Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[HelenGee]

Hi all,

We're back home now so I thought I'd try to finish what I started!

MA - not to worry you as this is no risk but I do wonder if there is a very minor, tiny prolapse. I now know that some of the symptoms I and from weeks 8-20 were from a prolapse. Lizzie seconded that when she described how she felt with the twins. That is exactly how I felt and seems to be what you were describing also. Please forgive me if I'm wrong, but I'm trying to say, please don't stress! Easy to say from the girl who cried everyday until 32 weeks! I felt like my baby was going to drop out and had loads of back passage pressure. However, it was these symptoms that forced me to get myself monitored (albeit rather late in the day) for IC. I know medics say that there is no link between prolapse and IC, but I do wonder if it a prolapse exacerbates IC.

Sham - you have had exactly the same situation as I was in. It is an emergency cerclage as it was placed after the changes took place. I was told to stay off work for at least 2 weeks, but they signed me off indefinitely as a precaution. I was also told only to shuffle around the house a little, and to have a lie down for at least 2 hours in the middle of the day. I did full bed rest and made it to 38 weeks plus. I honestly think you should get off your feet and be horizontal as much as possible. Can you get your doctor to sign you off for longer? Are you on progesterone at all?

Sherri - wooohooooo! You are my hero! I'm so glad you're doing well, I wonder how you're getting on all the time. Just goes to show how right you were from the beginning to manage every aspect of this pregnancy. Can't wait to hear your good news

 

[Mommy's Angel]

Hi Helen.

Not scared but relieved to have you girls in this thread!

She still kicks me in the bladder at times (though she moves more now) and I still see a quarter size pee spot in my panties. I'm betting your right though. I've been wondering about prolapse myself.

Were you on Progesterone shots?

 

[mich1365]

Sherri!!! You are my hero too! What a pregnancy and what a happy ending you are soon to have! Such happy news to read today, as I dont get on here often.
MA and Rensben...good luck. Ive been following and you are both doing so well.
A new member asked if anyone made it without a stitch...that was me. To summarize in case you cant bear to read 140 pages when you have other things on your mind.....
....Got to 36+5..had the same vaginal pains very early and was hospitalized at 23 weeks with a 1.1 dynamic cervix that went to 1.7 at its max at that stage, dilated 1cm and funneling. Did progesterone inserts at night and FULL bedrest.
Good luck everyone. Adrian is now 5 months and life is sweet

 

[Mommy's Angel]

Mich glad you popped in!

 

[sham1]

Hi Mommy's Angel, thanks so much for your post. I have just come back from hospital and great news, the cervix is back up to 2.8cm (from 1.4cm exactly a week ago) due to stitch and perhaps cyclogest (progesterone pessaries). Still slightly nervous about going back to work next week but my doctor thinks i'll be fine and she'll see me again in 2 weeks time.

 

[HelenGee]

MA- sorry you do need to reign me in, sometimes I think I'm a bloody medical expert, what with all the hospital frequenting I've done lol. I was on cyclogest pessaries twice a day. They were gross but looks like they helped.

Sham- so pleased your appointment went well, hope things run smoothly for you x

 

[HelenGee]

Hey Mich, bed rest buddy! Glad all is well with you. How are your boys?

Mikayla's mummy- I don't remember if I posted but I was sorry to hear your gorgeous little one was ill. How is the little prince? Hope he's all clear x

 

[HelenGee]

Sorry! Just remembered - MA I had a few bladder kicking/ wet undies episodes, almost like my bladder spasmed! Mine did get better as I rested more, but my wobbly legs did make it take even longer to get to the loo in time! x

 

[sham1]

Thanks Helen. I did wonder whether I should be taking longer off but I think with the good news, I will wait until my appt in 2 weeks and then if its worsened I will see if they will sign me off for longer. I will be past the age of viability (24 weeks) by the time I go back which makes me feel better.

 

[rensben]

hi ladies,

News from the doctor not so great today. I am starting to dilate below my stitch and baby girl is quite low. The doc said he can't say that labour will start tonight or in 2 weeks but by looking at my cervix and feeling around he seems to think there is a good chance I will go into labour in the next few weeks....

 

[Mommy's Angel]

hi ladies,

News from the doctor not so great today. I am starting to dilate below my stitch and baby girl is quite low. The doc said he can't say that labour will start tonight or in 2 weeks but by looking at my cervix and feeling around he seems to think there is a good chance I will go into labour in the next few weeks....

Oh hun, SO sorry. Well ((sigh)) if you have to go into labor another two weeks will give you more time and will be much better. Praying he's right that you get AT LEAST two more weeks and also praying he's wrong and that the cervix will calm down. Will you do complete bed rest now?? Also are they giving you the injections to mature the baby's lungs??

I'll keep you and baby in my prayers with hopes you can get as many weeks as possible. In the meantime, get some rest.

 

[Dash]

hi ladies,

News from the doctor not so great today. I am starting to dilate below my stitch and baby girl is quite low. The doc said he can't say that labour will start tonight or in 2 weeks but by looking at my cervix and feeling around he seems to think there is a good chance I will go into labour in the next few weeks....

