Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[chistiana]

Laney maybe the fact your boys head is down is causing the stitch to pinch you? I ve felt pinching here and there but it's not necessarily painful...it's actual pinching so I m guessing it might just be the ends of the stitch. Did you contact your doc hun?

Septic that's actually a good measurement girl, why are you worried? Mine ranges from 2.5-3.5 for weeks and weeks now and doc is very happy with it. Also after 28 weeks in is not so much of a problem. Your baby is so big it's impossible to just fall out unless you re in active labor. Did they tell you what those stagings were?

 

[Septie]

I got worried because it decreased from 3.2-3.4 down to 2.5ish (one reading of 3) in only 3 weeks. Glad to hear that you think that's good! Yes, counting down to 28 weeks and then hopefully 32!!
Nothing on the stabbings - no UTI (which I thought it might be), baby head down with no hands poking at cervix - so they weren't sure. Guessed at round ligament pain (but I've had that and it's very different...)

 

[klabro]

Went in today, cervix is still closed..Pessary is placed. High risk doctor said they will continue to monitor me weekly...they will measure my cervix but it is likely that it won't necessarily be accurate because as the doctor said "there is essentially a hair tie around my cervix" it wasn't uncomfortable to have placed. Doctor said that if I make it to 23 weeks I will have a meeting with the neonatologist and talk about getting steroid shots for babies lungs. One day at a time for now...hoping things can hold.

 

[Laney26]

Good morning ladies. Hi Christiana pinching has pretty much stopped, had an appointment yesterday and was on my feet quite a bit and didn't feel it once so hopefully that's it. I take stool softnets but I think when I go for a bowel movement even though I Definateky don't strain it still seems to aggrevate the stitch that's my theory I may be totally wrong lol. How r u feeling sweetie xxx

Septie that length is good for IC it pretty much mirrors mine actually. I also get funny pains in my cervix from pinches to aches lots of funny sensations.

Klabro this band must be a new ish idea. Did they give u any info on it or even if it haas a name. I amost interested xxx

 

[klabro]

Laney it is called a cerclage pessary-there are studies you can read on it and its effectiveness. Sounds like they have been used for a while but depending on where you are they may not be approved yet because of the lack of information. They use them in multiple pregnancies and when it is too late for a cerclage or when a cerclage is failing.

 

[Laney26]

Thanks for that Klabro really appreciate the info. How r u feeling? Can u feel it now it has been placed? At least it prob didn't cause you to bleed at all and there shouldn't be as much chance of infection xxx

 

[chistiana]

Septie, readings can be a bit off but anyway yes, 2.5 is fine! Good to hear they didn't find any uti or anything like that, are you on pelvic rest?

Klabro, yaayy that's really positive news! Don't worry about the shots yet although there s nothing to worry about, most ov us have had them at one point or another. I had then at 32 weeks and laney had them at 24-25 if I m not mistaken! Cook babies cook!

Laney, yaaaaaaayyy, so happy all pinching has stopped! It might as well be from what you're saying, it totally makes sense! I think I even get them if I m sitting at a weird angle/position! Almost 33 weeks for you right? eeekkkk getting closer!

 

[klabro]

Laney-it was completely painless to be put in. I mean it took maybe 2-3 minutes and I can't feel a thing.

So I've still been told no need to be on bedrest but I just can't agree with that. It's hard because I have a 3 year old at home but I just feel the best thing is to be laying as much as possible when I can. I go back again on Tuesday for a follow up ultrasound so I'm hoping for no changes by then. Just taking it a day at a time right now.

 

[Laney26]

Hey Christiana 33 wks on tues God willing which will make u 35? U r practically there woo hoo. Has little miss being behaving herself lol. Bet you are exhausted now and massive but that's the best way to be nice big bump nice big baby 😃

Christiana was right I've had steroids at 24/25 weeks every time, they hurt but never had any detrimental effect.

Klabro I looked up cervlage pessary. A really interesting concept so much easier to place and less irritating I wonder if they start using these more and it's wonderful it seems to be doing the job. Totally agree with the resting my Drs never advocated it but I always did it best I could. I had an 8 month old during my 2nd pregnancy and managed you just adapt its not easy but u will manage
Septie how r u feeling sweetie xxx

 

[chistiana]

Laney I m 35+1-2 today! Lo is lying as transverse as possible from what I can feel I am bigger than any other time..even bigger than when I was 38+4 with ds! And yes I do get amazingly tired very easily but I guess I can handle 2-3 more weeks without too much complaining! I m trying to walk as much as possible to get her to turn again but seriously...I m a big fat penguin walking a slow as a snail!!
Remind me when's stitch out date for you???

 

[Laney26]

Haha Bless your heart 35+1 is just bloomin awesome you can breathe that sigh of relief we all dream about.
Little lady get yourself doing a hand stand I'm guessing there's still time for her turn naturally. Give poor mummy a break I bet she's tickling your ribs. Wow if u r this big now and u have potentially 5 weeks to go you are goin to be massive. Bet your kids can't wait now. Xxx

 

[chistiana]

I definitely feel huge! It seems it's all belly and all in the front cause everyone s like "oowwww you haven't put on any weight" but I ve put on 10-11kg!!dont talk about 5 weeks, 3 is the most I can keep into head right now!! I have a doc appointment tomorrow, pls baby tuuuuurrrrnnnnn give mummy good news! Btw happy Mother's Day to everyone

 

[Septie]

Congrats christiana on 35 weeks!! Even 32/33 weeks is amazing! You are both almost there!
Strange that obs don't seem to recommend bedrest, even for a twin one with short cervix! it just makes sense...I am on self-imposed bedrest - have been for a while. My 3 and 5 year olds sure miss my old self...and I hate to be missing spring, my favorite season here. But oh well.
Oh, could baby position affect cervix length? On Friday, baby was head down, in the earlier measurements head up...
Are any of you on preventative measures for dvt? Am trying to do leg exercises from bed.

