Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[ChovieGirl]

Okay so I have been experiencing the most horrific heartburn for the last fews days. It even hurts to drink water at times. I know this is more common in the 3rd trimester, but I wasn't expecting it at 23 weeks.

Anyone else have this? Any natural remedies?

I have been taking Tums and something called Zantac, but it never fully goes away.

 

[chistiana]

Hey chovie! Oooowww just the title made me hurt! I had terrible heartburn from very early on and undortunately it only went away when i had my daughter. I took maalox that helped a little bit and also resorted to sleeping sitted in my bed! Someone told me a spoonful of mastic works wonders but i never tried it. Hope it goes away soon hun.

 

[blav]

I have a question for you ladies. I had a cerclage done at 13 weeks, everything has been fine since then. The last few days to a week though, I had had a lot of pain very low in my abdomen...just above where the pubic hair would start. I thought it was round ligament which I guess it could be but today I'm more concerned its cerclage related. When I stand or sit there is pain/pressure/pulling? I'm not really sure how to explain what it feels like. I see my doctor on Tuesday and will of course bring it up. I'm concerned about bed rest, my job has been very stressful lately and I am in constant back pain and now this. I will be 18 weeks tomorrow.

I am 23 weeks and can relate with the pain/pressure/pulling in my lower abdomen. I swear I go through bouts of this about once a week. I think I really started feeling it more around 18 weeks. Just think, your baby is really going to grow your second trimester! Even though you would think I would get used to the pains after a few weeks, it still freaks me out; however, every time I go to the doctor, my stitch still looks good. So, I bet you are having growing pains. It is so hard not to worry about every little thing! Also, not sure if you are experiencing constipation, but I have noticed that when I am having this issue a lot of times I also have gas and a hard time going.

As far as your stressful job goes... You might need to consider the bed rest. My job is usually pretty stressful as well and I am really glad now that I am at home and not having to worry about my job on top of all my other worries. Does your job require you to stand a lot?

Take care!

Ahhh, all of that does make me feel better! We got a Doppler which had helped in the reassurance area but you having very similar symptoms helps too!

My job is very up and down. I can sit but I also am probably up and down a hundred times in the course of an 8.5 hour shift. I also don't get any breaks at all so once I'm at work, I'm there going 100 miles per hour until my shift is over. I work with customers and it's difficult to be friendly when my back hurts, I'm worried about baby, and I haven't eaten in 8 hours!

 

[ChovieGirl]

Blav -

That does sound like a stressful job! Your back is probably hurting from the baby weight and standing. I have no clue how you can go 8 hours without eating - I would be starving! I would definitely talk to your doctor about your job. Make sure you at least are staying hydrated while working and listen to your body. If you feel the need to sit down, then you might really need to find a way to take a break and sit for a little bit.

Maybe a good back massage would make you feel a little better. My hubby has been giving me them the last couple of days and they are soooo nice! I wish they would last beyond the pregnancy, but I doubt that will happen. lol

 

[blav]

Hahaha! My OH does give back rubs but I think he gets bored easily and they are never long enough! I work at a veterinary ER so the shifts can be very hit or miss. Some are crazy busy and some aren't but the days that are busy just aren't worth the risk to the baby. In addition to the stress of the pregnancy, i got a client complaint and my boss has said if I get another I'll be put on "probation" which makes me even more stressed! During our loss they were very supportive but I don't feel like they understand how much I worry about everything now and how much it effects me. I don't expect them to understand, but it's also a heavy burden to carry being worried about every little thing. I hope my doctor is understanding. In a way I really just wish she would put me on bed rest so I can focus on a healthy baby!

 

[bluestarlight]

Hi, I haven't been on in a little while. I got out of the hospital on the 4th of july at nearly 28 weeks they said I could do my bed rest at home. They checked me just before I left and said cervix still felt the same as when I came in so I did something right. Been home for a bit over a week now and have only had the usual braxton hicks contractions. I'm alllowed to sit and get food, shower and bath room. I just had my first appointment since I've been out, she said she might start lifting some of my restrictions and at 32 weeks I might be able to return to work I was just so happy to be let home, I missed my family so much. Lol, after a couple of hours my baby girl remembered that I am mommy and very comfortable to sleep on. But she is closer to daddy now, even says "dada" hasn't said "mama" yet. I am still not allowed to lift her though (even though I do) that is the one thing they said I should not be doing until after the baby is born. Sigh...So status quo here, just enjoying my family and baby staying in so far. Don't know if I have made anything worse since being home.

