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High-Risk Pregnancy
plunderb
member
help! surgery during 2nd tri (long)
plunderb
member
Hi everyone. I haven't posted here before, but I'm hoping that someone here will have some experience/advice/anecdotes about surgery during the 2nd trimester to share with me.
During my NT scan at 12 weeks, the sonographer noticed a large ovarian cyst (6cm x 5 cm x 4 cm). I had a follow-up ultrasound at 15 weeks and it had grown (7cm x 6cm x 5cm). I have one last scan next Friday, and if it hits 8cm, they want to remove it surgically.
As it has been explained to me, the cyst poses no immediate risk to my LO. The danger is that it could burst (which would hurt a lot) or twist and cut off blood supply to my ovary (which could kill the ovary). There is also a very small chance that the cyst could be cancerous, though they have run a bunch of tests and are 99.5% certain that it is benign. If it keeps growing, it could crowd my abdomen ? I am only a little over 5 feet tall, so there isn't much room in there for baby + softball-sized cyst.
The thing is, the surgery has major risks. I would be under general anesthesia, they would cut a 4-inch vertical incision next to my navel, and I would have a minimum recovery time of 6-8 weeks on bedrest. There is a 1-2% chance of stillbirth from the surgery itself, not counting the chance of infection afterward. Apparently, they cannot drain the cyst laparoscopically, though they didn't really give me a good reason why. Also, the perinatologist says that the surgery will not diminish my chances of having an unmedicated vaginal birth, but I am skeptical since the incision will sever my abdominal muscles.
My midwife has not been very helpful. All she says is, "I hope it goes away on its own!" which is encouraging, but not particularly useful as medical advice.
I am reluctant to have the surgery because it seems stupid to risk LO's life in order to save my ovary. I'm not super excited about the bedrest either, though, of course, I would do it if necessary.
Has anyone had surgery during the 2nd tri? Has anyone refused surgery during pregnancy? Any advice or personal anecdotes would be much appreciated.
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Re: help! surgery during 2nd tri (long)
i have a cyst and have throughout pregnancy. it has actually decreased in size so we did nothing to remove or drain it.
i do have a friend that had the same procedure you are discussing and she had a healthy baby girl on sunday.
Not in the second tri, but I just had abdominal surgery in the first tri. They probably won't do it laprascopically bc the risks to the baby are higher by doing it that way. I know that's the case in the first tri, can't imagine it would be any better the farther you go.
Good luck to you!