Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[JimmyJam]

O Lizzie thank you, you're an angel of reassurance. I can't tell you how much your input means.

Thank you.

JimmyJam x

 

[lizziedripping]

Any time, glad to help x

 

[book.fish2011]

Bookfish thank you - it's crappy. How is the bleeding today?

MA that sounds like a nightmare. I hope you're all ok. X

JJ, spotting remains same. my mother is visiting us in Dubai, and has been helping us with cooking and household things. She will return to India next week mid as her visa is limited stay. I hope this spotting at least goes away completely by that time so that I can get up and make something in the kitchen.

Strangely I see the little blood only when I pee and wipe.

Can you borrow and use a wheelchair during appointments? Your clinic should have one.

Lizzie's foam bed idea sounds Very good.

You are already 21 weeks. Hang in there. Take one day at a time hoping to get farther and farther into this pregnancy. That's what am trying to do.

Can you do some good reading while lying? It will keep your mind off the worries. You may also try making it a routine to watch couple movies everyday. I try to watch some dumb videos on iPad to kill time. Something, so that the time passes. Pls try to think that time is the only thing between us and our babies. will be thinking of you.

 

[HelenGee]

Hi JJ,
Don't worry about losing bits of cyclogest, my first few pessaries were pushed out by bowel movements. As a midwife who was undertaking a study into cyclogest told me, the body will absorb what it needs to, which is actually quite a small amount in relation to the size of the pellet.

I did try to lie down for an hour after after insertion, but sometimes I had to pee, so it didn't always have the best chance of being absorbed. I also had a few mornings where I was stuck in triage and didn't have a chance to insert it at the usual time as I was awaiting a speculum check. As long as I inserted them at around the same time each day and tried to stay horizontal for about an hour, it all was fine.

They are so messy though! Never known anything quite like it.....it's normal for them to pop out. What the body needs is absorbed quite quickly.

 

[liven1980]

but have been reading this thred for the last couple of weeks. You are wonderful,mi must say I have been so comforted by you all!
I am from Norway and few people have experienced an emergency cerclage here. At least they have not written about it, so I have felt lonely. My story goes like this: will try to make it short...
My firstborn,Jacob, came march 2011. I was 26 weeks and because of birt complications he was stillborn. He was alive until the very last part of birth, but the doctors did not understand that he was coming withhis shoulder first, not his head... He did not even get a chance at the NICU.
It was much discussion if the early birth was duevti Ic or PTL. I thought it was IC since I felt he was laying so low in three weeks before birth and I felt he would jump out when I was at toilet. I went to private docs who said everything was all right. then i got pink discharge, went to hospital, they didt even look at me, sent me home. The next day I went back without contraction just pressure. Turned out i had bulging membrane. Next day water broke and contractions started.

I got pregnant again august 2011. Wanted a ferclage to be safe, but no, they said PTL. At 20 week my cervix went from 3.8 to 2.2 in two days. Got an emergency cerclage at 20 w 4 days. Was so scared and have been since.

Well, tomorrow I will be 28 weeks! very happy, but still so scared. I have watery discharge and braxton hicks. Even though 28 weeks is tomorroe I am not convinced i will get there...that is how i am feeling, that everything can happen at any time...

Well, just wanted to introduce myself and relise some of my anxiety...
(pa. sorry about misspelling..)

 

[LaRockera]

Liven, welcome hon. I'm so very sorry to hear about your loss. It's good that they at least put an emergency cerclage in now. Watery discharge can be very normal with the stitch in (you don't soak through, do you?), and I suppose BH can start at any point.

We're here for you to support and help you as much as you need, welcome to the family.

 

[lizziedripping]

Welcome Liven So sorry to hear you lost little Jacob last year, very sad and you are a very courageous lady

Don't worry sweetie, you have already done the hardest part by getting to 28wks and past the IC 'danger zone'. Other complications aside, the next 12 wks should be plain sailing for you now. Please feel free to join us and use us for some much needed support. This really is a remarkable bunch of ladies who tirelessly look out for eac other

PS - watery discharge very common and healthy in mid-pregnancy. Bh happened daily for me from 20 wks with the twins, but it meant nothing for the safety of the pregnancy, and I made it despite them x

 

[JimmyJam]

Lovely Bookfish, thank you for your comments. Y'know today has been bearable. I can do this! We can!

