Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[klabro]

Any ladies left on this thread? I'm so sad to see it die and I'm SO worried I am not going to have anyone to talk with through this pregnancy as I go through cerclage etc.

 

[visionofmine]

Hi, thought I would join in. This is my third pregnancy, and this thread has helped me through them all. My first I was diagnosed with IC at my 20 week scan. Put on progesterone gel and bedrest. Delivered daughter at 23 weeks. She is healthy and smart and will be four in September. My second pregnancy I had a preventative cerclage at 15 weeks. Put on pelvic rest but no bed rest. Delivered at 39 weeks 5 days. Now I am pregnant again. I had my cerclage placed a week ago at 14 weeks 3 days. Now I am patiently waiting my follow up visit because I make sure everything is okay. I think I may have an infection either from the surgery or from the antibiotics I was given a week before. Just want to clear everything up a enjoy pregnancy for once.

 

[tcinks]

Any ladies left on this thread? I'm so sad to see it die and I'm SO worried I am not going to have anyone to talk with through this pregnancy as I go through cerclage etc.

Glad to see you're expecting again and things are going well! When do you get your cerclage?

 

[klabro]

Tcinks-I don't have a date for my cerclage yet. I go in for my first appointment at the high risk doctor on September 13 when I'm 12 weeks and we will have it all set up then! Looking forward to just getting it all figured out and hopefully being able to catch my breath a little after it is put in. I'm positive I'll never "relax" but having a plan will make me feel better.

How was the experience of getting the cerclage visionofmine? I'm afraid of that part as I did not get the stitch in my last pregnancy because it was twins and they wouldn't do it.

 

[visionofmine]

It is not that bad. For me the most troubling part was the epidural / spinal. After everything was numb and the doctor got started it went pretty swiftly. Hardly any bleeding afterwards. I go today for my follow up visit to see how things are looking.

 

[klabro]

I hope everything looks good! Let us know how it goes!

 

[klabro]

visionofmine-how did your appointment/check go? The countdown is only 12 days until my maternal fetal medicine appointment and then I will finally have answers about if/when they will be doing my cerclage. I had a scan a couple days ago and the baby is measuring about 4 days ahead of my ticker, which was my actual original due date until they bumped me back at my first scan.

 

[visionofmine]

My cervix looked great, measured 4.5cm The only downfall is I got a yeast infection either from the procedure but most likely from the antibiotics that I had to take immediately after the procedure. They wont measure my cervix again until October, so for now I am just trying to make sure I don't over do it.

 

[RosieJ.]

This is the first board I've ever joined! I lost my son last year due to IC at 20 weeks, with the help of the negligent staff at my doctor's office He lived for 3 hours and I've never been so in love and heart broken. BUT, this time I am pregnant again with a little girl, and have found an amazing specialist in the city. I had my cerclage placed 3 days ago (at 14 w and 5 days, and so far I've had no bleeding, just some light yellow discharge which my doctor told me was normal. My only concern is that today I had diarrhea. From what I've ready, it could be from all of the fluid I was given at the hospital..I feel fine now after the one episode of it that was about 6 hours ago.

I was told to go on pelvic rest, but not bed rest. I'm still putting myself on moderate best rest just to be safe. I'm not risking anything! I'm so excited but nervous about this whole thing. I start my progesterone shots on the 21st. All of the women on here are motivating me to stay positive and faithful, but it is so scary!! I have my first CL ultrasound on the 21st too. They check my CL (cervical length) via transvaginal ultrasound. Is this okay?? I feel like sticking anything up there risks infection.

I think I'm a bit paranoid, but aren't we all?... :/
So glad I found this board! I'd love some motivational stories!

 

[klabro]

Welcome RosieJ. Unfortunately this thread is somewhat quiet nowadays. It really does help to go through and read all of the history of pages though. I just had my first high risk appointment today and they will not be a placing a preventative cerclage. Apparently that is not the protocol here. I'll start progesterone at 16 weeks and hen we will monitor weekly for changes and treat accordingly. This is NOT the game plan that I wanted. Unfortunately I am in a really big city who is under the direction of an even bigger hospital and this is their treatment protocol. That is my only option as far as care here so I have to be ok with it.

 

[chistiana]

Klabro hi hi hi sweetie!!! I am so sorry I ve been MIA but a lot has happened in my life..anyway back to you..I m so happy to hear everything is progressing nicely but kind of pissed off that they re not giving you a preventative cerclage..what on earth??? anyway since there's not much you can do (is there?? Maybe privately??) make sure you pressure for cl scans as often as possible! I know you asked this a loooong time ago but I did get biweekly scans up to 15 weeks when I had my cerclage and then monthly! But I m in Greece so I just did the whole pg privately. How are you feeling now?

