Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[JimmyJam]

Ps - Lizzie, thanks for your comments re fertility, what an amazing story. I feel like I'm writing my LO off prematurely, which isn't true, but one of my coping mechanisms is planning future action I can take if my current situation turns out badly. It helps. Thank you xxx

 

[JimmyJam]

Lovely Olga,

You poor, poor thing. Have the utmost respect for you hanging in there under such horrid conditions. I agree - sometimes you wonder why these nurses do that job, they can be so dismissive & mean. The last 5 weeks have been, without doubt, the worst of my life & psychologically I just couldn't face being apart from Matt. Our situation is so precarious we need to be together. And Hammersmith Hospital, right next to Wormwood Scrubs prison, feels like a similar institution!

Do listen to Lizzie, Olga - she has been there & has four beautiful children to show for her experience. She's been through it all & her family is living proof positive thought & determination can pay off. Thinking of you babe, I know you must be lonely xx

Ps - yes plse would love to see link. Thanks xx

 

[chistiana]

Lizzie-thanks for the gaviscon tip hun, will try it today, along with green apples and anything you ladies suggest!i m desperate for some relief!

Olga-hey hey!ow i so feel for you being in that maternal ward but hey just think you ll be the one giving birth and then nursing your hungry little baby in a few weeks time!my first goal is 28 weeks as my doc told me that at 28 weeks chances are definitely with you!!unfortunately v day for greece is 27 weeks but i guess i ll still celebrate my 24th!! Heartburn is indeed horrid, i had it with ds but this time round is so much earlier and so much worse (maybe because i m on bed rest?). I ll try gaviscon today, thanks!do you know
What the dosage is?

 

[book.fish2011]

Christiana: yeah bananas helped probably in the old days when they didn't use any medication whatsoever, I mean like pills and everything. It doesn't work for me either
Kate, thanks for your words
JJ, praying for your appointment tomorrow.
Olga, oh my god! You are going through a lot in that hospital. I have come across both nice and horribly mean nurses, through my horrendous stay at the hospital in my last pregnancy, and I know what you mean. You will make it to 28 weeks - and farther. I know a girl in a very similar position like yours, hospital bedrest in that 't' position after 21 weeks for funneling inspite cerclage. She was sent home at 28 weeks and is now reached 30 weeks, and is now quite confident of making it to full term.

 

[LaRockera]

today.

I spoke to my doctor last night and he told me to go in this morning. It was manic in his clinic, over two hours' waiting time. Anyway, we thought we were going in to check my fluid levels, but I was asked to go to a different room and DH was not allowed to come in with me. So I go there and the MW asks me to remove everything from the waist down, so I think, okay, he's just going to check the stitch. Then the doctor enters and he casually tells me 'you should know that this is going to hurt' and I'm like 'we're removing the stitch then? I didn't realise!' The MW tells me I can hold her hand if I feel any pain.

And so it starts, he pushes some sort of a speculum inside me which doesn't really hurt, I feel the scissors going in, which again, didn't really hurt, then I feel a strong tightening in my uterus, I let out a faint 'ouch' bracing myself for the worse that is to come, and I hear the doctor saying 'that's it, it's over. I'm like 'you're kidding, right?' Any discomfort/pain I've felt, it lasted a two to three seconds. Having the speculum shoved inside me at triage a few weeks ago was far, far more painful. The post-cerclage discomfort I had at 13+3 was far, far more uncomfortable. So to all the ladies that are yet to have their cerclage removed, fear not, for it lasts literary seconds.

I've had some faint brown spotting since. It's normal, right?

My amniotic fluid levels seemed fine. He did tell me that, regarding innohep injections, the best way to go forward is to be induced. He said I need to stop the injections two days before that, and that next week we'd talk with the hematologist, too. I told him I'm happy to go to labour sans-epidural but he said it's just too painful (he'd still do it if I insisted, but he is very protective of all of us). I also asked him whether it'd be safe for baby if I were induced, and he said, completely. I'll be 38+2 at our next appointment, so I can see he's not planning to induce me too early anyway. Apparently Xanthe has moved up again, and is slightly lying on her side.

Christiana - well, honeybush tea (ie mantzourana in Greek) is good for your stomach. But the doctor told me I can also take malox. I used to take Gaviscon in the UK- do they make it in Greece?

Olga- I understand it must be really hard for you to be on full bedrest hon, but you'll make it, and this is what matters. Please be brave, the weeks will fly by before you know it.

Jimmy - I remain positive for you. For some reason, I truly believe your baby will make it safe and sound, hon. Don't know how to explain it. Just my gut feeling.

Kate - You're a human being, hon. Of course you'll manage, like all mummies do. By no means don't feel guilty for being a human being. Anyhow, one day Poppy will be old enough to yell at you (payback time ) and then will come the day when you'll be too old to yell back at her anyway. And as crazy as it may sound, this is what a healthy relationship between a parent and a child is. You didn't hurt her hon, in any way. Be confident that you are a great mummy.

Thank you to everyone else for thinking of me and for all your advice.