My mil, Rosie, has been here this afternoon too, she's staying til Saturday & has been fab. I'm lucky, we're really close & all we do is gas which makes the time fly!

Babe I am certain your spotting will gradually stop, just give it time. Such a shame yr mil has to go back to India but hang in there hon. Like me, take each day as it comes ... Be patient & if you're still worried post. It's only been 4 days since your op after all.

Only thing that bothers me is my comfort levels but I'm changing positions regularly, I just can't lie in one position all day & sometimes I just have to sit up ... But I'm doing my best. That's all I CAN do.

Helen - thanks for sharing, that's useful to know about the midwife's study. Messy & uncomfortable & likely to bring the dreaded constipation back but if it's effective I don't care. I've said it before & I'll say it again: bugger. Any more indignities to suffer?

Have been teling Rosie how amazing you all are, honestly what a lifeline this thread is - the site was down earlier & I nearly had a panic attack!

Xx

 

[JimmyJam]

Hi Liven & welcome to this fab thread. I'm so sorry you have had such a horrible time but as Lizzie says, at 28 weeks you are coming out of the danger zone & stand a really good chance of a happy ending. I wish I was already at your stage!

Looking forward to hearing more from you over the coming weeks. Take care.

JimmyJam xx

 

[HelenGee]

Finally finished that sodding marking, it took forever
Anyway....
Kate, I am so very glad that they've found a cause for the bleeding. How absolutely obvious, benign and hurray! You know what's going on now. hope you're well and enjoying the pregnancy blossoming stage. I've had sinusitis for months now, 1 lot of antibiotics and it's still there. I think it's the cold virus that's around this year. I felt exactly as you described and thought it was toothache, but my doc said it was a sinus infection. How did you get on at the dentist?

JimmyJam - I think Kate and Lizzie have said it all, but just to echo what they've said....it is difficult to get comfortable, shuffling from side to side won't do you any harm, eventually the hip ache does subside. You may find that your legs start to go tingly too and become very thin (mine did, not the bambi-legged, Kate Moss look I was hoping for, rather the wobbly, hanging leg fat look). Once off bedrest, the muscle tone does return quickly, especially as you start chasing around with a pram. Lizzie is right though, it is best not to take the risk, and this is a very short window of time, in what will be a very happy lifetime with a chubby, healthy baby.

Kate is right too, Internet shopping is AMAZING when you're stuck in bed. I went for the frozen, paralysed with fear, in bed, in pyjamas, version of bed rest. I was literally too scared to move. As the weeks went by and my bump got bigger I ordered myself some nice maternity pyjamas with matching dressing gown, slippers and some maternity jogging bottoms and stretchy tops. I couldn't get comfy in jeans as I was lying down all the time, I had sme from my first pregnancy. I saved these for special occasions, ie hospital appointments

If we weren't so tight financially, I'd have shopped til I flopped. My maternity leave was triggered early by being on bed rest, and as this was my 2nd live unplanned pregnancy, we weren't exactly saving for a rainy day iykwim. I did get all the Christmas shopping done, making sure I ordered a few 3 for 2's from boots for myself (curling tongs and Clinique spring to mind!) and when I got to 28 weeks I ordered a gorgeous baby change bag, which I justified to DH as the clothes and coffees I'd have bought over the previous 3 months. That bag is precious to me now, it was symbolic of me breathing a huge sigh of relief.

I am impressed by Kate knitting, that I didn't do, but do know how to knit and wish I'd thought of that. An online language course is a brilliant idea, language learning uses parts of your brain that no other academic subject does, and it's a great way of visualising yourself in the future, using said language whilst on holiday. Keep your spirits up!

Christiana- how are you?

Welcome to the thread Liven, what an awful time you've had, how traumatic for you. It's great that you have a cerclage now. Keep us posted with your progress and all the gorgeous ladies on here will be only too happy to support you.

