Incompetent Cervix

[lizziedripping]

Hi lizziedripping just thought i would add when i had my stitch removed with megan it was quite simple they do it in labour ward in a room no spinal they offer gas and air if needed though i didnt use it and didnt feel pain at all though maybe some others do took like 5 mins to remove on normal bed in room and then stayed for half an hour to monitor me and baby then went home i didnt go into labour until 2 weeks later just thought id let you know how it was done for me well done rensben and ellahstruts on getting so far you to lizziedripping you will all be soon holding happy healthy babies xxx

Hi Selina - thanks for your reply, but I suspect you may have had a macdonald stitch which is removed in an ordinary room. I have a shirodkar which is stitched to my bladder and vaginal wall and is much higher up the cervix, so it more tricky to remove.

As it happens, I went for a 34 week scan yesterday, and the leading twin is still breech so they have to do a ceasarean. I'm booked in for 26th APril. When you have a section they don't remove the stitch until then, so it's not an issue any more.

I did find out that removing a shirodkar involves a spinal and being in theatre, so I'm glad that that hasn't now got to happen. I'd have been really worried it would trigger labour

Much love x

 

[selina22]

wow lucky you, your going to have your boys really soon you must be excited now you can relax unlike the past 6 months enjoy it am so happy for you 26th april is my mums birthday lol are you ready for them sorry about the stitch thing i dont know the names but mine was defo not attached with bladder so must be different , the main thing is you boys will be with you within a month woohoo im excited and i dont even know you im so happy i like positives and am so pleased keep us updated xxxx

 

[lanaross]

Hi ladies! As an update I delivered my precious bundle of joy at 38.2 weeks after bedresting for about six weeks. Isabella Catherine was born on March 14, weighing a whooping 7 pounds and 20 inches long. We are in love and super exhausted. Bed rest definitely worked for me and it seems that I delivered just a week after I was allowed to get up.

For all who are still on bed rest, tons of hugs and it will be over before you know it. Thanks ladies for all support xxxx

 

[selina22]

congratulations on your little bundle of joy, lots of sleepless nights ahead lol x

 

[JadeyB]

Hi ladies,

How is everyone doing??

Lanaross - Huge congratulations!!! Sounds like the bedrest really did its job. Isabella is such a beautiful name - we had picked out Isabella or Sofia if this bubba was a girl. Do you have a link to photos anywhere else on the forum? Would love to see her.

Lizziedripping - Congrats on getting a date for your c-section. Its not very long to go at all. I'm sure if still feels ages away - I can only imagine how uncomfortable you must be now - measuring at 45 weeks wow!! I know what you mean about it all being worth it though as opposed to having a 24 weeker. Very different experiences, but ones that I'm sure neither of us would ever want to repeat .

Ellastruts - congrats on making it to 34 weeks - thats fab news!

Rensben and Bec - I hope you are both doing well.

I took a trip to the hospital yesterday as I was worried about movement. They hooked me up to the ECG and baby is doing perfectly fine. Obviously just having a lazy Sunday - who can blame him.

My consultant happened to be there and he did a scan. Baby is measuring at just under 3lbs which is fab news. He has put on a 1lb in 2 weeks.

xx

 

[rensben]

Hi ladies,

Well, I am back in the hospital due to contractions that started last evening at 9pm and continued every 4minutes to 9am this morning! The drugs finally worked and they stopped. I am still in the hospital and getting the second shot of steroids tonight. They said they wouldn't stop labour if it started back up. They would take out the stitch and let things progress naturally. I am at 30 weeks and 3 dys and quite nervous but I have come along way from my emergency stitch at21 weeks!

Lanaross: congratulations on nyour little bundle of joy. I would love to make it to 37 weeks but 7 more weeks of bed rest is daunting! I've already been on it 10!

 

[JadeyB]

Hi ladies,

Well, I am back in the hospital due to contractions that started last evening at 9pm and continued every 4minutes to 9am this morning! The drugs finally worked and they stopped. I am still in the hospital and getting the second shot of steroids tonight. They said they wouldn't stop labour if it started back up. They would take out the stitch and let things progress naturally. I am at 30 weeks and 3 dys and quite nervous but I have come along way from my emergency stitch at21 weeks!

Lanaross: congratulations on nyour little bundle of joy. I would love to make it to 37 weeks but 7 more weeks of bed rest is daunting! I've already been on it 10!

Sorry to hear that you are having contractions. I really hope that bubba stays put for a few more weeks yet. I'm pleased you have had the steriod injections, I'm sure that those will really help.

Although far from ideal - 30 weeks is brilliant and the chance of any long term problems are slim!

