Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[JimmyJam]

Hey All,

How CUTE is that pic of Kate & Poppy?!!

Olga darl, so glad you've been transferred to St Thoms, you sound much happier. I am at Queen Charlotte's, part of Hammersmith Hospital, in Shepherd's Bush. No fine views of London for me, just Wormwood Scrubs Prison! Checking in on Monday ... Two more sleeps of freedom ...

Christina I want us ALL to meet up in London - there are a couple of us here already. If I make it to Motherhood ... Have a long way & lots of hurdles to go ... Hope you're eating again? If not I have some leftover cake ...

I am worried the fluid is building again already, am totally paranoid & my tummy's feeling harder again . I HAVE to get to 28 weeks ... BF so with you, hardest thing I've ever been through I just want to be in the week thirties with the worst of it over. I am loathing this pregnancy. Just want my poor baby born safe & sound & in my arms. God the days just drag. And Liven no one could ever understand what you've been through & that you won't feel safe until you're holding bubs. How could they if they haven't experienced it?

Matt's family are over tonight for dinner, it's so weird having a 'normal' meal when things are so patently NOT normal ... Please god don't let the fluid come back too soon ...

Thanks for your posts ladies.

LR - I soooo wish I was in yr position but am so happy for you ... So close now having come so far ...

Lizzie-Loo hope you're ok ... No news from Helen for a while, hope everything's ok with her too. And Kate have sent you a PM.

Have to go ... Another birthday cake with candles on its way (!!) Poppy eat yer heart oot!!

Much Love,

JimmyJam xx

 

[book.fish2011]

Kate: the fairy picture is beautiful. Glad you had a nice time.
JJ: I just hope it's just your paranoia and the fluid isn't coming back. Yesterday night I was having little twinges near the cerclage and I was convinced the stitch is coming off. It's an everyday nightmare what we are going through..oh god. Hopefully the hospital stay will be better than what we all think, and will help you go much much farther in this pregnancy.

Meeting all of you in London (with all our babies) will be a dream maybe I can fly in and join too IF everything goes well. Haha.

Liven, hope you are able to relax a bit now. Try to ignore what everyone says. Since my son died, I have been suffering from a permanent selective deafness syndrome. It was so hard in the beginning ..but nowadays am just too aloof.

Christiana: I hope the discharge has reduced today and you are now convinced that it's just plain normal discharge.

Hope LR, Lizzie and everyone else is having a good Sunday.

 

[chistiana]

Hey Jimmy- actually i m loathing you for that cake now!!!Seriously i am so hungry,, GIVE ME THAT CAKE! I know it's weird everything seems to continue in its normal way but i guess it s better than everyone being in twilight zone looking at you and expecting you to cramble down. For some reason (wishful thinking?) i m sure now we WILL all make it so i m going to hold you on that meeting...havent been in London since 2010...would love i quick little escape!!
I really hope fluid isnt building back up but i m also guessing it is not, it wouldnt build so quickly i think. Enjoy your days at home babe, but also remember that when you re finally out of the 'prison' you ll be soooo much closer to your dream come true!xo

BF- Thanks hun, discharge has reduced a little although i m still paranoid from time to time..i think i ll always be a little paranoid for one thing or another until I have my daughter in my arms safe and sound! Hope you re doing better too with the infections and you re having a good day!

Everyone else...as BF said...HAVE A GREAT ONE!

 

[book.fish2011]

Christiana and JJ btw, congratulations for making it to 24 weeks!!! Wish I could emulate that milestone in next 4w3d. That's March end precisely. Omg...seems so damn far off.

 

[LaRockera]

I love how fast this thread goes, and how we all talk to each other.

Kate - your photo is wonderful (you're a hot chick, I've told you many a time before) and Poppy's birthday party sounded fab! I wish I could have all those things you describe but at the moment I can only be too careful NOT to cause labour you see, due to my injections. If I do go in labour by myself I won't be able to have any sort of anesthesia, so it will be either natural birth (which I'm fine with!) or a c-section via GA. So I think the doctor wants to induce me and so that I can stop the injections a couple of days prior to induction. Then I will have to resume them for 20 days after labour. Right now we are waiting for Xanthe to get into position, so monitoring her closely.