LaRock- it's difficult to be appreciative of the in-laws, especially when pregnant or a new mother. I really struggled with my MIL. She is amazing, but I felt like she was trying to take over. She wasn't at all, she wanted to get to know her grandchildren, that was all. She was doing nothing to try to take over, but I was so vile to her, I now feel so awful about it, I think I wanted to learn for myself so I knew that I could manage the children on my own first, before anyone else got involved. You sound like the perfect daughter-in-law/grand-daughter-in-law. Don't be too hard on yourself.

Lizzie- hi and thanks, we're all ok. Very much looking forward to half term so we can re-group as a family and have some fun. I'm now seriously considering home-schooling my two, especially if the government pass their plans to have schools running from 7am-5pm. Hope you had a wonderful break. Sending baby dust (and canesten thoughts!) your way xxx

Bookfish - don't worry about the spotting, it will gradually settle. It's absolutely normal after a stitch. Seems like the stitch will do it's job for you

Hope I haven't missed anyone. If I have I'll get back on here again in a bit

 

[lizziedripping]

Thanks as ever for your lovely comments ladies

Helen, I can highly recommend home ed. it is working really well for us as a family. The children are brimming with confidence, and it is easily possible to keep up plenty of outside activities to ensure they still get to mix with kids their age I had no idea the government were considering increasing school hrs Would that be compulsory for all children/staff!? You'd be a brilliant teacher to your kids and the scope is limitless.

Have a lovely half-term hun xx

 

[chistiana]

Helen- hey i am good hun, thanks for asking! I ve been in bed all day long (didnt even bother to wear something other than my pjs or get up to make my meal, i just ate loads of coco pops (healthy i know) and as you ve very nicely put it spent half my money on ebay shopping (btw, does anyone know of any relatively cheap bed guards u could buy online they are very expensive here!!) it sounds like you re having a very busy time but i am so very gealous of you!!!

Liven-nothing really to add on what the other ladies said but just wanted to welcome you on this thread too, and congratulate you on your pg and making it safely to the first big breathing stone!!!so sorry for your little angel but i m sure he s looking after you guys from up there!xx

Can i ask the ladies who are or have been past 22 weeks a question please?....were the kicks really strong and all day long? My baby seems to only kick early mornings (like at 6 when my ds wakes up for milk) then nothing all day and then kicks a little bit more before bed time. Is this normal?i m starting to freak out because my ds would kick right left and center from about 20 weeks all day long...

 

[lizziedripping]

Baby kicks sound ok to me for 22wks Christiana. It's still very early and depending on where your placenta is and position of baby, kicks can still feel infrequent at this stage. I don't recall being kicked constantly in any of my pregnancies until at least 24wks. Try not to worry because I am sure lo is fine

 

[book.fish2011]

Lovely Bookfish, thank you for your comments. Y'know today has been bearable. I can do this! We can!

My mil, Rosie, has been here this afternoon too, she's staying til Saturday & has been fab. I'm lucky, we're really close & all we do is gas which makes the time fly!

Babe I am certain your spotting will gradually stop, just give it time. Such a shame yr mil has to go back to India but hang in there hon. Like me, take each day as it comes ... Be patient & if you're still worried post. It's only been 4 days since your op after all.

Only thing that bothers me is my comfort levels but I'm changing positions regularly, I just can't lie in one position all day & sometimes I just have to sit up ... But I'm doing my best. That's all I CAN do.

Helen - thanks for sharing, that's useful to know about the midwife's study. Messy & uncomfortable & likely to bring the dreaded constipation back but if it's effective I don't care. I've said it before & I'll say it again: bugger. Any more indignities to suffer?

Have been teling Rosie how amazing you all are, honestly what a lifeline this thread is - the site was down earlier & I nearly had a panic attack!

Xx

Even I have issues with lying down. I try to sleep during the nights on my left side, but sometimes when I wake up, find myself sleeping on my back. Changing sides or getting out of bed to use restroom need a Herculean effort because I still have so much pain between the legs. Even pillows aren't helping me

Am glad your mil is around. When is your next appointment ?