Good luck honey, I am thinking of you. xxx

 

[lizziedripping]

Wow! Firstly, Lanaross many congratulations on the birth of Isabella - well done, your IC journey is thankfully over with a happy outcome, inspiration to us all

Rensben, my thoughts are with you honey, but I have to say, 30wks is a great milestone. If we could have got Evie to that we would have been thrilled You too have done so well, and every extra day bubs stays put makes the world of difference. I'm certain he'll be fine

Bed rest is tough, I've been making a dent in the sofa now for 21wks and I am going insane It is so worth it tho. I never realised how moronic daytime tv was until now

Thanks JadeyB for your kind words - and yes, I am getting bigger, and nope I'm not sure how I'm still stretching. Bump looks so odd - I look like the Mr Men character, Mr Greedy

Love to you all - and keep fighting the fight

 

[lanaross]

Hi ladies,

Well, I am back in the hospital due to contractions that started last evening at 9pm and continued every 4minutes to 9am this morning! The drugs finally worked and they stopped. I am still in the hospital and getting the second shot of steroids tonight. They said they wouldn't stop labour if it started back up. They would take out the stitch and let things progress naturally. I am at 30 weeks and 3 dys and quite nervous but I have come along way from my emergency stitch at21 weeks!

Lanaross: congratulations on nyour little bundle of joy. I would love to make it to 37 weeks but 7 more weeks of bed rest is daunting! I've already been on it 10!

You can do it!!! Consider it your MUCH NEEDED rest before you start sleeping two hours a day Seriously, you don't realize it now, but thinking back on my bed rest, gosh I miss it. Take it one hour, one day at a time, watch everything you can, talk to everyone you can, you will not have time later xxx

 

[rensben]

Thanks everyone,

well I've now been in the hospital for 48 hours and they are going to take me off the meds that are stopping the contractions. I can't be on them any longer than 2 days because they are too strong. I already feel the contractions back and I know that as soon as the drugs wear off I'll be contracting like before. They just put a monitor because I was feeling some contractions again already. The new mid wife said I wasn't but the read out on the monitor looked just like it did when I came in a couple of days ago. i also know what a contraction is know and I don't need a monitor to tell me that I am having one! She told me to take my sleeping pill and go to sleep. I've still got my stitch in and I am feeling the pulling on my cervix when I contract. they say they won't check my cervix again for a good another week. So do I just have to wait until I bleed or it tears? So frustrating! In any case, I've had the steriods so that makes me feel better...baby is not kicking or moving very much and I just know he's getting ready to make his entrance. I just hope he makes it to Friday (31 weeks) I know it's a fairly good gestation but I've read lots of stories where the babies born at this term have lots of problems. I guess I just have to stay positive. I'm off to get a good night's sleep if I can! Night night all!

 

[lizziedripping]

Hi Rensben

Sorry for your stress hun - I know that despite being 31wks, it is still a worry for you that bubs might be born at this gestation. I'm nearly 35 and still worried, wanting to reach yet another milestone of 36wks. I think anything less than 38wks is never satisfactory to a caring mum.

All that said, it is true that babies can still have complications at 31wks, but the majority don't - except some minor feeding/breathing issues which can be resolved without huge intervention. THe other thing to remember is that not only has your baby now had the steroids, but also he has been feeling the effects of labour for a few days - this in itself works wonders to mature his lungs and prepare him for life outside.

The more distress (normal labour contractions) a baby feels in utero, the more developed his lungs become. It's nature's way of counteracting any prematurity. If you can get your breast milk into him, all the better too. It too is tailor-made for baby's gestation, being packed with more antibodies than a full-term mother's milk to support him in those early weeks.

If baby does put in a appearance shortly, ask immediately about expressing - the sooner the better hun. Please PM me if you need anything - we're all here to help, and good luck xxx

 

[Bec L]

Wow so much has been going on in the last few days!

Great that you have a section date Lizzie, well done for getting so far and lanaross, massive congrats on the birth of a beautiful baby girl And JadeyB, so glad you are still doing so well.

Rensben, sorry to hear about your worries but it's such a positive that your LO has had the steroids and like Lizzie says, there is every chance any complications your LO may have will be minor

I requested an appointment with my consultant and saw him today. He is Mr Laid Back and bascally said it's highly unlikely I have an IC as I would not have got as far as 34 wks (as you said previously Lizzie). He also told me that TVUs (for me) were a waste of time in his opinion in that stitches have to be put in early on ie 13/14 weeks otherwise there is no point in having them, and they can do more harm than good

Anyway, upshot is he didn't exactly put my mind at rest but seemed pretty convinced I should be able to carry to term with this baby, but is bringing me back in at about 32 weeks for a growth scan and one final TVU 'just for the hell of it.'