 

[chistiana]

Larockera/ yayayayayayayayayayayay super yayayayayayayaay for your stitch removal!!!ow and you really put my mind at ease, i was so worried this was going to hurt like hell!!!yayayaya again! And an extra yay for beig able to choose how you ll deliver!!
I do have malox at home so i might give it a try, i am absolutely miserable and i starting to run a fever now...

 

[LaRockera]

Larockera/ yayayayayayayayayayayay super yayayayayayayaay for your stitch removal!!!ow and you really put my mind at ease, i was so worried this was going to hurt like hell!!!yayayaya again! And an extra yay for beig able to choose how you ll deliver!!
I do have malox at home so i might give it a try, i am absolutely miserable and i starting to run a fever now...

Oh, I'm so sorry, hon. You can take paracetamol though. My doctor said malox is safe.

 

[lizziedripping]

Yey for you LR So pleased Don't expect labour anytime soon hun, and don't worry about induction - all will ok in the end for you and bub - youre officially full term today - wonderful news xxx

Olga - I can really understand how every mm of cervix at this stage seems like a mile, but trust me hun, that is still a good length of remaining cervix below the stitch. I am surprised your Doctor is so anxious given that your cervix is acting exactly as expected when incompetent. The fact that it is now 16 versus 23mms could be explained by differences in interpretation, or that you have a dynamic cervix which fluctuates on a daily basis anyway (again typical in IC cases).

Even if your team are very anxious tho, this is probably not a bad thing - at least that way they are keeping a close eye on you and not leaving anything to chance. It is usually the opposite for women with IC and they are overlooked u til it is too late to do anything. Take care treasure, not long now before you reach a good gestation, and all this will seem like a distant nightmare Get in touch any time if you're struggling xxx

Hi JJ - in a nutshell the article examined women with severe polyhydramnios and outcomes. 25% of babies born to mothers with the condition were absolutely normal at birth - and these were also the babies who had presented with normal looking sonograms. No defects were found in utero, and none were found at birth or in the follow up period. Incidentally those mothers were managed with amnio reduction to make them more comfortable. I don't want to give you false hopes with this study hun, but I thought this was a high enough percentage to warrant a cautiously optimistic approach, at least whilst lo is looking healthy on scan. I'm hoping that things will be clearer anyway for you tomorrow, one way or another sweet

I'm glad the thought of being able to conceive again in the future helps - I hoped it would. Always works for me

Thanks for asking after me btw hun, especially at a time when you really shouldn't be thinking about anyone but you and yours. I'm fine now, just occasionally flummoxed by life and the cruel things it throws at some of the people I know

Everything crossed for you tomorrow - stay strong

Good night and big hugs to all my girls here xxx

 

[book.fish2011]

LR, double congratulations! One for stitch removal. One for full term. We waiting for more good news from your end.

 

[LaRockera]

Hey guys, I still wipe brownish spotting from time to time. That's normal, right? xx

 

[lizziedripping]

To be expected after stitch removal darlin'. It's probably old blood from the stitch site, your cervix is very vascular Is it mucusy, or just brown staining? X

 

[book.fish2011]

How are all ladies? LR, you should be in an upbeat mood after stitch removal.

Am waiting since ages for an uneventful day in this pregnancy and no, it's not been given to me. Today morning I suffered from some constipation, inspite of using the stool strainer, possible because of iron supplements . Btw, am slightly anaemic, so giving up iron supplements is another risk. Okay, after having to strain a bit in toilet ( sorry tmi), I was worried I may have hurt my stitch, and since once in a while I feel this strange tugging down there that lasts for few microseconds, especially when is stand. I also have this continuous feeling that something's going to pop out of my vagina. I did use a tissue thereby but found nothing .

Am I just too paranoid?

On t he other news, I had to fight with my ex-employer regarding my settlement dues, and today I decided to give up. There was a stupid clause in my contract which I'd overseen when I joined this job last year, so the company has nailed me using that. I'm losing 15 days of pay due to this. Which is sad now because it means we have to revise our financial planning. I quit my job at the end of Jan, so that I can rest at home. My husband and I knew this would put us in a hard position but we didn't have any choice. So here we are, in Dubai, a impossibly difficult pregnancy, financial insecurity, not to mention I don't have nicu covered at the moment but insurance company will decide to cover only after the babies are born. The only assurance is my h and I are together in this. Sorry for ranting so much.

 

[book.fish2011]

I don't have an option to edit my post anymore. I read it only now and there are too many spellos. Please ignore.

 

[lizziedripping]

BF hun

Don't worry about the straining, I was constipated from taking iron supplements and worried about the straining too. Constipation is unlikely to affect your cervix or the stitch, and the pulling you feel is probably more to do with the enormous pressure your pelvic organs are under form the babies, and all the resultant pushing and pulling.

When you have a bowel movement, everything shifts and changes position slightly, so you are bound to feel it. I felt the same tweaking and pulling every time I emptied my bladder - and the pain as my uterus and cervix dropped back down afterwards was excruciating!

