Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[likeaustralia]

I've been off progesterone for 8 days now and no baby yet. I thought I lost plug 2 weeks ago, while still on it, and still nothing! I have had increasing mild contractions over the past few days, but they go away with a shower or change in activity. I know this is all normal, but I'm wondering if there's going to be a sudden change when I reach that 8-10 day after-progesterone time period that I keep reading about? Thanks mamas!

 

[chistiana]

Twinkle so good to hear everything is progressing so smoothly!! I too was very active with my last lo and I too was 100% sure she'd be early. Even my doc was sure she'd barely make it to 35-36 weeks...she showed her face at 39+1! So I m guessing it might just be an ic feeling mostly! Here's to hoping your lo girl bakes a good 10 more weeks or even longer!!

Likeaustralia wow I was told to stop progesterone at 32 weeks max. I ve never heard of the 8-10 days after stopping theory. And obviously nothing happened to me after I stopped! You re so close though!!! One way or another your lo with be here in the next couple of weeks!!!

 

[JJEE]

Hi ladies, I hope you are all well? I haven't updated for a while, but I am hoping for some advice, or similar stories.
I had my stitch put in nearly 5weeks ago, and all is well in that department, I was checked 3 weeks ago and had a good 3cm closed with no funnelling. However, on Sat last week, I was admitted to hospital with a huge bleed and I also passed a large clot. I was eventually scanned and the cause was due to a low lying placenta, which is slightly touching my cervix. The bleeding subsided, and I can . Home Mon. Since then I have passed a tiny bit more blood last night and today.
My concern is what affect this will have on my cervix, and will the bleeding continue throughout rest of my pregnancy. I am terrified of having another premature baby. I am currently 20+3 wks pregnant. I am resting a lot, I have friends doing school runs etc.
I can't help feeling disappointed that my cervix is behaving beautifully so far, only to be replaced by another huge worry!
Any advice welcome

 

[xMissxZoiex]

I don't have any experience with bleeding at that point in pregnancy JJEE but it does sound like more of a 'regular' pregnancy issue rather than a incompetent cervix issue.

Your doing the right thing by staying off your feet at much as possible x

 

[likeaustralia]

Twinkle so good to hear everything is progressing so smoothly!! I too was very active with my last lo and I too was 100% sure she'd be early. Even my doc was sure she'd barely make it to 35-36 weeks...she showed her face at 39+1! So I m guessing it might just be an ic feeling mostly! Here's to hoping your lo girl bakes a good 10 more weeks or even longer!!

Likeaustralia wow I was told to stop progesterone at 32 weeks max. I ve never heard of the 8-10 days after stopping theory. And obviously nothing happened to me after I stopped! You re so close though!!! One way or another your lo with be here in the next couple of weeks!!!

Interesting! Most people I know stop at 36 weeks. My midwives told me to continue up to 36+6 because I really want a birth center natural birth and they have a 37 (full term) week requirement, so they said it wouldn't hurt to continue a few extra days. Were you on any other PTL inhibitors?

 

[chistiana]

Likeaustralia now that you mention that gestation it's weird cause I just remembered I was on progesterone until w34 with dd1 and I had her at 35+1. Hmmm makes me wonder. With this last pg I was taking steroids up until w24 when I started weening off them plu a huge dosage of magnesium to control contractions which I stopped at 38w.

JJEE sorry about the scare. I can't say I ve had bleeding that far along although I had a tiny spotting episode at roughly 24-25 weeks if I remember correctly. At my 20 weeks scan my placenta was slightly covering my cervix and I was told that it might cause bleeding more easily and that maybe I couldn't have the vbac. By week 28 the placenta was up high too far away from my cervix and everything went smoothly just like I had hoped.

 

[likeaustralia]

I guess it depends what the cause of your PTL was before. I haven't had steroids, magnesium, or anything besides the progesterone and extra ultrasounds up through 31 weeks.

 

[stormcloud96]

I was told to take the progesterone until 34 weeks as well. I'm so excited/nervous find out tomorrow if it's working or what's happening. I am getting cramps and whatnot, but mostly when I have to use the toilet, sorry if tmi. Sunday (yesterday was my 25 week mark), so happy now just get day by day through the next 3 weeks, and I'll feel relief and then onwards from there. I have a good feeling that she'll be early, but not before that 32 weeks mark, which I'm hoping

 

[likeaustralia]

What type/dose of progesterone are you on, stormcloud96?

 

[3littlebird3]

Hi everyone! I haven't been on here in a while. I got the stitch at 12 weeks and I've made it to 29 weeks! I feel so happy and relieved that I made it past 26 weeks which is what I was when I had my son in my 1st pregnancy! I have not had to restrict my activity other than I try not to lift my 3 year old and I don't do heavy exercise. Just housework and I go walking.

I stopped the weekly progesterone shots at 25 weeks due to increasingly severe allergic reactions. Otherwise I was supposed to stop them at 36 weeks. However, my doctor said the shots, for me, were more to just cover all the bases, as I have true incompetent cervix and not PTL. I haven't noticed a difference since I stopped them.

