Incompetent Cervix - stitch/cerclage - threatened labour

[jessabella]

i cant believ my message never went through..urrgg..makes me angry..anyway good luck helen..
cant be bothered with posting all of it again..having contractions and havent slept since yesterday!! Not enough contractions for labour but enough to make me tired and worn out! boo

 

[Sherri81]

For those that had a Sharodkur... how did they remove it since it is so high up?? Was it painful?

 

[jessabella]

I think you have to go under spinal for the removal sherri..im not sure.

 

[HelenGee]

Ha ha - I can shed some light on that one Sherri- you need a spinal to remove it as it is high up and more often than not, involves moving the bladder slightly. I was given a spinal block, which dulled it, but DIDN'T block the pain! As my consultant was working in there, I said I could feel pain, she carried on while the anaesthetist put the general anaesthetic ready to knock me out. Then I said "ok stop!" and my doc said that she was nearly done. About 10 seconds later of what felt like havingy nerves scraped with a blade, she was finished. And she wasn't happy with the anaesthetist. So... If they come up with the great idea of not totally blocking then pain for a shirodkhar, then I wouldn't recommend it!

But I'm home now and apparently all is ok. The anaesthetic seemed to kick in about 30 mins after surgery, so I've been hanging on at the hospital waiting to get my legs back. My doc said it all looked really good inside, and I could go home and be a normal pregnant lady! I've had some bleeding, but then I had quite a lot when it was placed and was warned to expect it.

Thank you Jb and lizzie for your wishes. I'm going to take it steady for a few days at least. It's really comforting to know that there's someone supporting you when you're in a hospital bed feeling a bit lost.

How are the contractions Jb?

 

[mich1365]

Congrats Helen!!!! You are through with the final piece of the entire drama before the birth of another beautiful baby! I know this because your first is so adorable
xo
Michelle

 

[MikaylasMummy]

wow im sooo excited HG and JB you both have ur stitches out and could have ur lil bubbas anytime!!im hanging out to hear some news!!!hopefully u get to 37 weeks then go!yay for doing so great and keeping them safe

 

[jessabella]

omg the contractions are gonig nuts..im on TENS machine now..I just wish everyone would just stop sending me messages on facebook to say..oh your are in the beggining wait till they really start it will really hurt..why scare someone..dont they know I already know this..and planning for it to increase...goodness me..maybe im just hormonal..hahha
its just annoying..Tommorrow is my appointment to see what they will do and see how far along we have progressed..Im just praying they say oh wow..look you are 4cm
Or that they will help me go along..or maybe my water will just break tonight..that would be fantastic!!

 

[HelenGee]

Jb- it sounds like you're doing brilliantly. Some people just like to scare you, when the contractions get that painful, that's when you say that you need pain relief if you want it. Please don't worry, you'll sail through, you're doing the difficult bit now. Good luck and keep us posted x

 

[jessabella]

thanks for the support hun..I just really hate how some people are so negative about being preganant..I have even deleted some people from my FB who were constantly complaining about how they are so fed up with being pregnant and how they hate being pregnatn at 3rd tri...I love it..im just selfish and want her now..but other than that ..all the pain, heartburn, contractions, sleepless nights, backaches, ect ect..its all worth it for this miracle.

 

[lizziedripping]

JB, labour not that bad hun, the excitement seems to carry you thru x

Helengee, sorry your spinal didn't work love It is supposed to be as good as an epidural, they just can't top it up in the same way. I had one to extract my daughter and have the stitch removed, and I didn't really feel anything.

I had shirodkar removed after twins had been born whilst I was still numbed with epidural. It had become embedded, as shirodkars sometimes do, so it is usually removed under some kind of aneasthetic in theatre. x

 

[Sherri81]

Sh*t!! Since I am on blood thinners, there is no way I can have an epidural or spinal. There is too much of a risk with getting a spinal hematoma and becoming permanently paralyzed. So I guess it will be a general anesthetic for me.... I wonder if they could just do the whole thing at the same time... stitch and baby removal, just like that!

And JB, look, it does hurt. Thats why its called labour. I don't know why people do horror stories and try to scare people. Its like they're all trying to out do one another. But the thing is, no matter how much it hurts, by the time the baby is delivered, you feel 100% better, and within an hour after you have delivered, you will wonder what you were bitching about. Like I remember the pain of delivering Devon... but its just a memory. It was just a memory about 10 minutes afterward. Then I delivered the placenta, which also hurt, but 10 minutes after that I didn't feel any pain. And all I had was gas... So don't worry. Women have been doing this for thousands of years, and you will be fine.

Hey to get labour started really good, why don't you bounce on one of those big bouncy balls. I heard that works... Once again, why do I know how to start labour??

 

[MikaylasMummy]

oooh JB i am hoping u are dilating too!i had sometimes painful braxton hicks for a few weeks with mikayla and at 41 weeks with no labour or real labour pains i was 4cms..sounds like things will start moving very soon i am sooooooo excited to see pics!!
HG i had a spinal for my ceaser and u know how that turned out!!worked perfectly ONCE THEY FINALLY GOT IT IN!but had a bad side effect!!dont trust them at all anymore!

 

[ccb725]

@sherri: what type of thinners are you on??? I'm on heparin injections & I'll be a repeat csection and will require a spinal...yikes!

