Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[LaRockera]

Christiana hon, I don't remember having regular, contraction-like pains, but I do remember lower cramping starting around 33-34 weeks, so it may be BH? I would check with your doctor to be completely sure. How regular are they? If they come and go at random times and don't intensify progressively I wouldn't worry. Look at you, you'll be full term soon!

Aegle- when you say cervical opening, do you mean cervical dilation? Your cervix should be shut at this point, and not open at all, so not sure what your doctor meant. I had the stitch inserted at 13+3 due to funneling (dilation) as a preventative measure, so any sort of opening should be monitored (although don't panic, my cervix remained a good 48mm until week 27, so there was no case of IC in the end). If your doctor meant short cervical length then yes, you should ask for a TVU and keep an eye on it.

 

[chistiana]

LR thanks hun... They are a little different i believe to bh as they are quite painful and they do remind me the pain i was getting while in labor with ds... They are not very regular, i will get 3-4 in an hour then nothing for 2-3 hours and then another 2-3 painful contractions. The pain is at a degree that i actually cant really move or walk or even turn in my bed when they do happen...HOWEVER i did stay in bed all day today and they were less than usual so i ll keep it low tomorrow too and then maybe go for a test on monday if my doc advises me to. Thanks though hun, how are you and xanthe doing??

Aegle- just try to eat as healthily as possible and sleep on your left side as much as possible. Dont worry about the numbness, nothing to do with the umbilical cord, maybe you slept on your back??? They do advise not to sleep on your back because the baby can put pressure on nerves and cause numbness.

 

[sunkiss]

hello ladies

it has been so long since i updated, i hope everyone is still doing well!! fayth n i are doing well, thank God she is still in there cooking n growing strong!! unfortunately i did have to go on bed rest as of friday since my cervix went from 3.0 to 1.3 since the stitch was placed (over time). it has almost funneled down to the stitch . i have been feeling some pressure in the vagina area but mostly at the end of the day, i didnt have any pains though, just the pressure. i can feel her kick me literally in the cervix also which is probably not helping matters. boy is she a strong little kicker in there !! i can also feel a little burning feeling up in my vagina (sorry tmi) not when i pee just every now n then, i think its where the stitch is, maybe that is where she kicks sometimes. my doc put me on nifedipine (generic for procardia) to relax my uterus, she said that can also help with the funneling, she will check me next week to see where we are at. she said that the cervix can grow again in length. i just pray my cervix can hold on so i can keep her cooking as long as possible. good news is fayth is a healthy little baby, her anatomy came back good n she already weighs a pound!! i dont worry about her now that i can feel those strong little kicks n movement everyday, i just worry about my cervix. i will do everything i can to save my little girl, i dont care if i have to stay in this bed for the rest of my pregnancy!! well i will have more time to come update n chat with u lovely ladies since i am on bedrest now !! how is everyone doing?

 

[lizziedripping]

Hi aegle - I am not sure what you mean by your cervical opening is smaller than it should be. Did your Doc mean it is shorter than it should be? X

Christiana - I did have bh contractions as frequently as every 10/15mins per hour over a few hours each day. They happened between 20 and 32wks and oddly lessened as I got further on - probably because my uterus was 'tired' and incapable of contracting due to the combined twin weight. Your pattern of contracting is exactly e same as mine was.

I didn't however have pain as such. Occasional,y they were uncomfortable, and left me with an aching back (much like early labour), but they were nothing like as painful as actual labour - the pain was different too somehow.

Its difficult to say for certain if this is just bh or the beginnings of labour for you hun, but at this stage it could easily be intense bh - particularly because this is your second pregnancy. If it were labour then it's likely that you'd progress, they'd get more intense, consistent and frequent within a few days (a week at most). Also, Some women can have clusters of mild contractions like this early on which come and go until d-day, but that can go on for weeks!

You're doing the right thing by resting sweet. It is possible to 'tip the balance' either way by either resting or being active at this point. You may well buy yourself some extra valuable weeks with rest, especially because labour isn't yet officially due.