 

[ChovieGirl]

That is great news Bluestar!

 

[lch28]

glad you are home now hun

 

[Mumzie3]

@ChovieGirl-----A good remedy for heart burn or acidity is having a spoon full of plain yogurt...that ought to do the trick

 

[LindyB]

Thats really great news blue star light. You are over 29 weeks now as well - not long til 30!

How are you feeling now Mumzie? How long is it since your stitch?

 

[chistiana]

Bluestarlight- its great news you re home and your cervix is behaving hun, well done!!!but i ve said it before and i ll say it again.... Please please please dont pick your lo up... I know how hard it is (i couldnt pick him up from week 12 to week 35) but the only one time i let myself go loose (his b day) i ended up having my daughter. Please please just let her climb onto you and cuddle in bed...once you have your baby you can glue your girl on you all you want!!

 

[LindyB]

Has anyone had group B strep present with an incompetent cervix? I know Alisha knows quite a bit about this. I had it present in my 1st pregnancy which was found in a vaginal swab. Leo was born at 34 weeks and I can remember the doctor saying that they didn't know what had caused them to break but it may have been the group b strep and not necessarily my cervix being short.

It was found again yesterday when I went into hospital for a small amount of bleeding/spotting. They said it was only a scant amount. I was tested over 2 weeks ago when I had the stitch and they didn't find anything and before I was pregnant and they didn't find anything. It confuses me so much. The midwife says I can't have antibiotics and that it only causes a risk to the baby at birth. But I'm not convinced about the risk between Group B strep and PROM.

Can anyone help? I feel so annoyed because I feel like I was being sensible and relaxed over the spotting I had yesterday - I put it down to the long lengths of the stitch scratching me. Now this. I don't know what to do.

 

[Hopeful 4 #1]

Saw a post on here about not lifting LO's. I have no choice. He is 15mo but due to prematurity is still not walking so I HAVE to lift him up. Is that really bad?!

 

[lch28]

Ask your doctor hun. From what i remembered my doctor said i would not be able to lift anything over 15 lbs.

 

[lizziedripping]

Hey everyone, sorry for not being around we were on holiday until Saturday and I'd assumed I'd be able to keep dipping in and out whilst away but the bloomin mobile signal was awful and I couldn't do any more than the occasional log on/get immediately kicked off again!!! Daren't start typing long posts for fear of getting booted off in the middle of it - infuriating.

Instead of trawling through pages of missed messages, please feel free to post direct to me again girls if there's anything you think I might be able to help with. I'm up and running again so can reply within a few hrs Hope everyone is ok and nothing too stressful has happened

Lindy Hun, will sit down this evening and reply properly to you sweet xxx

 

[Alisa F]

Lindy – I’m “heavily colonised” with GBS. They recently found it in my urine and treated me with 7 days of antibiotics. However, I was told that the only reason I got antibiotics was cos it was in my URINE, and that it’s not good to have bacteria of any sort in your urine when preggers. BEWARE – GBS in urine can only be detected by urine CULTURE. It will not be detected with urine dipstick test. I knew something was wrong with me and insisted on urine culture. GP tried to convince me I was ok cos dipstick was ok, but I insisted and sure enough I had GBS in urine and was treated. If you don’t have any symptoms then you’re probably ok. I was having a lot of back/flank pain constantly and going wee wee every 10 mins (I’m not exaggerating) so I knew something was up.

Doctors at high risk clinic told me that if GBS is found on vag swab they will NOT treat me as it is only a risk during labour. If GBS has been found in vag during pregnancy, you must assume you are GBS positive in labour (GBS test can come back false negative, so once you have it you must assume even if you test negative at a later date that you still have it). When you go into labour you should be given IV antibiotics immediately. This needs to be administered for 4 hours to be fully effective and topped up every 4 hours thereafter until you deliver.

The best source of information is on “GBS International” site. The admins will actually reply to you if you have any specific questions. GBS in vag is very common and not a big deal for the majority, it’s just I’m unlucky to be heavily colonised and I get it in my urine. You’ve not mentioned any such symptoms so I think you’ve got nothing to worry about…..

