have to face, the not knowing, when, how, if's. I'm so scared that I feel like I am having panic type attacks. Its not if its going to happen but when that scares me, I feel sick I am such a wuss and knowing whats going to happen and worrying its all going to go wrong still, just freaks the heck out of me

 

[~Brandy~]

Hi I haven't been on here for a few days, this thread moves fast!! I'm 30 weeks and 3 days with the stitch in.Time is dragging now, but I am so scared what I have to face, the not knowing, when, how, if's. I'm so scared that I feel like I am having panic type attacks. Its not if its going to happen but when that scares me, I feel sick I am such a wuss and knowing whats going to happen and worrying its all going to go wrong still, just freaks the heck out of me

I wish right now I was at least 30 weeks! I'm totally stressed out and have to take it a day at a time. Your almost there hang in there

 

[sunnylove]

I didn't get Braxton Hicks until about 20 weeks, directly after I got my cerclage surgery. They went away after about 2 weeks, I think my uterus was just very irritable after the surgery. But my doctor also put me on Nifedipine and I took calcium supplements. But I also gave birth at 26 weeks and never had Braxton Hicks or contractions! So they don't always mean anything...

 

[mills80]

So I had another scan today to check the cervix nd bad news is tht now I have funneled right to the stitch with 15 mm below it. I am going in next week to start steroids. The consultant I spoke to said it looks like I may not make it past 28 weeks! So worried nd scared. I broke down crying in hospital. Thn called my mum nd bawled into the phone.

I am 25+5 today, don't really know what the next few weeks will bring. My 3 year old keeps talking abt his baby bro, don't kno y, v haven't told him tht I am expecting a baby. My heart breaks everytime he says it. Wht if I cannot bring ths baby home? I know my chances r not tht bad esp with steroids but I can't help worrying.

 

[~Brandy~]

So I had another scan today to check the cervix nd bad news is tht now I have funneled right to the stitch with 15 mm below it. I am going in next week to start steroids. The consultant I spoke to said it looks like I may not make it past 28 weeks! So worried nd scared. I broke down crying in hospital. Thn called my mum nd bawled into the phone.

I am 25+5 today, don't really know what the next few weeks will bring. My 3 year old keeps talking abt his baby bro, don't kno y, v haven't told him tht I am expecting a baby. My heart breaks everytime he says it. Wht if I cannot bring ths baby home? I know my chances r not tht bad esp with steroids but I can't help worrying.

Hang in there! Are you on full time bedrest now? If not is that what they are going to do? I wouldnt get up for anything you dont have to. Thinking of you

 

[mills80]

Brandy, no thy have not suggested bed rest, my hosp does not thnk it works but I have been pretty horizontal since getting the stitch at 13 weeks so don't kno wht more I can do?

Yeah I guess its just wait nd watch frm now. I keep telling myself tht I m past 24 weeks so my chances of bringing ths baby home r better thn none. So so hard to stay positive.

 

[~Brandy~]

Brandy, no thy have not suggested bed rest, my hosp does not thnk it works but I have been pretty horizontal since getting the stitch at 13 weeks so don't kno wht more I can do?

Yeah I guess its just wait nd watch frm now. I keep telling myself tht I m past 24 weeks so my chances of bringing ths baby home r better thn none. So so hard to stay positive.

Just keep resting as much as humanly possible You still have some under the stitch that is holding. Hang in there and let us know what they say next week.

 

[sunnylove]

So I had another scan today to check the cervix nd bad news is tht now I have funneled right to the stitch with 15 mm below it. I am going in next week to start steroids. The consultant I spoke to said it looks like I may not make it past 28 weeks! So worried nd scared. I broke down crying in hospital. Thn called my mum nd bawled into the phone.

I am 25+5 today, don't really know what the next few weeks will bring. My 3 year old keeps talking abt his baby bro, don't kno y, v haven't told him tht I am expecting a baby. My heart breaks everytime he says it. Wht if I cannot bring ths baby home? I know my chances r not tht bad esp with steroids but I can't help worrying.

I completely understand and it is HARD - not knowing what's going to happen. You could stay pregnant for 3 more days, or 3 more months, and no doctor can ever give you a definite answer!! Firstly, rest assured knowing that you are at a viable gestation. Once I got to 24 weeks, it was a sigh of relief to me. I had my son at 26+3 and he had virtually NO problems except, of course, being premature. Now he is like a completely normal, healthy baby. Secondly, know that a lot of women have carried to term in a worse cervical situation than you have! I've heard the stories! I personally don't believe in bed rest myself, but it is probably a good idea to stay off your feet as much as possible! Always here if you need to talk

 

[~Brandy~]

Well I will breathe a sigh of relief for another week! I just went to the doctor for my weekly check and cerclage is still holding well. Back for another scan on the 26th at 22w.

 

[4everhopefull]

Yay! Congratz Brandy
I'm so pleased for you

 

[TLM21]

hi ladies
mills as I am reading your post trying to type in my phone while holding my 5 and a half month baby boy, I think about all those stressful thoughts and fears. at 20 weeks the Dr told me I had funneled to the stitch, it was then when I put myself in strict bed rest. I was so anxious and stressed, I had to start reading about other stuff besides baby. I had to get a little spiritual and trust a power greater than myself, cause the anxiety was overwhelming. I used to count hours until each day passed. once I got past 24 I took a deep breath, then 26, 28, 30 and so on until I made it to 40 andd have birth that very same day. I started meditating which help too. no one can say when you will give birth, and the comment of the consultant saying 28 weeks its not based on any scientific research, by reading the thread you will know that many of us made it to term, some had premies that are doing perfectly like sunnylove, others are even pregnant again like Shelby.
at some point I told the Dr to not tell me the length of the canal anymore, that helped out a bit .
I know its super hard sometimes, but hang in there, have some faith. even some of us that already had our babies are counting the days with you. rest, drink plenty of fluids and try to stay positive.
sending you all the good vibes and a hug
xx

 

[TLM21]

brandy congrats on every week, each one is a milestone.
xx

 

[mills80]

TLM21, thank u, its stories lik urs tht keep me going. I feel a bit better now, not as overwhelmed as whn I had my last scan. Family nd friends hav been very supportive even tho everyones worried.

