Short cervix at 21 weeks

[Currituckgirl]

Bram ~ That is so wonderful that you are starting to relax now. When I was in the hospital I was told by a doctor there that every day you stay pregnant is 3 less days the baby will have to stay in the NICU, if your baby does need to go to the NICU. Hopefully your cervix will stabilize and possibly even "grow" back some. The shot you are getting to help prevent blood clots is Lovenox, I unfortunately take that as well. I hate, hate, hate needles so my husband has to give me the shot every night. I think he really enjoys giving it to me when we are having an argument When are you getting another cervical check?

WTB ~ That is fabulous that your cervix has elongated!! I cannot remember, are you still in the hospital as well?

 

[WTBmyBFP]

Yes. I'm to stay in the hospital until the girls arrive. My contractions are still too random for me to be able to go home safely.

 

[Currituckgirl]

WTB ~ Hopefully your contractions will calm down more, but it is wonderful that your cervix has elongated. I am so happy for you!

 

[Currituckgirl]

Hi Ladies!! How is everyone getting along??

I am waiting for my appointment that is on Thursday, I get to have a growth scan I love seeing him.

 

[brambram]

Hi Ladies!! How is everyone getting along??

I am waiting for my appointment that is on Thursday, I get to have a growth scan I love seeing him.

Hi Curri, how exciting... I love even hearing babys heartbeat, much less being able to see her.

I'm still in hospital and still preggers

They hooked me up to a machine yesterday, I think it's called a ctg - but basically they left me hooked up for about 30 minutes, the machine read the heartbeat and printed out some scribbly lines. It was pretty exciting for me. At first I didn't think she liked it because she kept kicking at it...I was amazed at her aim and accuracy. But it definitely made me feel more connected to her as I got to hear her for 30 minutes! I could also hear her kicking and swooshing around. She also got hiccups for about 5 minutes and I could hear that too - it sounded like a rhythmic steady beating on the machine and nurse told me she had the hiccups

btw Curri - I can't believe you are 34 weeks now!! You will soon be full term!!!

 

[brambram]

Bram ~ That is so wonderful that you are starting to relax now. When I was in the hospital I was told by a doctor there that every day you stay pregnant is 3 less days the baby will have to stay in the NICU, if your baby does need to go to the NICU. Hopefully your cervix will stabilize and possibly even "grow" back some. The shot you are getting to help prevent blood clots is Lovenox, I unfortunately take that as well. I hate, hate, hate needles so my husband has to give me the shot every night. I think he really enjoys giving it to me when we are having an argument When are you getting another cervical check?

WTB ~ That is fabulous that your cervix has elongated!! I cannot remember, are you still in the hospital as well?

I'm not sure when I get another cervix chek - they don't seem to keen to be prodding down there too often. I think they may choose to do another ffn test instead at around 28 weeks to check the possibility of me going into labour...

 

[sevilla24]

Just wanted to let you know I am "lurking" and keeping up-to-date with our thread!!! Nothing new to post for me.

Sounds like everyone is doing well and everyone is moving well past the 24 weeks mark which is SO EXCITING!!!!

 

[Currituckgirl]

Bram ~ You are doing wonderful That is such great news that you are still hanging there. You are almost 28 weeks!! Woohoo!! I don't like those stupid ffn tests. At 24 weeks mine came back positive and I am still here. I think that test is phooey. I love listening to my LO heartbeat. It is such a reassuring sound. That was a great perk of being in the hospital. I cannot remember if you said or not, but do they plan on keeping you until you have your baby?

Sevilla ~ Wow, 28 weeks!!!! The time seems to be flying now!!

WTB and Meaggers ~ How are you holding up?

As for myself, I had my 34 week appointment yesterday!! I had my last ultrasound and I still wasn't able to get a good shot of his little face. He is 5 lbs 2 oz! Everything seems to be going wonderful. Next week they are going to check to see if I am dilated at all. I return back to work on Monday, but only part time until I have Jake. I am looking forward to it since it won't be a full day in the office.