 

[book.fish2011]

but have been reading this thred for the last couple of weeks. You are wonderful,mi must say I have been so comforted by you all!
I am from Norway and few people have experienced an emergency cerclage here. At least they have not written about it, so I have felt lonely. My story goes like this: will try to make it short...
My firstborn,Jacob, came march 2011. I was 26 weeks and because of birt complications he was stillborn. He was alive until the very last part of birth, but the doctors did not understand that he was coming withhis shoulder first, not his head... He did not even get a chance at the NICU.
It was much discussion if the early birth was duevti Ic or PTL. I thought it was IC since I felt he was laying so low in three weeks before birth and I felt he would jump out when I was at toilet. I went to private docs who said everything was all right. then i got pink discharge, went to hospital, they didt even look at me, sent me home. The next day I went back without contraction just pressure. Turned out i had bulging membrane. Next day water broke and contractions started.

I got pregnant again august 2011. Wanted a ferclage to be safe, but no, they said PTL. At 20 week my cervix went from 3.8 to 2.2 in two days. Got an emergency cerclage at 20 w 4 days. Was so scared and have been since.

Well, tomorrow I will be 28 weeks! very happy, but still so scared. I have watery discharge and braxton hicks. Even though 28 weeks is tomorroe I am not convinced i will get there...that is how i am feeling, that everything can happen at any time...

Well, just wanted to introduce myself and relise some of my anxiety...
(pa. sorry about misspelling..)

Liven, welcome. So sorry about your baby Jacob I lost my son too, in nov 2010. He was a 30 weeker who died in nicu when he was just eleven days old. Losing a child is the worst thing to go through and I fully understand your anxiety.I wish you all well this time. You are almost there. 28 weeks is a brilliant milestone, everything must be fine here onwards.

Am very high risk this time due to my history, and also bcoz I have twins now. I still have a long long way to go.

The very lovely and extremely knowledgeable ladies on this thread are a great support. I came here just a week ago and they have all been helping me a lot, to cope with my cerclage, spotting...

Take care.

 

[chistiana]

Lizzie, thanks hun it makes me feel better to know that at least until 24 weeks i can stay kick free!my placenta this time round is anterior so i m wondering whether this is it??where was the placentas with your pgs if you dont mind me asking?

 

[Mommy's Angel]

Helen, we're also planning on doing homeschooling (home ed). We've been planning it for YEARS. Our sil does it with her kids and we know several others. It's AMAZING how good they are. The misconceptions of how homeschooled kids are not socialized has me laughing. If you could only see my nieces and nephews who are blossoming quite well. They also scored higher than public schooled kids. Here with the cuts in school funding as well as student to teacher ratio, we've just decided it's the right decision for us.

The only downside I've heard to homeschooling from some is that our children are so used to having more teaching time with their educators that other teachers later are finding some homeschooled kids demand the teachers full attention and have a hard time with patience. This of course isn't with all kids and I've heard MANY parents teaching their children that skill by giving them a project to do on their own and asking them to wait to teach patience. I'm not saying this right at all but there's a link to a conversation with homeschooled parents and public school teachers that I liked learning from.

Lizzie, I'm so glad you like it. We are debating on which curriculum we plan to use for Amelia. I've heard Abeka is excellent however Doug wants to do a different plan. She's only 4 months and I'm getting excited already. It's so much fun right now playing with her and reading to her. I try to making learning fun for her already. She's just a kid so I let her be one, but sneak some fun exercises in when I can.

Liven, I'm so sorry to hear about Jacob. My heart aches for you. Jackson could go to NICU because he was too early. It's really a sadness that never goes away. We'll have our dear boys in our hearts forever. I just keep reminding myself that he's alive...He's just in heaven. He's at home waiting for US. We're not walking away from him but toward him one day. Praying for you and the grieving process dear friend.

P.S., we're doing okay since the break in attempt. We've been having issues with our new neighbor as well so we're ready. As I said, we're praying for a miracle. Since the housing crises, I've heard it's been harder to qualify. We don't need anything too big. Just a place to call home that's ours in a safer area.