I have been having some sharp pains low down in my abdomen which I think are my cervix stretching through the stitch. My doctor hasn't ever checked me so I don't really know how the stitch is doing. At the anatomy scan at 21 weeks my cervix was over 4 cm. Is it normal to have pains like this? I've also been having really bad hip and lower back pain and can't find a comfortable position to sleep but I hate complaining too much. I'm so excited to have made it this far!
Hope everyone is doing well!

 

[stormcloud96]

What type/dose of progesterone are you on, stormcloud96?

I'm on 200 mg of the pessaries Oripro is the brand I think

 

[Twinkle 3]

Hi everyone! I haven't been on here in a while. I got the stitch at 12 weeks and I've made it to 29 weeks! I feel so happy and relieved that I made it past 26 weeks which is what I was when I had my son in my 1st pregnancy! I have not had to restrict my activity other than I try not to lift my 3 year old and I don't do heavy exercise. Just housework and I go walking.

I stopped the weekly progesterone shots at 25 weeks due to increasingly severe allergic reactions. Otherwise I was supposed to stop them at 36 weeks. However, my doctor said the shots, for me, were more to just cover all the bases, as I have true incompetent cervix and not PTL. I haven't noticed a difference since I stopped them.

I have been having some sharp pains low down in my abdomen which I think are my cervix stretching through the stitch. My doctor hasn't ever checked me so I don't really know how the stitch is doing. At the anatomy scan at 21 weeks my cervix was over 4 cm. Is it normal to have pains like this? I've also been having really bad hip and lower back pain and can't find a comfortable position to sleep but I hate complaining too much. I'm so excited to have made it this far!
Hope everyone is doing well!

Hi im nearly 28weeks and had a stitch put in at 14weeks. I havnt limited my activity at all in this pregnancy. I bAsically do everything but like you said i dont lift my toddler. Iv been experiencing really bad lower back pain lately, also got bad hip and groin pain. Feeling rather crampy alot aswel and iv been wondering if its just normal too xx

 

[chistiana]

3littlebird, so glad to hear everything is progressing nicely! I wouldn't really worry about those pains unless they re really uncomfortable. I felt the same pinching pain, it felt like the stitch was trying to rip through (which was what almost happened with dd1)..like someone was stabbing me from the inside..thankfully it was never anything to be concerned and I was monitored every 2 weeks. Of course if you feel too uneasy about this you should go ahead and tell your doc, that's what they re there for!!!

 

[3littlebird3]

I went to a dr appointment today and my dr said that unless I had bleeding or contractions that the pains are probably normal and not something to be concerned about.

 

[stormcloud96]

So after one week on the progesterone pressies my cervix is staying! yay! Of course at 25 weeks no where near in the safe zone. It's just a good sign. Hopefully next week still be at 15 mm.

 

[likeaustralia]

So after one week on the progesterone pressies my cervix is staying! yay! Of course at 25 weeks no where near in the safe zone. It's just a good sign. Hopefully next week still be at 15 mm.

That's great!! Mine stayed super long and closed all the way through. I was found to be about 50% effaced early on in my last pregnancy, so they started me on progesterone early this time and I'm sitting at full term now! Progesterone really is magic for some!!

 

[Tuga]

Hi lovelies😘
Hope everyone is doing great. Just coming back to say hello. Little man is very demanding. He has just fallen asleep so time for me to have a little break.
Lots of love to everyone 😘😘

 

[chistiana]

Tuga so happy to hear from you! Babies need to be demanding or at least that's what I tell myself lol!!!!
It's Maya's christening tomorrow n I m a bit nervous but ow well! We re well n thriving! Her reflux is still very bad but she's a happy demanding baby in general! Unless I decide I need to sit down that is!!!

 

[Septie]

Good to hear from you Tuga! Mine is a somewhat demanding little fellow too - but I am enjoying it, really. We'll miss these days soon enough...
Enjoy the christening tomorrow, Christiana! Glad Maya is happy! Screaming baby - gotta go! Edited: Ha- as soon as I pick him up, he falls asleep...that little rascal. It's funny how they all have different personalities even this early on!
Good luck to the pregnant ladies!

 

[Jules2301]

Hi all,
It has been a long while since I posted here. Last time I was pregnant with dearest daughter and scared that she would come early. We lost our baby boy at 20weeks pregnant due to ic. This time I got my stitch at 14w, home rest at 18w, hospital bedrest at 24w5d. Still, she came early (29w) due to an infection which caused early contractions. My stitch held and waters didn't break though. Now she's doing very Well and she's a healthy (besides a cold which is not going away) 9,5 months old.

Now we're dreaming of a brother or sister but i'm obviously very scared.
Next time I'll get my stitch again at 14weeks but i'll be on bedrest since then at home.
My gynaecologist told me to be prepared for an extended hospital stay and premature birth.

At the moment I'm looking for similar experiences.

Who else had their baby premature with a stitch in so early on and what happened with a following pregnancy?