Jimmy -you will get to my stage, I promise. And I also promise that 28 weeks is just a breath away. Every week that passes increases bubba's survival rates- and he/she's still in there!

Christiana - go to the loo, and after you've had your wee and a few good minutes have passed, give it a good cough and see if anything comes out (although I've had normal discharge coming out like this too). Amniotic fluid is really like water, not just watery-like. Put a pad on (not a pantyliner, a normal pad) and give it a couple of hours. If it's soaking, go get checked. If not, it's discharge.

Love to all you ladies.

 

[JimmyJam]

O bloody hell my belly's getting taught again & I can't breathe. I hate this poly. It'll mean another amnio. I so wish it would resolve on its own I don't know how I'll get to 28 at this rate.

Hope you're all faring better than me. I am MISERABLE!! Pregnancy is horrible, how anyone can love it I don't know!

I just want to click my heels & wipe out the next ten weeks.

24 weeks today - congrats to us Christiana ... But such a long, long way to go ...

Love to you all xxx

 

[JimmyJam]

Ps - Lizzie, anyone?!

I think my nose is also blocked & I want immediate relief. Plse can anyone recommend a drug or system that's safe to use in pg? Can't cope with squashed lungs as well as blocked nose

X

 

[kateqpr]

Hey everyone

Sorry, just a quick one as in the middle of making dinner - but Jimmy, just wanted to say re nose. I've had sinusitis for the last two weeks. My nose has been constantly blocked, or running, never ending and horrible. Really getting me down now after so long. The best safe relief i've found are:
Hot shower, then blowing my nose straight afterwards. The steam is the only thing that clears my nose for a while and allows me to properly blow all the crap out.

OR

Olbas - i've used both the pastilles (suck, don't chew!) They don't taste great but they do decongest really well. ALso, one of those Olbas nose inhaler stick things. You really feel like an old man doing it, but it does eventually help to clear everything.

I've got your contact details now, so will try and pop in and see you. Possibly this Wednesday morning, or if not, definitely next week (It's Andy's 40th this week and so am unusually busy for a change with our mystery trip away....). If it's any consolation, i have had trouble breathing in pregnancy due to my bump feeling high or little legs. It would be really crappy if your fluid had replenished that quickly, so hopefully it's a combination also of the horrible symptoms of a normal pregnancy. Fingers crossed eh...

Everyone else - hope you're all well! Shall try and post later when i'm not mid CBEEBIES / sausage and mash making

XX

 

[JimmyJam]

Thanks Kate. Just think the poly makes me panic! So scared of blowing up that big again it's sooo uncomfortable.

Will try Olbas.

Weds is clinic day so won't know my movements but keep me posted on yr plans ...

Ooooooo - mystery trip? Lucky you! You have a real life! Where are you going?

Enjoy yr mash!!

Jj xx

 

[chistiana]

Hey larockera!thanks for the tip, now every time i go to the loo i ll be coughing away!!!cant believe you re now only waiting for xanthe to take the right position....ouououou so exciting!!!

Jimmy-congratulations to us both hun, we ve made it to viability!!yayayayyyy! Dont look at the next 10 weeks... Just look to 28w only 4 weeks away!!! And when 28 comes 30 will be a breath away!!! We ll make it i know, amnio or no amnio, you ll make it! Mark my words!

BF- hey hun thanks i used to say the same thing as you ( and obviously i still say it when i look at others tickers into the 30s), omg it s soooo far away..but it s not and soon you ll be 24 weeks too and thinking of the 28w milestone...even if we cant see it now time is flying by and despite all our fears and worries we ll get there!!x

 

[lizziedripping]

Hi ladies. Well done for hitting 24wks JJ and C It's still early days, but now you're in the 'bonus zone' when every week thereafter is a step closer to term, and less potential complications for baby. Psychologically it somehow feels better. I also know how every week is never 'enough' however, and you always yearn to be a few weeks further ahead until (as in my case) you've hit at least 37wks! That's when I finally relaxed - pity I only had one week left to enjoy the feeling lol.

C - amniotic fluid has a sweet smell, similar to semen (hmmm you're all now thinking, Lizzie likes to sniff bodily fluids! ) It's definitely watery, not at all mucusy and when it comes it trickles and at its worst, gushes like a running tap.