I just want to say thank you to all of you ladies! You have made this incredible roller coaster bearable. I still cannot believe that I have made it this far. Thank you Calypso and Lizzie, you ladies are so inspiring and just a wealth of knowledge, you two are a blessing.

 

[WTBmyBFP]

CTG-so amazing to know how far you have come. I can't imagine going back to work!

As far as how I'm doing overall I'm quite well. It is becoming a little more difficult to slow the contractions; I feel like it is a battle to see how long we can delay a. a magnesium sulfate wash and b. actual PTL from taking over.


The girls' personalities are starting to show and this both thrills and terrifies me. Almost to 27 weeks, first goal is 28, second is 32 and whatever else I can manage.

 

[calypso]

I still lurk to check on you ladies, just been busy. School starts Monday.

Glad for you all!!

Currituckgirl - getting up is going to be really exhausting. I had no idea how much my belly weighed when I actually walked more than 10 steps. Be careful and safe. Also, make sure to keep on top of how you are feeling. I couldn't feel painful contractions, they just felt out of breath, not even tightening.

 

[Currituckgirl]

Calypso ~ Thank you so much for telling me that. I get so exhausted after walking for just 30 mins. When I first got up and moving around I couldn't even make it 20 minutes before I had to sit back down. How did you know you were in labor? What should I look out for? The doctor is going to check me Thursday for dilation.

WTB ~ You are so close to 28 weeks!! I think you are going to make it even further than that! I am praying your contractions subside!!

 

[calypso]

I had my babyshower on a Saturday (and had gotten the go ahead to sit on the recliner and get up for a few mins). Sunday my belly was so heavy and I thought it was just from standing/sitting the day before. I laid in bed all day and had trouble sleeping that night. Mondays were my "week" appts, for 33w I was goin to just have another growth u/s and then sit on the contraction monitor, no dr as we were trying to keep from bothering the area with exams. Monday morning finally comes, I just felt unwell, that feeling between pooping or throwing up lol. Got to my u/s, was told to lay down on the bed and couldn't stay laying down. I felt like I couldn't breathe. Tried again and felt like I had to pee, then felt nauseous. I went to the bathroom and nothing. Went back to the u/s room and couldn't sit much less lay down. The tech touched my stomach and says as couldn't feel contractions. I told her to stop and DH got me up. They called the dr and he says let's get you on the monitor. I said NO I can't breathe, just check me. He did and I almost passed out from how much it hurt. I was having contractions and dilating. They were never noticeable on the monitor or from touching my stomach. I just kept losing my breath. He sent me next door to the hospital where I stayed on mag til I delivered Wednesday.

I know you read my journal, but I stopped posting details after the shower since I couldn't even think with the magnesium sulfate and the other meds.

 

[Currituckgirl]

Oh wow!!! That sounds like you had a heck of a time! Thank you so much for the description, I will be sure to look out for that also. I have been nervous of the silent contractions. I have lost my breath a couple time, but it seems to be when his cute little butt is in my lungs. At my doctors office they don't use the toco machine, I wish they did. They are doing the Group B Strep test Thursday and I asked them if they could check for dilation. He said they normally don't check for dilation at all, but they would since they are going to be down there anyway.

 

[WTBmyBFP]

Oh sweety. Ty for sharing your story. That mag surely makes it almost impossible to interact with anyone (or really do much of anything). I'm so glad you are safely on the other side with your LO.

 

[sevilla24]

Currituck - Good luck going back to work on Monday - I am glad your boss is letting you go back part-time. It might be a nice distraction as you wait out the final weeks until little Jake is here

Calypso - I am a teacher and starting up back at school too... busy busy busy!!! Also, thanks for sharing your story

My next appointment and cervical check is September 6th... I will be 30 weeks.

I can't believe I am in the 3rd trimester already YIPEEE!!!