Keep me posted as things happen - if by Tuesday things have fully eased off the this is probably just one of those things as your body prepares for future labour

Sun kiss - Sorry to hear you're on full bed rest, but so relieved to hear baby is still where she should be

Though not ideal, the fact that your cervix has funneled almost to stitch is not unusual nor abnormal in IC. Mine had done the same from around 24wks and I still went to term with a very heavy load. It goes to prove that you needed the stitch, and that it is doing its job. I would have been much more surprised if your cervix had remained long and closed - it would have called into the question the need for the surgery in the first place.

My consultant was almost relieved when finally she saw funneling on my scan at 25wks! Up til then it looked as tho my cervix was normal and not at all weak - as she had predicted when seeing it at 12wks. It confirmed that the stitch had been necessary after all and she wasn't at all worried by the funneling. I wasn't told to officially rest either - the stitch itself should be enough to resolve the IC. I always recommend it tho, and still maintain it and the stitch got me to term.

Rest well honey xxx

 

[chistiana]

Lizzie- thank you so much for the reply hun! I guess It could be more intense bh that i might be feeling even more painful because of the lack of space in there. On the other hand my son was born 2300gr and this baby is already 2kg so maybe my bu cant take too much more...hopefully it s the first case though. I will keep an eye on it and rest as much as possible at least until 35 weeks, then take it from there! Did you also have the feeling if your bones moving? I mean could i really be feeling her getting engaged???i feel like my pelvic is going to split in half!

Sunkiss- hey hun, so sorry you re on bed rest. You do however siund very positive and determined so i guess that s what matters! Phew for having had the surgery!!! I was on bed rest for approximately 18 weeks and i honestly dont regret it at all (not that i was allowed differently!!) if it s the best you can do for your bubs then so be it!!

 

[lizziedripping]

Hi C - I did have the pelvic bone crunching sensation with the twins almost constantly from 28wks, and from about 36wks with my first singleton who was over 9Ibs (4kgs).

Maybe the feeling is more to do with having reached your own personal uterine capacity than engagement as such, and just the generalised ligament/pubic bone stretching as you near term (or near term size as was the case with the twins earlier on at 28wks).

For you this might happen sooner because there is less space, but for me it was a familiar feeling anyway which didn't necessarily indicate impending labour. My uterus must be the size of a saggy, old, amd very large bin bag by now but I still experienced it lol Remebering that even with your bu, there will be slightly more growing room this time around because you are stretched from your previous baby. I'd say your uterus can now accommodate the capacity of atleast your son's size, if not more.

If labour is imminent (of which I am not convinced), I doubt yet that your baby's size is the cause. Hang in their chicken, will send positive thoughts your way.

 

[chistiana]

Thanks lizzie, yes i would expect i can carry at least 2300 if not a little bit more so that might buy me some time still! Will keep you updated! x

 

[LaRockera]

Christiana - give us an update when you see your doc. Although since you're still here posting, I figure things are good? All well our side, thanks for asking hon, I need to give an update and some pictures soon, I reckon.

Sunkiss- sorry you had to go on bedrest hon, although if it's for the best, it's totally worth it. Like I said before, many ladies go on full bedrest without the stitch and make it to a great GA, so your chances are great. And yes, cervices are dynamic, and yours can very well grow with bed rest. It's all gonna be fine, just hang on!

 

[sunkiss]

thank u so much ladies, ur knowledge really help reassure me !! all the success stories i read here help to give me hope i can make it. so happy to see u still holding on christina, yay for 33/5 weeks, i only pray to make it that far !!

one question ladies since its my only real discomfort that i worry about, i have some pressure in the vagina area, should i be feeling that? is it normal? did u feel that at some point? its not painful or alot of pressure but i feel it there most of the time now. maybe i feel this now because i have funneled practically to the stitch?