 

[rensben]

Well everyone..I'd like to introduce you to Gabriel James who arrived March 31st at 3:45pm after only 4 hours of labour! I finally convinced the doctors to check my cervix after having a night of contractions (which they didn't believe I was having!) Well when they checked I was at 3cm with the stitch still in! They rushed me into delivery to get the stitch out....really painful because I was having serious conractions as they put in the speculum and took out the stitch! I got an epidural immediately because I opened up to 4cm instantly..I really had a true incompetent cervix. The epidural was bliss and I dilated to 10 within an hour and a half. Out he came at 1.6kg (3.6 pounds). He was crying so that was a good sign. He is now doing great and breathing on his own. They say he is a little champion! I am just praying that he continues this way. I love him to bits and i haven't even held him yet. Thank you all for your support during this journey that I won't soon forget. I wish you all the best for the rest of your pregnancies and I will be here to cheer you all on!!

 

[Bec L]

Awww congratulations hun!!! That's a great weight and sounds like he is already a little fighter. Well done you.
You'll get loads of support over in the prem baby section if you need it.

xxxxxx

 

[lizziedripping]

Rensben - CONGRATULATIONS - you're a Mummy!! It's the best job you'll ever have, welcome to the club honey. I'll bet little Gabriel James is absolutely beautiful, and already very, very special.

The next couple of months may be stressful and worrying, but you got him to a brilliant gestation, and I have every confidence he will be fine. Please keep us updated, and post any photos when you have a moment. Well done love, to get your baby to 31wks when he was making an early entrance months ago is just such an achievement - good luck and hugs to Gabriel xxx

 

[selina22]

Well everyone..I'd like to introduce you to Gabriel James who arrived March 31st at 3:45pm after only 4 hours of labour! I finally convinced the doctors to check my cervix after having a night of contractions (which they didn't believe I was having!) Well when they checked I was at 3cm with the stitch still in! They rushed me into delivery to get the stitch out....really painful because I was having serious conractions as they put in the speculum and took out the stitch! I got an epidural immediately because I opened up to 4cm instantly..I really had a true incompetent cervix. The epidural was bliss and I dilated to 10 within an hour and a half. Out he came at 1.6kg (3.6 pounds). He was crying so that was a good sign. He is now doing great and breathing on his own. They say he is a little champion! I am just praying that he continues this way. I love him to bits and i haven't even held him yet. Thank you all for your support during this journey that I won't soon forget. I wish you all the best for the rest of your pregnancies and I will be here to cheer you all on!!

Congratulations on your little boy he will soon be home with you im really happy for you congratulations again xxxxx keep us updated x

 

[rensben]

Thanks ladies! Well it is now day 2 and they are going to start feeding him this afternoon through a tube. I've been to see him several times but I am still quite week and I'm having fainting spells. Being on bed rest for so long really did a number on me and it's going to take me a while to get my strength back. I know Gabriel is in good hands so I'm not stressing about not being near him. When I am there, I just stare at him and try to see if he looks more like me or his daddy. I am convinced he recognizes his Daddy's voice because he kind of perks up and I swear he has even smiled when he hears him! We met with the doctors today and they said he will be in his incubator for 6 weeks.It's going to seem like forever but at least it will give me some time to recuperate. Will get some photos up soon!

 

[JadeyB]

Ah Rensben - huge congragutulations!! I can't wait to see photos of littel Gabriel, he sounds like he is doing brilliantly.

Like Lizzie says, you did so well getting him past 30 weeks. I hope he continues to thrive and that you are feeling back to your normal self very soon.

xx

 

[_LauraK1982_]

Hi everyone,

I believed I had a loop diathermy done 6 years ago but at my 16 week consultation appointment thay found that I had a loop excision? done and they removed quite a chunk of my cervix. They are now going to be checking my cervix at 20, 24, 26, 28,32 and 34 weeks.

I just wondered for those that have gone through similar how do they measure the cervix ? Is it an internal scan or done through the normal ultrasound ?

This is my 1st pregnancy and I am being consultant led so I am happy that they are keeping a close eye on me, just a little concerned !!!

Thanks everyone. x

 

[rensben]

Hi Laura,

Firstly congrats on your pregnancy! I just gave birth this week to a little boy at 30 weeks 5 dys gestation. after being on 10 weeks of bedrest for an incompetent cervix. At my 12 week scan my cervix looked great and was measuring 5cm long. By week 20 it had shrunk to 1.3cm and was starting to dilate with bulging membranes (when the amniotic sac bulges into the cervix) It is at risk of breaking when this happens. I had an emergency stitch put in and was put on bed rest. My incompetent cervix was due to an operation I had to remove a membrane that was dividing my uterus in two parts. I had this done 10 years ago and had no idea it would affect my pregnancy. Any time you have surgery done on the cervix or if it has been dilated mechanically you are at risk for IC. It's great that they will be monitoring you so closely. It is done by internal scan as it is the only real way to examine the cervix from the inside and out. If your cervix does shorten they may put in a stitich and or put you on bed rest. I am so grateful my IC was spotted before it was too late. We managed to prolong the birth by 10 weeks and now I have my beautiful little boy! This is a great thread and you'll find lots of help, advice and support here should you need it! Good luck to you!