 

[chistiana]

Hopeful my son was 16 months when i got pg... I know it is almost impossible not to lift them but please try and do as little lifting as possible. Do you not have anyone to help you out? Does your lo crawl? Maybe he can come to you and climb up while you re sitted?

Lindy- i had strep b with my son but when they checked again at 35 weeks it was gone (i had taken antibiotics though). I also had it again with my daughter but doc said it didnt matter and they d check again at 36 weeks.. If they still found it then they would give me antibiotics during labour...i had an emergency c section at 35 weeks so no antibiotics or anything and my daughter is perfectly healthy!

 

[LindyB]

Thank you everyone! I just lost it when I spoke to the midwife. I was found to have Group B strep in my 1st pg so I should have known it would turn up again. I knew I'd have to have antibiotics again during labour. I'll definitely mention a proper urine test next appointment . Does your cervix have to be open for it to cause rupture of membranes? Mines closed with the stitch. Will this keep it out?
It must have been there when I was pg with Arthur and I had a stitch at 16 weeks. I just didn't know because I was never tested after the stitch went in. That pregnancy was such a different experience . I never had my cervix measured etc and I was completely relaxed and never worried.

Hopeful in my last pg I used to pick Leo up and I had a stitch. He walked at 18 months and was 20 months when Arthur was born. No one told me not to.

This time I've been told not to pick up Arthur on numerous occasions by my consultant. Arthur is 2 and a half and not walking due to special needs and he is 12 kg about. I continued to pick him until my cervix shortened and I had a stitch, it was very hard not to. Now my parents are coming to help look after him when he is not at nursery and my husband is working.

 

[Hopeful 4 #1]

Hopeful my son was 16 months when i got pg... I know it is almost impossible not to lift them but please try and do as little lifting as possible. Do you not have anyone to help you out? Does your lo crawl? Maybe he can come to you and climb up while you re sitted?

Lindy- i had strep b with my son but when they checked again at 35 weeks it was gone (i had taken antibiotics though). I also had it again with my daughter but doc said it didnt matter and they d check again at 36 weeks.. If they still found it then they would give me antibiotics during labour...i had an emergency c section at 35 weeks so no antibiotics or anything and my daughter is perfectly healthy!

I don't lift him when it isn't necessary. He does crawl. But obviously I need to carry him up the stairs, take him out of his cot, put him in his highchair, the bath etc. Hubby works Mon-Weds and the other days he does everything for me since having the cerclage in. I still question if I am doing too much though. All our friends and fam are mainly in different cities so its difficult to get help!

 

[Hopeful 4 #1]

Lindy – I’m “heavily colonised” with GBS. They recently found it in my urine and treated me with 7 days of antibiotics. However, I was told that the only reason I got antibiotics was cos it was in my URINE, and that it’s not good to have bacteria of any sort in your urine when preggers. BEWARE – GBS in urine can only be detected by urine CULTURE. It will not be detected with urine dipstick test. I knew something was wrong with me and insisted on urine culture. GP tried to convince me I was ok cos dipstick was ok, but I insisted and sure enough I had GBS in urine and was treated. If you don’t have any symptoms then you’re probably ok. I was having a lot of back/flank pain constantly and going wee wee every 10 mins (I’m not exaggerating) so I knew something was up.

Doctors at high risk clinic told me that if GBS is found on vag swab they will NOT treat me as it is only a risk during labour. If GBS has been found in vag during pregnancy, you must assume you are GBS positive in labour (GBS test can come back false negative, so once you have it you must assume even if you test negative at a later date that you still have it). When you go into labour you should be given IV antibiotics immediately. This needs to be administered for 4 hours to be fully effective and topped up every 4 hours thereafter until you deliver.

The best source of information is on “GBS International” site. The admins will actually reply to you if you have any specific questions. GBS in vag is very common and not a big deal for the majority, it’s just I’m unlucky to be heavily colonised and I get it in my urine. You’ve not mentioned any such symptoms so I think you’ve got nothing to worry about…..

You have freaked me out about this. I pee like twice and hour. Sometimes three times. Maybe I could ask for a culture to be done?!
What antibiotics did they have u on? I have just finished my course post op n its given me oral thrush!! one thing after another eh!