 

[chistiana]

Hey sunkiss! I think the pressure is pretty nornal, i had/have it too from almost right after the stitch...i m not sure we re talking about the same but my feeling was as if something was going to drop out of there at any minute. And that was een worse when bubs was kicking on my cervix, i thought i d see a foot or something. It never came to anything of course and later the doc confirmed that my girl was indeed jumping up and down with er feet on my cervix. Now it feels a lot more like i m carrying a canon ball in my vagina but i guess i am!! Try not to worry hun but if you still want some reassurance dont hasitate to call your doc and have her check!x

 

[chistiana]

LR yes still here girl, still having thise painful contractions but called the doc and he said if it were real contractions they would probably damage the stitch and i d be bleeding...none of that thank goodness so i m laying low!! And YES it is time for some pics, xanthe must have grown so much in the past weeks, we wannt see!!!

 

[chistiana]

LR yes still here girl, i do still have the contractions but doc said as long as i have no bleeding to indicate the stitch is damaged not to worry, so i m laying low for now! And YES it is time for some more pics, xanthe must have grown so much in the past weeks, we wanna see!!!

 

[millieboo1111]

hey ladies!! im 21wks today this week of bedrest hasnt been too bad at all and weve had more visitors than we would of had at home lol

im a bit more settled in hospital now, making myself right at home. all the mws who looked after me last time have bobbed in to say hello and advised me that even if the docs say im ok to go after 4 weeks i should claim squatters rights and refuse to leave

im just playing the waiting game and no news is good news so occasionally the mw pops in to give me pills and do obs otherwise i dont bother them i figure if there not bothering me all is well

im feeling so much more relaxed and looking on the brightside i will never get to lay around like this when baby comes. im going to make the most of it.

sunkiss your story sounds almost identical to mine stay positive on bed rest I know we are going to meet our miracle babies when they are well baked. i found a site dedicated to HR pregnancies called sidelines who can link you up with a bed rest buddy to email or chat with and they also have a chat room.

Thanks again i dont know where i would be without this forum. hope you are all well xx ellie xx

 

[chistiana]

Ellie yaaaaaayyyyy for 21 weeks and well done girl for being so positive!!!! It s 100% sure bed rest is going to pass way quicker with this kind of attitude plus you re right... Rest now that you can!!

 

[sunkiss]

thank u so much christina, yes it does feel as u described n i feel it more when she kicks me there, i seen her kicking me right in the cervix on the scan, n if she has her momma's feet those kicks are lethal !! my girlfriend that is 33 weeks like u with the stitch says the same like u, her vagina feels numb from the pressure, i guess since baby is head down n bigger its alot more pressure now. thank God u ladies only have a few more weeks to go !!

hiya ellie, congrats on 21 weeks !! each week is a major accomplishment for us cerclage ladies !! according to my lmp i turned 22 weeks yesterday but i ov late in my cycle so i use that date even though my doc uses lmp. thanks for the encouragement n info hun !! so u are on hospital bedrest, are u funneled to ur stitch also? how much cervix do u have left?

 

[danielita]

hello ladies,

today we checked the twins and the cervix.
tomorrow we are 27 wks of pg (and also 10 wks since i had the cerclage and also complete bed rest). twins have around 1kg each, which is good. the other parameters look also ok.
cervix...of course, baby1 has his head right besides cervix .
tvu showed 2.1 cm length of cervix, no funneling. the stitch looks ok. we saw during the tvu that each time when the baby move a little bit his head (so releasing the pressure of the cervix), the cervix length increased a little bit. anyway, the doctor said we take into account 2.1 cm of the cervix (when the cervix has pressure on it, generated by baby1's head). to be honest, i have moments when i feel panic regarding the baby's head near the cervix, plus the fact i am caring twins, plus the fact in the following weeks they will get bigger and bigger and then: what will be happening with my cervix???
on the other hand, i refuse to think negative and i keep my faith in this pregnancy. i hope the complete bed rest will continue to help me to keep my babies in my uterus. maybe we will elevated a little bit more the bed (now is 20 cm lifted, maybe we try 25).
regarding the contractions, i would say i am still ok, i mean i have them now and then and they are maintaining bh.

sunkiss, i also feel a pressure on my cervix/vagina (when i am outside of the bed, which is very seldom - so when the gravitation works against me) which i guess is generated by baby1 who stays very, very low.

ellie, i am very glad to see you are optimistic.

book.fish, how are you?