 

[JimmyJam]

Morning Ladies.

For those of you not in London it is sunny with a light dusting of snow, like someone has sprinkled icing sugar over the city overnight. It looks very pretty & I love the way it muffles the roar of urban life.

Helen thanks for continued advice. As you and Lizzie and Bookfish all recommend it as the best form of therapy I am absolutely going to hit the online shops. I can't have a 40th birthday party after all so I should treat myself! I love the story of your bag, if I get there I'm going to steal your style. And an online language course isn't a bad idea, I love learning so I might as well do something useful & keep the old grey matter from turning to pudding ...

Kate darling I have totes taken all yr advice on board & emailed a selection of my most reliable & low-maintenance pals & am currently drawing up a rota for them to come & entertain me & do chores! I have had a great response. I am developing a routine whereby I stay in bed until midday doing correspondence & reading whence I get up, shower & pamper myself a bit before moving downstairs to the sofa to receive visits & be fed & finally returning upstairs at bedtime. That way I can make sure I only take the stairs once daily. A lady of sociability & leisure, no?!

I have also pursuaded my hairdresser to send a colourist to come & see me at home next week b/c I'm a vain old cow & all this stress is turning me grey!!!

Bookfish I will be seen across both high risk clinics now for cervix & amniotic fluid checks every week on a Wednesday. This is a pain & my scary day but I am glad I'm being monitored so closely. I guess it also reflects how serious my condition is How are you today, darling, has the spotting settled any? You must tell me how fab the weather is in Dubai!

Christina hon I'm 22 weeks too - 22 yesterday if you go by my LMP or on Sunday if you go by my early scans. I find it all confusing. I too have an anterior placenta and I don't feel the baby moving all the time yet either. At every scan the sonographer remarks on how much it moves but I usually only feel it when sitting calmly. It likes to kick me as I'm dropping off to sleep! How are the cramps coming on, are you feeling better? I am experiencing what I think may be Braxton Hicks every now & then though I can't be sure as I've never been this pg before & I don't know if this presents problems with an IC.

LaRock, haven't neard from you for a while, how are you doing over there?

And Liven how are you today? You must be feeling excited to have got so far?

Lizzie I am so impressed you do home schooling! If I ever get there I'd be super-interested to hear how that works out .. You are a veritable Guru!

And MA am glad you are all safe. As if life isn't tough enough with crappy neighbours & break ins.

Hope everyone has a great day today. Take care all.

JimmyJam xx

 

[chistiana]

Hey Jimmy Jam! You sound so very relaxed today!!!I m so happy that despite all your worries you still sound happy and are taking on to this routine nicely!!! I ll be 22 weeks sunday but i m a bit worried about the kicks and staff because when i went in on tuesday (i thought i was leaking but no...i must be peeing myself lol!!!) the guy that did the scan said "next tuesday when you come in for the growth scan eat some good breakfast, this lo is very quiet, we need her to move more"....so of course he freaked me out!!! Thank God the cramps have eased a bit even though i do get the odd painful contraction here and there. I dont think your BH are anything to worry about, i doubt they have any effect on the cervix plus i think i remember Lizzie saying it didnt affect her (more reliable source than i am...i was experiencing BH very often with ds and never knew it...when i went into labor and the mw said ow you re having a contraction right now i was like "what??this is a contraction??i ve been having these for ages now!!!)
Anyway, i think i ll steal your hairdressing idea...cant have the lo see me like that in june!!!xxx

 

[heychickie]

Today is delivery day, ladies! Grayson's little rainbow brother should be joining us out in the air in about 4 hours, 11 am US Eastern time.

I've been dealing with a wicked head cold the last couple of days, and am very limited in what I can take because of being pg, and then after, because antihistamines can dry up milk, so been toughing it out with a neti pot, and tea for the most part. Hopefully it's on the way out and I won't be miserable the whole time in the hospital (I'll be there around 4 days).

I'll post pics when I can, if I can get them to go from the iPad, which is doubtful, so it might not be til I'm back home.

For now though, here's me, a little bit ago.