 

[Currituckgirl]

Sevilla ~ That is exactly what I was thinking, such a nice distraction before he is born. The hospital is only five minutes from where I work so that is nice WOOHOO for the third trimester!!!!

 

[brambram]

Hi ladies
Glad to hear we're all doing well.

@calypso - thanks for sharing your story. I do wonder how I will know when I'm in labour. Especially if I go into labour prematurely.

I've started to feel some weird tightenings recently and they are quite worrying. The midwives say it is just Braxton hicks, but then I always think how will I know when it's the real thing and the response I get is that I will just KNOW as real contractions are painful. But that doesn't seem to always be true. So I like to hear others stories so that I can be better prepared.

@Sevilla - congrats for getting to third trimester!! That must feel good.

@WTB - hang in there girl. Almost at 27 weeks. But even now, according to the stats, the survival rates are great.

@Curri - the plan is they'll keep me here til 28 weeks, then do this ffn test. If its negative I'll be discharged. But not sure what happens if it's positive. My understanding is that a negative result is a better predictor than a positive result - meaning if its negative, there is a 99% that I won't go into labour in next 1-2 weeks, but if its positive, that is just a precaution and there's a chance I will go into labour, but the %age isn't so clear cut. So yes, I can see how a positive result would be frustrating and cause unnecessary worry.

I did do an ffn test when they admitted me at 24 weeks and it came back negative, which was reassuring, but they they still kept me in hospital. Ther was so much back and forth opinion between the doctors and I was quite confused. Some doctors were saying that as it was negative I would be sent home, then others were saying no, it's better for me to remain just in case ... So there is still a lot question about the ffn test even among the doctors themselves.

On another note. I did a cervix scan on Friday and my length is now 6mm - woohoo! I can't believe it's grown from 3mm! Not a lot but I'll take it !!! I really was under the impression that this didn't happen. But I guess strict bed rest does work wonders. It's amazing howi can be overjoyed at 6mm now, it if i had been told 6mm before it would have been devasting, but compared to 3mm it is wonderful! Everything in perspective.

 

[Currituckgirl]

Bram ~ At my hospital there was back and forth also. Mainly between the two head doctors. Even with my positive ffn test one of the head doctors thought I should have been sent home! I was irate when she said that. I didn't want to go home, I thought I was going to deliver in two weeks. Even though I knew the positive isn't as accurate, there was still a huge worry for me.

That is WONDERFUL news about your cervix!!! I am so glad your cervix had lengthened again. I know exactly how you feel. It really is something when we are just so happy to hear 6mm. I know when I heard 7mm I was ecstatic! That is simply fabulous!!!

 

[Currituckgirl]

Hi ladies Just an update about myself, I am 100% effaced and 1-2 cm dilated Jake is still head down (hopefully he stays that way). I am now having weekly appointments until I have him. I cannot wait to meet my little boy.

I am kind of nervous about the dilation. I felt really crampy the past couple of days but no contractions. Do you ladies know if the cramping could have caused the dilation? I am worried that I am having silent contractions. I have been watching out for shortness of breath and just a yucky feeling from what Calypso described. My hospital is 20 minutes away I am afraid that things might progress quickly. Hopefully not that quickly, but I am not sure how fast things go when they start.

How are the rest of you ladies? Any updates?

 

[sevilla24]

Currituck - WOW that is amazing!!! It's crazy that you will be meeting your little baby so soon I THINK it's contractions that make the dilation happen... so if you are feeling cramping and it's actually contractions, then I would say you are slowly dilating and getting ready!!!

My sister just had her first baby two weeks ago and she was 9 cm dilated when she got to the hospital because she thought it was just bad gas cramps!!! CRAZY!!! I think some people have higher tolerances for pain??? I didn't have to guess with DD because my water broke so I had no choice but to go to the hospital and then the contractions started shortly after that.

Keep us posted!!! Good luck!!!

As for me, I have my LAST cervical check tomorrow (Friday) morning. I will be sure to report back... hopefully with good news!!!