I suspect I leaked some hind waters at 34wks, but kept quiet about it because I didn't want to be induced that early. It tailed off and at my 34wk scan the water was still intact, so it is likely any small tear in the secondary membrane had repaired itself, or been plugged by a baby

It is far more likely that this is the usual pregnancy-related discharge Hun, which can drench underwear just the same, but is a slightly thicker consistency than amniotic fluid, and nothing to worry about. pROM is actually quite rare, whereas discharge is common ans necessary to protect the cervix and uterus from bugs and bacteria

JJ - sorry to hear that the polyh is giving you grief again I know that you probably expected it to return, but were hopeful that it might not, or at least not as quickly? Though not much consolation, I don't think that the recurrence rate and speed make the cause any more or less of a concern. As a condition, it cannot be undone as such, only managed and controlled. Frustrating, worrying and uncomfortable for you nonetheless

Congestion-wise, is it being caused by a cold, or are you just stuffy in a non-productive way? If it's the latter, then the only thing that worked for me was Piriton (anti-histamine). I had to take it for intense itching across my abdomen in pregnancy - had the added benefit of reducing swelling in my nose and knocking me out at night too lol. Even tho it is safe in pregnancy, I wouldn't like to recommend any drug to another pregnant woman unless they had been given the ok by their own specialist tho, especially since its not licensed for congestion specifically.

As Kate suggested, just try some basic decongestants like Olbas, steam and Vicks, and then on Weds ask your Docs if there's anything safe to take - tho decongestant meds are not recommended in pregnancy. Hope that helps x

Olga, how're you? How's the weekend been? X

LR, Helen, BF, Liven, Kate and MA and all you lovely lasses - hi to you all too, hope all is well

 

[book.fish2011]

Greetings to all my dear ladies!!

Christana, is there a way to time travel? I want to be in June. At least May. Or April to start with.I've found a new analogy for this pregnancy. Swimming in deep dea surrounded by sharks. At the end of each day I tell my husband, hey, I didn't get eaten by any shark today. Let me gear up for tomorrow.

JJ, how are you feeling today. As everyone said, steam inhaling with Vicks gives a lot of relief to nasal blockages. I hope you feeling better today. Regarding your tummy, I had Ovarian hyper stimulation due to IUI even before I got a BFP, it lasted for upto ten weeks. I was walking around with a watery bump and looked 8 months pregnant. It was embarrassing in my workplace. After a few weeks, the water would go down, and again , I used to feel its coming back. But my fertility specialist told me once reduced, water would never come back. I know OHSS is nothing compared to poly, (am not trying to comare two things - they are just unrelated), but am just hoping your thing will be sorted out too. I hope it's not extra water but gas or something that's stretching your tummy. So you going to hospital today? Pls remember however hard it is, it's the best place to be at this point. Am sure you'll sail through it t meet your healthy bubs whom you and Matt will take home to cuddle and kiss and grow.

 

[chistiana]

Lizzie- thanks hun, i guess i ll always be a little paranoid about amniotic fluid but with all that s been said in this thread and so much first hand experience from you ladies i feel a little more relaxed!! Ow and yes, no matter what week we re in it will never be enough before we actually reach full term!!!

BF- hmmmmm i like your analogy i m thinking i might steal it for a while as sharks are for me one of my worst fears along with spiders (i know dont laugh!) ow and if you ever find a way to time travel please book me in for the 31st of may!!! Xo

 

[liven1980]

Hello wonderful ladies,

JJ: Sorry it filled up so fast... but if it turnes out that the procedure works for a while and you can keep baby inside for more weeks, it is after all a goog thing. I mean the fact that something can be done. But I really hope it will be less painfiul, and that it can last longer if it now turnes out that you have to do it again.
I have used saltwater from the farmacy for the locked nose. I have had it for the last ten weeks, and my whole head is full off this clear slimy mucus. Sometimes i have to just caugh it out, and its often mixed with nose blood. Sorry bout details... but with saltwater it gives relief until next morning.
Kate: good tip about symptom diary...now I have one here at this thread as well

BF: timetravel have been primary wish since we lost Jacob...I so wish it was possible to get freezed down and wake up after a couple of months...