 

[millieboo1111]

thank you Sunkiss!!! im still funnelling (before and after stitch) but they didnt mention how much she said a little bit but i have only got 10mm of cervix left from 29mm wk18 to 10mm wk20 i had emergency cerclage week 18. i also have pains and pressure some shooting pains occasionally which im not too worried about i feel lots of pressure when im out of bed which is only when i go to the bathroom. are you on any meds? antibiotics? nefidepine?

christina thanks for cheerleading and well done on 33+5 your doing amazing!!

Danelita well done on 27 wks and 10 weeks bed rest and twins!!

 

[sunkiss]

ellie, we have just about the same amount of cervix left, my stitch is placed at 1.0cm n i am at 1.3 now, started at 3.0 when they placed the stitch at 16 weeks with no funneling. i am on nifedipine 3x a day. do u think that med is helpful? she never put me on the p17 shot that i heard so many others on. wut meds r u on?

danielita, u are doing very well hun to have 2.1 cervix with twins !! bedrest n the stitch is really helping u, it gives me hope !!

 

[millieboo1111]

Hey sunkiss, lizzie said to me that 10mm is not the end of the world aslong as we are resting. i read that a lady was still carrying at 2mm with bulging membranes on bed rest.

im on a course of antibiotics, nefedipine x2 per day (i hope it is helpful but im not having contractions so thats good) and clexane shot for bloodclots. what p17 shot is that testosterone for babys lungs? they said i can have that at 24 weeks. ellie xx

ps apps not 21 wks until tomorrow oh well i will celebrate again tomorrow lol

 

[HelenGee]

Hi ladies, I'm so glad you are all still happily baking, that's such good news. I'm so sorry I've not been any use to anyone recently, it's been a shocking month back at work and I'm barely getting a second to do anything. Hopefully it'll calm down a touch now that the gcse coursework deadline has been and gone and I can start to catch up with normality!

Sunkiss- bedrest will be a relief to you I think, I know that I would be worried about being at work, and even though you have funnelled, which is exactly what you would expect with ic, at least you have been given official orders to stay off your feet. It's tough to retreat so much from normality, but it's good to know that you are doing the absolute best you can. You can take so much comfort from that!

Ellie- I am so in awe by your positive attitude, I wish I'd been next to you on the hospital ward, I was a pathetic, weeping wreck. You are one amazing lady, and bubs will be so proud of you

Christiana- I'm not sure about the BH, I only really had the painless tightenings, but then my labour was a back labour, my first was almost like an ic labour but at full term, where I dilated quickly and painlessly. You have done so well to get to 33 weeks, and even at 34 weeks, everything will be so great for you if it does progress. I am a 34 weeker and needed no extra hospital care, other than waiting for my weight to increase, they wouldn't release babies until they were at least 5lbs. I am so excited for you, you'll be welcoming a gorgeous healthy baby in the not too distant future.

Hi Lizzie, happy 2nd birthday to your boys, I'm so sorry that one of them was poorly. Isn't it always the way though? I can't believe they are 2 now...time really does fly (except when you're on bed rest of course )

MA - ooooh the flabby belly, hangy stomach. I have the floppy kangaroo pouch from aft my first c section. It certainly didn't prevent conception, and my ic was caused my a cervical tear from the ventouse, so it wasn't really an issue. Post 2nd baby, it's worse, my stomach is muscles are non-existent and I don't have time to exercise. I am convinced tho that my lack of muscle tone does not help my prolapse. After my first I did everything I could to tone it back up, but nothing worked, even my gp suggested a tummy tuck! My abdomen is slightly split, but I know that really, only surgery will correct it all. I just feel lucky to have what I do so I'll worry about it later. I do keep being asked how many weeks preg I am tho! I've given up getting annoyed! Hope little Amelia is doing well

Kate- I don't know if I really congratulated you properly, so CONGRATS! I love the name too, I hope you're doing well x

jimmy- how are you and Soren? You must be so busy, thinking of you all x

Bookfish- how are you my sweet?

Jessi- been wondering how you're doing too,..would love to know if you can let us know....