 

[Vaudha]

I have a tendency of low bp. Before pregnancy, my bp has always been 90/60. And now during the pregnancy it is between 100/70 and 100/60. I am sure during my McDonald stitch removal, they wont put me on any anesthesia. If I deliver normally, is epidural good for me?

I was admitted to hospital during last months as I had mild contractions. They put me on duadilan iv drips which basically relaxes uterus muscles, hence stopping contractions. This medicine also lowers the blood pressure. At one point, I had fainting feeling and could not breath. They had to put me on oxygen mask to help me breath. I was fine later. Sorry for TMI but i am really concerned about my low bp. My gyno have never showed any concerns about my bp so far.
Also, since 10-15 years, I have this low bp episodes once or twice in a year when I actually blackout and fall gradually because of low bp.
Should I say no to epidural? I am ready to bear the pain as I think I can do it. I am scared of side effects of epidural

 

[Vaudha]

And yes, I was on general anesthesia when they put on stitch. I was fie then. I am not very sure how much expert these specialist here who give epidural to me. I heard it is tricky.
One more thing, if they decide on c-section for me (I have gestational diabetes, so baby may be big, I have scan on 31st Dec, fingers crossed), will they just give spinal at that time? Spinal and epidural are not the same is it? Can spinal also decrease the blood pressure? Sorry for too many questions

 

[ccb725]

vaudha: congrats on making it to 32 weeks! I also run VERY low 70/50 when not pg & 90/50's while pg. I've never had blackouts though. I had an epidural with my 1st son & a spinal with my 2nd and I never had a problem. My doctor's never showed concern either. Definitely voice your concerns to your dr. Best of luck to you!

 

[Vaudha]

thank you ccb. I shall discuss with my doc

 

[HelenGee]

Hi
Sherri- I'm sure they could remove the stitch under a general anaesthetic, they were ready to give me a general.

Lizzie and MM - thanks! I've had 2 spinals before (one with my c-section and one when my stitch was put in) and both worked brilliantly. I'm grateful it was for stitch removal so it wasn't THE most painful of all procedures and quickly done.
I know they don't usually give anaesthetic for McDonald stitch removal so I'm glad it had a numbing effect even if it didn't totally work. x

Jb - I know exactly what you mean about feeling blessed. I do too and I got really annoyed with a girl in the opposite bed to me who was complaining about everything. The staff were rushed off their feet, but were taking great care of her and all she could do was moan about being pregnant and the midwives not looking after her. She sent her mum to McDonald's as she said she wasn't being fed and then wouldn't eat the perfectly fine dinner, asking for 3 desserts instead. It's so upsetting, makes you want to shake people by the throat! X

 

[jessabella]

well just got home..doctor gave me a sweep..a good one..wasnt too painful really...20 mins later contractions came on strong again...I am 2.5cm..she said not quite 3 yet but nearly..and said that she feels that I will go in labour very soon..within the next 48 hours she believes as baby is ready to go and everything looks very good. She also booked me for an induction on boxing day just in case nothing happens..had a time available today but she really wants me to try and go in labour with the sweep as they are very keen for me to go naturally. The next date was only boxing day so thats what I got which I am very happy with. I do however hope that baby comes on her own.
Doctor said if we do go on to induce then she will only use one gel insert and then break waters as she feels I am so close that is all I would need.

 

[Susanah]

Oooh JB am excited for you !! let us know!!!

Vaudha - I can try answer anaesthetic related questions - I give spinals/epidurals and GAs frequently to patients.
Spinals go into the bottom of your spinal cord where the nerves have stopped and its a one off injection, very tiny needle. Epidurals go into the space outside of the spinal cord, closer to your skin. The drugs spread across the membrane between this space and the spinal cord space, to the nerves of the spinal cord. We leave a little tube in that space to give drugs - a top up dose - as pain increases or drugs wear off. The drugs we give and painkillers (opiate) and Local anaesthetic. The doses do not usually effect the baby to any significant degree.

Epidurals decrease your BP far less than spinals - but there are many simple medicines that can be given at the same time as a spinal/GA to stop your blood pressure going too low.

The most important thing is that you are feelin in control of what is going on.
Epidurals are fantastic, as are spinals.
I have had a couple of spinals and would recommend them to almost anyone.
I need to have a medicine to increase my blood pressure during my last spinal and it just goes into the drip.
It is standard practice to have blood pressure raising medicine drawn up and ready to give before going anywhere near a pregnant lady, as low BP is so very common. it has virtually no side effects and is given regularly.
Also, your BP is very low in the first and second trimester, but raises towards the middle and end of the third. All anaesthetists should be very prepared to cope with low BP/high BP as its part of the package with pregnancy.
If you have any specific questions - just ask.

Sherri - see nearer the time. GA is a likely option but you would want to do it a few weeks before EDD. Some of the drugs cross the placenta can make baby a bit floppy. We do do GAs for emergency sections/elective sections, but limit the amount of drugs given until baby is out, then we give the pain killers etc.
They may elect to GA Section you and remove stitch at that point due to all your complications. They will probably alter your anticoagulation regime before doing anything surgically, but it depends what you are on and dosage.

Susanah