Well, my nerves lasted exactly until sunday midnight, where my dear OH had to drive me to hosp. I just kept playing a mind game with my self that was exhausting so we got me checked out. And there was nothing inidicating AF loss. Doc looked at the baby, seeing enough fluid, and tok a test that turned out negative. I am glad I did it, bec it is more today, but know now that it is discharge like you ladies have told me.... So happy about that. Doc did not take a regular swab though, so will go back to hosp for planned app with my regular doc also.

Thinking about you all

 

[JimmyJam]

Hey, count me in for time travel - I'm with Christiana, Bookfish, May 31 please. My waters are infested with giant, prehistoric sharks & they're really, really scary.

So, I'm in. Incarcerted on a ward overlooking Wormwood Scrubs with two other ladies in different degrees of labour ...

It's not so bad. The nurses are kind, I've had my first steroid shot & they're going to test my bloods for white blood cell action (infection) every other day. Has to be a good thing, no? I'm worried about Matt now though - I had a really bad day yesterday & he's exhausted. He looks totally & utterly wired. I've sent him home to eat & an early night. He looks so sad & forlorn I can't bear the thought of him sleeping alone. Pyjama was so sweet this morning, I had a hand on Matt's chest & she climbed on top of him & laid down & put a paw on my hand, nuzzling it with her little wet nose. I cried when I said goodbye to her, I don't know when I will see her next - nor what will have happened to me/to babynby then ...

Vicks helped the nasal congestion & has alleviated my symptoms so I'm not on the verge of a panic attack any more. Thnk you all for yr suggestions. I'm not feeling as massive either - I'm sure the poly is coming back but at least I feel safer here ... Hopefully I can last anoher week before they do it (the amnio) again ... Two would be amazing ...

One question: anyone, Lizzie, Olga, Kate: one midwife just came in & told me I should raise the foot of my bed b/c of the stitch & shrinking cervix. I obv know why, but anyone else had to do this? None of my doctors have recommended it - yet. Can they find any more medieval ways to torture me? Cerclage, amnioreduction, bed rest on a tilt?

Would welome advice. I thought I felt the stitch badly today & am wondering how it's bearing up ... Too many things to worry about. If I ever come out of this with my sanity intact I will end up looking like Miss Havisham ...

Gonna go now bhope this sends. Reception in this hospie is rubbish.

Night ladies, sweet dreams. Tomorrow's another day ...

Love, Jimmyjam xx

 

[chistiana]

Hey jimmy, just wanted to say i m glad your stay there is not that horrible and that you ve already had your first steroid shot! Dont worry about matt now hun, i know it s tough on him too but for now you need to concentrate on yourself and the baby, i m sure he can handle it. It sounds like you re being very closely monitored maybe you can ask your doc to check on the stitch just so you can keep your sanity? I dont know much about the tilted bed but it so just happened that about 1 month ago i read of a woman with ic and broken waters (not sure about the second bit) who was admitted in hospital at 24 weeks and stayed on a titled bed for 10 weeks just to take the pressure off the cervix. She gave birth to a healthy baby at 34 weeks! Xo have some rest hun

 

[JimmyJam]

Thanks Christiana. I'll tilt it a bit ... Thanks for yr lovely words, you're a sweetie.

Thanks too Lizzie for yr congrats ... Long way to go but hanging in there ...

Night night xx

 

[kateqpr]

Hey Jimmy,

Well, you're in! Well done - first mental hurdle over and done with. i hope you've packed a nice big bag of goodies for yourself to get through the next few weeks. I survived on getting Andy to bring me new snacks ( you soon start to see a pattern with the hospital food and their limited choices of yellow based food...), a new newspaper or magazines, plus box sets or films i've always meant to see. It's well worth being extra nice to the midwifes and nurses and getting to know them - a few nice kind words every few hours when they come and check on you, can make all the difference, especially when it's not visiting hours. And God, do you hear and see some things, listening to those around you in the maternity wards. Its a fascinating snap shot of life, (well would be, if you weren't in hospital in such crappy circumstances!).

I found it very tough not being with Andy and Poppy. I did do a lot of crying, especially when Andy had to leave. In fact most his visits ended with me welling up and worrying that i wasn't acting like myself any more, and that it was my fault that our life was turned so upside down. That it was exhausting him.