It's my sons 3rd bday in 2 weeks nd I am feeling so guilty tht I can't throw him a nice party. Hav arranged for a frnd to accompany him nd DH to take him out for the day instead. Gonna miss him so much esp whn I go into hospital next week for the steroids. Will prob b in there for 3/4 days depends on my blood sugars.

I keep reminding myself its for the baby, I went thru similar situation with my toddlers preg tho I did not funnel thn, was still on bed rest.

I pray, read, surf net, daydream, chat to friends nd of course obsess over every tiny detail. Also started marking down the weeks on a calender.

Hang in there everyone. Here's to happy healthy babies!

 

[shanny]

like TLM says these stitches work ........i have had 4 and all babies were fine
one came at 33 but rest at term

it is scary and i worried throughout but you have to have faith in the stitch......i did not have measurements once it was in that was it............less to obsess over for me

keep cooking every week counts this thread helped/helps

xxxxxxxx

 

[nat2]

27 weeks on wed with stitch placed at 17 weeks.
woke up this morning to pink discharge... Absolutely scared to death now.

not havin any pain and lo's wriggling round like mad so hopin everythings ok.

they said to monitor it over next few hours and call if its still the same or gets worse and then they will check me over.

 

[sharan]

27 weeks on wed with stitch placed at 17 weeks.
woke up this morning to pink discharge... Absolutely scared to death now.

not havin any pain and lo's wriggling round like mad so hopin everythings ok.

they said to monitor it over next few hours and call if its still the same or gets worse and then they will check me over.

It could be your mucous plug. Is it stringy also? I started losing my mucous plug with my first a little into my final trimester. However it is normal as the plug does regenerate itself.

I hope it is nothing to worry about x

 

[4 boys]

Hi all I just want to say where are all the great mums that kept me going?
TWINKLE 3
JADEY-FAE
FAIBEL
SHANNY
CRAIGSWIFE
JESSIEMUM
TLM21
DAYDAY24
SHELBYLC
SUNNYLOVE
ANYONE ELSE??

I am suspecting your all busy with your little ones.
I just want to say without you all I wouldn't have got through my bed rest the stitch and the ups and downs of my pregnancy.
I have read from page 1 till now all the posts on IC,
I haven't had chance to post my story even though I joined while on bed rest.
Brief story,I have had 4 premature babies 34wks - 28 was - 26 wks -( 36 wks= Stitch put in). I have had a hard Time with my pregnancies and babies I will just say THE STITCH IS BRILLIANT. I had to have 3 premature babies before the doctors suggested a stitch and if I knew it was as good as it was I'd have had it to prevent my 28 & 26 weekers.
With my 4 th baby who is now 12 weeks old I went into early labour at 17weeks + 7days and had my emergency stitch put in at 18weeks , I only went for a cervical scan to check cervix and was told I had 1cm left and was rushed to have mc Donald stitch put in. This was so scary as I had bulging membranes as well they had to push them back to place the stitch so I'm so lucky my baby is here one mistake could have cost him, but miracles happen.
I had stitch taken out a 34 weeks as I had a lot of contractions so as a safety precaution so the stitch didn't rip they took it out and they thought he'd come straight away I had to stay in to be monitored but he didn't come as quick as they thought, I had a baby boy 2 weeks after at 36 weeks.
When I get chance I will post from where I've left of but to all newbies please read from page 1 to now and you'll be amazed of how the stitch does hold. I know for some like SUNNYLOVE they can still be born early but getting a stitch early could help in a big way. Like I said if I knew what I know now I'd have pushed for a stitch after my first born at 34 weeks then mybe my other 2 wouldn't have come so early. Having a preterm baby is the hardest thing I've ever gone through and now having a 'term' baby is so strange but a wonderful gift.

Stay on bed rest, do what you feel is best and try enjoy your pregnancy. (Easy said than done, it was a nightmare for me)

I still read your posts and hope all goes well to the new mums that have come on since.

 

[nat2]

27 weeks on wed with stitch placed at 17 weeks.
woke up this morning to pink discharge... Absolutely scared to death now.

not havin any pain and lo's wriggling round like mad so hopin everythings ok.

they said to monitor it over next few hours and call if its still the same or gets worse and then they will check me over.

It could be your mucous plug. Is it stringy also? I started losing my mucous plug with my first a little into my final trimester. However it is normal as the plug does regenerate itself.

it did look a little stringy i guess. It wasn't really watery though.

went to hospital, they monitored hb and movements, said she was fine and checked my cervix with the good ol plastic duck!! Said it looked long and closed but he wanted to keep me in... Me being me plainly refused (very silly i no) but i only live 10 mins from hosp and i have cervical scan and normal scan tomorrow anyway so told them id feel better lay watchin tv at home than sittin in a hospital bed for 24 hours when they said the wouldn't do anythin with me till morning anyway expect keep me in and ask me to keep an eye on bleeding.

i can do that from home, so I'm now lying in front of the tv, pink discharge stopped after 2 wipes this morning so hoping its either mucous plug or little miss was just kickin cervix a little too hard as she is breech;!

i figured that id be in pain if she was on her way and tearing through the stitch which she isn't.
fingers crossed for scan tomorrow x