 

[chistiana]

Vision that's a great cl! Don't worry about the infection..it's the cerclage..it's a foreign object in there and your body doesn't recognize it..I had 5 infections after my 1st cerclage..5 rounds of antibiotics..after the 6th my doc gave up and just said he'd put me on antibiotics during labor!! Do make sure to have then diagnosed and treated and just in case you don't know this already avoid baths!!

Rosie I m so sorry about your loss. But then congratulation for this little girl in there! Pal is indeed nerve wracking but can I advice you on something (sorry I know I would like a know it all but I done this and wouldn't want anyone to feel the same).. Try to enjoy your pg..yes it's scary but right now you're pg..you re Doug everything in YOUR power to keep your bean safe..the rest is not in your hands so sit back and enjoy cause it goes by quickly (I know it doesn't seem so) and you ll miss your belly very fast!!
Transvaginal checks are the only ones that are accurate. I had one every month so I doubt they can be of any harm. And the diarrhea..as long as it doesn't continue it should be fine... Are you on antibiotics after the cerclage?? (They might be to blame)

 

[klabro]

Chistiana- I'm glad to see you back! I'm starting to come around a little more to the plan after talking to another MFM in the practice. I don't really have a choice really-I'm in the US and its just one healthcare system so no private etc. for me. Basically this is what I've been told. The mechanism for why your cervix would efface is different in a twin pregnancy than a singleton. So the fact that I carried my daughter to 37 weeks and the fact that it was twins that I lost in their eyes makes the risk of just popping a cerclage in higher than doing progesterone and treating with changes. They will be doing weekly transvaginal ultrasounds to check CL through 28 weeks. They will give me the option to get a cerclage at anything under a 3. If my cervix measures in the "treatment" length they will cerclage on the same day or next morning if they can't get me in the same day. She explained that treating like this makes it different from an "emergency" cerclage. I know that a cervix can change fast and drastically as was witnessed in my last pregnancy. I'm nervous, but feeling a little better knowing more specifics and knowing that my checks will be happening weekly.

 

[chistiana]

Sounds good. 3 or close to 3 is still a very good length so a cerclage would not be dangerous with that length! Let's hope we never get to know and it was indeed a twin thing.

 

[klabro]

That would be ideal. I so had my heart set on a cerclage so I'm so up and down with my emotions right now. I'm just really hoping that carrying a singleton vs. the twins and the progesterone will make all the difference. I still have myself on self imposed pelvic rest and am taking it easy. I'm doing stuff with my DD and taking her to class etc., but really the only other thing I do out of the house is grocery shopping. Just trying to listen to my body.

 

[chistiana]

you re doing the best you can. As you said pay attention to what your body tells you..if you feel extra tired spend a day or two in bed..play with your girly sitting on your sofa etc..I m sure it's going to be ok!

 

[klabro]

I had a rough day yesterday. I was feeling uncomfortable pressure/slight ache in my pelvis/bum area. TMI, but I think it had to do with constipation. I spent most of yesterday laying around. I feel great today no pressure at all. Its really hard not to question pressure/aching in this pregnancy because I'm afraid I might overlook it as being normal when it isn't.

 

[klabro]

chistiana- one more question for you. Do you know what the point is of waiting until 16 weeks to start doing the length checks? I know it seems to be the common time frame, but I'm also just wondering, why not now?

 

[chistiana]

I think that it's at that point when the baby actually starts to have a "substantial" weight which could affect your cervix if it was weak. Before then the baby is way too little to cause any shortening.
I think it'd be literally impossible not to feel nervous when you feel pressure after what you ve been through..even when you think it's normal it's still perfectly ok to check it out if you feel it will ease your nerves..you did so good to rest up even though it probably was indeed constipation. I remember I was very constipated and had very strange pressure and pain back there..my cervix didn't shorten though (and I know cause every time I went I expected him to say it was short and it never was)

 

[klabro]

No new news here. I have one week left until I'll be having my weekly cervical checks and progesterone shots. I was able to meet with my regular OB yesterday who basically reiterated what the high risk doctor said "there are no studies in a case like mine" I just happen to fall in this really rare case of carrying to full term and then losing twins. It would be different if I had just lost twins and never carried to term, it would be different if I had preterm issues with my daughter...but I just didn't. She said that if I wanted to get a second opinion with another high risk clinic I could but she also pointed out that she would say somewhere in the neighborhood of 80-90% of the MFM doctors in this area would agree with my treatment plan so the odds of the second opinion changing are slim. So for now I'm going to try to take comfort in the fact that I am being monitored weekly instead of every 2 weeks and the fact that I will be offered a stitch if my cervix goes under a 3. I know some doctors won't treat until 2 or 1.5 so I am feeling better in that 3 seems to be more proactive than some are offered. My anxiety goes up and down depending on the day. I'm trying to remain positive with thoughts that this baby WILL come home with me in March.