But i've just asked Andy about that time now and his thoughts on it, and in hindsight, really, honestly, Matt will be fine. It is YOU who has the shitty end of the stick at this time, and there really is nothing either of you can do other than accept it's a temporary period of time where nothing will feel that normal, but that you are working really hard as a team to get the best result for you both as a family. Yes, visiting your love one is hospital is horrible and exhausting, but being the one IN the hospital is much tougher, as it does tend to leave you feeling powerless and vulnerable. And worst still, not in your own lovely sanctuary of a bed. I used to text Andy as all hours of the night, not to wake him, but just so he would know i had been thinking of him and our home in the wee small hours, when sleep was an illusive stranger. I found plugging myself into the radio on my headphones helped me to block the world out at night, Oh, and eye masks! Definitely helped, when lights were being turned on and off around me.

It's so good to hear that your tummy doesn't feel so stretched today. It could well just have been normal pregnancy discomfort. And re the tipping your bed up? I wouldn't worry about that, based on your last cervical scan. I'm sure the midwife is trying to be helpful, but i would be guided by your consultants. You could always ask to speak to your doctor when they do their rounds in the morning, and get their opinion, but it did sound like your cervix was holding up okay last week. The trendelenburg position (tilty bed position!) seems to be used more in extreme circumstances, and not sure your cervical state is that extreme, in fact it's been quite stable. Just speak to your doctor - i'm sure they will reassure you!

Chin up, and think small goals. Wednesday is your first goal. And you've started your steriods, which is great news. Real progress. Lizzie is right, from 24 weeks, each day and week is such a bonus and you know your little one is getting stronger and stronger. You really are doing brilliantly. A remarkable lady!

(Oh, and I will visit you next week, Monday or Tuesday, when Andy's 40th is over and we're back to normality, as we have various people staying this week, then off to the Aviator Hotel on Thursday for a much needed night away...)

Hope everyone else is okay? I like the shark analogy. God, the second trimester is just the most stressful stretch of time. It's cruel, how torturous and fearful pregnancy can make you. But we're all doing brilliantly, and will get there. Success is the most likely outcome for all of us. It just NEVER feels that way, which is just sad - that we never get to bloom and enjoy pregnancy like other women do.

Sorry this is such a long rant. Love to you all. I am pooped!

XX

 

[lizziedripping]

Hi ladies

JJ - tilting the bed is usually a last resort for ladies who have no cervix left and bulging membranes - its debatable whether it actually helps, but logic tells you that removing ALL weight from a failing cervix can't hurt. Since IC is more to do with uterine expansion than sheer weight however, it probably doesn't do much more than decent rest lying on your side does. I am a believer in resting a tired uterus and cervix which is expanding and under strain, allowing it to do its primary job 'baby baking'. It is after all a huge muscle and placing additional pressure on it just might be enough to tip the balance in us IC ladies.

I think you're fine resting on a horizontal bed, but if it makes you feel more secure, and you can get comfortable it certainly won't do any harm to tilt the bed slightly Whatever you feel comfortable with really.

Cervix-wise, what you are feeling is more likely to do with your stage of pregnancy now, the baby getting bigger and more pressure on your nether regions. It's normal to have a 'bulky' feeling down below as you progress - your pelvic organs are under huge pressure and you can feel it! It's disconcerting because of the IC but is usual in uncomplicated pregnancies too, except less worrying for ladies without IC and a stitch. I felt as though I had a tampon hanging out from 22wks, but it was just pressure and prolapse due to the babies' size.

The separation from Matt and PJ must be tough I think the feeling of loneliness is heightened tho because of the reason for the separation more than for its own sake? This is an intensely emotional time for you all and the outcome uncertain. At times like these all you want is to curl up in bed with loved ones and pull the covers over your head but you can't, and that is sooo tough I think you're doing so well despite this JJ, your dignity and strength are amazing - even if you don't think so.

Your loved ones are behind you every step of the way (as are mine - everyone here knows your story and is praying for a positive outcome ) even if they can't be physically present. This journey is gonna be a tough one but you are most definitely NOT facing it alone my darlin'

Olga hun, very worried about you now sweet. Are you ok? Are you able to check in? Xxx

 

[lizziedripping]

Just seen Kate's tips for making hospital stays bearable - brilliant and very useful x