 

[book.fish2011]

Lizzie, thanks for that assurance. I wanted to think so too but was worried. Your words always work like magic.

 

[chistiana]

Hey BF, just wanted to add to what Lizzie told you that even though its been like almost 6 weeks since my stitch, everytime i strain a little (sometimes even when i dont!) i have this exact same feeling you mentioned...like something is just going to drop out!! I ve even kind of looked expecting to see a foot or something!!! But my doc told me now that the stitch is there, there is nothing coming out until the stitch is removed! Plus i get lie a prickling feeling when i even pee! So i guess we're fine with regards to prickling and things falling out!xx

 

[kateqpr]

I get that too! Just to reassure you Bookfish - now, every time i crouch down (pop! Ouch!), or bend over to pick something up off the floor, or do a wee, i can feel my stitch 'ping'. Its a weird sensation, and in my last pregnancy i was at the hospital every week or so convinced my stitch had come undone. They just don't - so don't worry. My consultant (who is a brilliant high risk consultant and has been for years) reassured me that she has never seen a good stitch just 'come undone'. And anyhoo, even if they did, you would have other signs (ie, blood where the stitch has unravelled), so just trust its all normal!

Sorry to hear things are precarious for you at the moment re finances etc. We're in a similar situation, but i've decided to just not think about it as there really is nothing i can do right now. Baby is the only thing i can concentrate on. One thing at a time! x

 

[book.fish2011]

Thanks Christiana and Kate. I was thinking the same thing too...if stitch were to open, there'd be some blood or something. But my free mind is all stuck n what's happening down there.

You are right Kate; all my other problems.....if only these babies could come healthy and safe , I would never never wish for anything like this again. All what am going through would be nothing if we can have the babies safely.

 

[JimmyJam]

Hey all,

Ah Bookfish Hon my heart goes out to you. You have so much to deal with, it's not fair & you don't deserve it. I wish there was something I could say to make it better but time will only give you relief. I am rooting for you all the way. I do believe you'll get there & then all this misery & hardship will have been worth it. It sucks. Fuck me it sucks, I know that. But you have yr DH & you will pull through my love. Looking at how everyone else here has coped and got through, I really think so.

I had a scan & amnioreduction today. The amnio was just AWFUL, crappy little local anaesthetic in my belly & then half an hour of painful misery while they drew more than 2 litres from my uterus through a tube. Poor baby. I took Kate's advice & spoke to it before the procedure, promising I would do everything I could to help it pull through. I hate the risk to baby & what it's going through. It fucking hurt & I nearly broke Matt's hand. Now I have to see if I go into labour as a result. Jesus, enough already.

I've been given an indomethin pessary to stave off uterine contractions. Have read this can be bad for the baby but it's a one-off. Anyone else had this?

My cervix is measuring 14-16mm down from 18mm but curiously now 8mm rather than 6mm above the stitch with minimal funnelling. Hopefully the fluid reduction will take some pressure off. I feel so much better now I can breathe. And I'm almost euphoric with relief that I can move. Maybe it's b/c of the anaesthetic, who knows. Please excuse my foul language! I'm coming down off a massive adrenalin rush. Feel alternately great then nauseous with a racing heart. Probably the stress.

Results of the big 3 chromosomal issues back Tues, more extensive results in a fortnight. I'm 24 weeks on Sunday & Mon/Tues I get steroids ... Structurally baby looked fine again, no enlarged bladder, & moved a lot. I can't help it, I am a little bit in love

Lizzie are you willing to share Evie's story with me? I would welcome the opp to know how you both got through that & what risks there are for her now she's older. Only if you're happy to. If I do get that far I know this LO will be prem & would like to be prepared ...

They still want to admit me b/c of the added risk of infection from a second entry point. They want to be able to take bloods & temp to check for infection, administer antibiotics & check the baby's heartbeat and it would be a long-term stay. I've compromised & said I'd be willing to go in Monday, when baby will be viable & I'll be close to getting amnio results. It also means I get my birthday & one last weekend at home with Matt & Pyjama. I would rather stay at home. We are not wealthy but I had an unexpected windfall today - a company I freelance for emailed me to say I haven't invoiced them for holiday pay & am due a lump sum. I wonder if this is serendipity & I could use it for a private midwife/doula. Do you think I could find someone who could administer the same functions as the hospie for me but in my own home? Would welcome advice. i'll do anything tomstay out as long as the baby gets adequate care.

Am going to sign off now as feel like I need to sleep.

LaRock I'm hoping it all goes smoothly.

Love to you all girls. Take care.

Jimmyjam xx

 

[chistiana]

JJ-even though your news are still sad with all this pain and torture you had to go through, for some reason they made me take a sign of relief and for some reason i feel so much more positive for you after this amnio. The actual physical pain of it i m sure you can handle hun, you are so much tougher than all the pain in the world!now just keep talking to your bub, tell him/her to stay put and ground her for at least another 10 weeks in your uterus!!stay strong babe, you ll pull through all the hardship and it will be just a distant memory and a story to tell your kiddo. Lots of love xx