Ive kind of just been stalking the thread...but-

Im really sorry to hear that. I delivered my son at 34 weeks, and he was only in the hospital a few short day thanks to steroids. Have they started you on any? Hopefully baby decides to stay in just a bit longer.

 

[HelenGee]

Rensben- really thinking of you and hoping you can hang on a few weeks more. But you are past the worst and you know that your girl should do just great even if labour were to start now. Try not to worry and take heart from the fact that your doctor is prepared now if labour were to start. You have done so well to get this far, be proud of yourself and all you have done and are doing to protect your little girl.

 

[rensben]

Thanks ladies, I will be horizontal as much as possible in the next coming weeks although my doctor still wants me to walk for about 15-20 minutes every day. I can feel that she is pressing on my bladder a lot more now and the doc says he can feel her head quite well. I knew something was up when he looked at my cervix and then raised his eyebrows as if surprised. they won't give steroids unless I start having regular contractions. I imagine they would hold off labour with drugs at that point until they can give me the shots and then let me deliver. I would really like to make it another 2 weeks minimum. I know she would be fine if she were born now but I just want her lungs to develop as much as possible. NICU is stressful even when baby is doing fine. i'll keep you all posted!

 

[lizziedripping]

Hi Ren - sorry hun, I understand completely how you must be feeling, and even though LO will likely do very well if born now, there isn't a loving Mum anywhere who wouldn't want to get their baby to term and avoid the NICU - even for one night.

Are you actually contracting still? I know that you have always battled sporadic contractions, and wondered if they were having an effect on your cervix. If you haven't recently been contracting, then even with dilation below the cervix, it is still possible to go to term. If it has opened "silently", then it can actually stay that way for weeks yet. To deliver baby now, you have to contract regularly. Take care hun xxxx

 

[rensben]

hi Lizzie,

I'm not contracting much more than usual although i can't really say anymore. I have gotten so used to them that i barely notice anymore. It may be that her head is pressing on my cervix now. i have to pee every five minutes and I can feel her pushing down sometimes even when I'm lying down. I felt this way with Gabriel for a week or two before going into labour. With him, the real contractions just came out of the blue one evening at 4 mins apart. I'm expecting that will be the way this time too but who knows really. baby girl is a week older than Gabriel was when born which is already good news. Just hopes she keeps on baking a little while longer!

 

[thelistkeeper]

hi ladies,

News from the doctor not so great today. I am starting to dilate below my stitch and baby girl is quite low. The doc said he can't say that labour will start tonight or in 2 weeks but by looking at my cervix and feeling around he seems to think there is a good chance I will go into labour in the next few weeks....

I have incompetent cervix as well, and with my 2 living children I went into labor early, 36 weeks with the first and 35 with my second. All was fine. They gave me steroid injections when we got closer and the docs saw that I was dilating more, just to make sure babies were developed enough to survive. Good luck to you!

 

[rensben]

hi ladies,

News from the doctor not so great today. I am starting to dilate below my stitch and baby girl is quite low. The doc said he can't say that labour will start tonight or in 2 weeks but by looking at my cervix and feeling around he seems to think there is a good chance I will go into labour in the next few weeks....

I have incompetent cervix as well, and with my 2 living children I went into labor early, 36 weeks with the first and 35 with my second. All was fine. They gave me steroid injections when we got closer and the docs saw that I was dilating more, just to make sure babies were developed enough to survive. Good luck to you!

Thanks..this is my second pregnancy with IC actually. I had my first at 30 weeks because they caught it early and put a stitch in at 20 weeks. This time, Ihad a stitch put in at 15 weeks but I'm starting to dilate with it in place. Hoping the doc is wrong and she'll stay put a while longer.

 

[thelistkeeper]

hi ladies,

News from the doctor not so great today. I am starting to dilate below my stitch and baby girl is quite low. The doc said he can't say that labour will start tonight or in 2 weeks but by looking at my cervix and feeling around he seems to think there is a good chance I will go into labour in the next few weeks....

I have incompetent cervix as well, and with my 2 living children I went into labor early, 36 weeks with the first and 35 with my second. All was fine. They gave me steroid injections when we got closer and the docs saw that I was dilating more, just to make sure babies were developed enough to survive. Good luck to you!

Thanks..this is my second pregnancy with IC actually. I had my first at 30 weeks because they caught it early and put a stitch in at 20 weeks. This time, Ihad a stitch put in at 15 weeks but I'm starting to dilate with it in place. Hoping the doc is wrong and she'll stay put a while longer.

Well, they couldn't do anything for me once my water broke! But I carried low at the end and started dilating as well... bed rest it was for me with both at the end... Don't worry, I am sure it will all be ok...

 

[Mommy's Angel]

This sounds like such a silly question but Helen or Lizzie, I know you've had issues with bladders leaking. My urine smells different. It's REALLY acidic smelling. Its been that way since about second trimester. The sonogram on friday didn't show any signs of amniotic fluids leaking but I'm just wondering if this is an issue I should look into on this fridays appointment coming up or if it's just a normal change in PH or something with the urine. I have leaks and it just smells acidic. Not sure if this is something to be on alert for or if I just let it go. Either of you ever have this issue?

I don't go smelling my urine very often but since leaking I can smell it in my panties, when I go without anything on to keep bacteria away I can smell it on my sheets, it's just an odd acidic smell.