 

[chistiana]

Septie thanks I was just only thinking that there was a time not long ago I wouldn't have believed that I d make it to 35 weeks! I m not sure how baby positioning can affect cl but I m guessing that is a baby is low and transverse then it might put more pressure on the cervix. But that s just my thinking, nothing I ve read on!! I agree re the bed rest. I mean I didn't do much bed rest this time (only about 5 weeks or so) but with dd although cervix didn't significantly shorten, I had so many contractions constantly that my doc kept me on stick bed rest from w13 to w35. And even though everything looked good, as soon as I got up to go get my son's present, my daughter was born! Btw my kids are also 3 and 5. And they sure miss mummy picking them up and the rest but as long as I can spend some time with them they re cool. Now they re all excited to a) meet their sister and b) get be back running and carrying them around!!!! How are you?

 

[Laney26]

It would figure if baby's head was pushing down on the cervix it could look shorter. I know if u have a full bladder it can make the cervix look longer for some reason. I find the days i am up on my feet more I get more braxton hicks. Also when I am upright for a while sometimes I feel pressure and sometimes I don't. When I was in hosp I had injections to prevent DVT but at home I just make sure I move my legs lots plus I have 2 small drives Monday to Friday so that gets the blood going. Another one here who's kids miss their old mam. I was getting a dress out my wardrobe and my son came in and said oooooh mammy it's nice to see that your legs still work lol bless his heart xxx

 

[chistiana]

Soooo ladies I have a mini update! Went to the doc yesterday..lo is head down! Apparently why he thought was her lying transverse was her curled up in a very weird way! Her back and bum are sticking out on one side of my belly and her feet are sticking out on the other! So that's the good news! Bad news is my placenta has started to grow old/calcified and lo is according to the doc rather small (2200g) and about 1-2 weeks behind on her growth. He gave me a good earful about how I shouldn't be working and I should be lying on my left side to get her to stay put and put on some more weight. He said should she be born in the next 10 days she ll most likely be admitted to the nicu. He wasn't impressed when I told him we have the kids bday party on Sunday and said he ll see me again next Wednesday IF I haven't had her by then. Should I be really worried or is he just trying to scare me?? I m excited to meet her but can she please stay put for another 10 days??
Ow and laney...I half made my hospital bag yesterday!

How are you ladies doing??? Laney 33 weeks today! Yaaayyy!!!

 

[Laney26]

Awwww Christiana I bet you feel all over the place bless your heart. Can't believe she's turned that's awesome. Good girl little one. I really don't believe anything you have done will have made her small infact bedrest women are shown to have smaller babies women are supposed to be active while pregnant. I know how I felt last week when they said my bump was small I was devastated and felt so guilty. You can't not go to your other child's party, I had a major bleed the day before my sons I just took it very easy and let other people who knew what was going on do the big jobs, just take it easy. In my experience babies always come out bigger than they are estimated on the ultrasound anyway plus she isn't showing any signs of coming yet. Just keep an eye on her movements of the placenta is getting tired. I'm sure she's going to be just fine. At least your Dr is on top of things even if he is being a bit of a Meanie xxx

 

[chistiana]

Laney thanks for that hun! I m worried because even though she does still move here and there her movements have slowed down a lot. I know she's getting squished in there now so that's probably why but I can't help but worry with what he said. And then I read somewhere that tums can cause a calcified placenta. I was given a bottle about 2-3 weeks ago (we don't have them in greece) and have been taking 2-3 a day. I know they are considered safe but what if they did cause my placenta to calcify and this is all my fault? I should have kept my heartburn and sucked it up now that I ve stopped heartburn is terrible, seriously can't eat anything but I don't dare take another. Ok rant over!
Thankfully all pre k moms know my situation so they are very eager to help out...hopefully lo can stay put for another 10 days. I ll be 37 weeks then.
How are you ladies feeling??

 

[Laney26]

Hey Christiana, the guilt we feels as a mum never goes away there will always be something if you were told they were safe you would have thought no more about it. I feel guilt as I have had to take quite a lot of paracetamol and sometimes codeine as I get horrendous migraines in pregnancy it's not good for the baby but there is only so much pIn I cud take. I lived off heartburn meds my 1st 2 pregnNcies and it did no harm, it's just one of these things but I know exactly how u feel.
It's not long to go now and if she does have to come early it's only very slightly now and she will just need to gain her weight. My friend had to deliver at 36 weeks coz her placenta was old and baby stopped growing and he was fine he went straight home with her he was just small.
I know you already are tracking her movements but if you feel they are not right you must get checked she's at such s brill gestation she'll be great if they needed to deliver her.
Please don't beat yourself up too much with the tums you are an amazing mum for getting her this far xxx

 

[chistiana]

Thanks girl ok here's a question about movements...she is mostly quiet throughout the day but will jab me or roll around once or twice every hour or so. Is that ok or should she be giving me more? I m not sure what to expect...right when I m like on the brink of going crazy because she hasn't moved at all she lol do 2-3 good roll arounds and I ll relax. Then she goes quiet again for another hour or so. Is this normal? When I told my doc she's been a lot more quiet lately he brushed me off by saying its a lot tighter now in there for her to move but I m not sure I buy it.