Has anyone had a cerclage?

peanut0411 · October 2010

I posted this yesterday on the April board, but I only got one response I was wondering if there would be more over here.

Has anyone here had a cerclage? I had the leep procedure about a year and a half ago and next week I am going in to get the cerclage. I went in for a check up Wednesday and my doc said my cervix has gotten shorter (3.1cm) and she doesn't want to take any chances. She hasn't said I would need to be on bedrest, but she said this procedure does not always prevent pre-term labor there is still a chance of that happening. I'm pretty nervous, but she says she does them all the time.

3PupsAndABaby · October 2010

i didn't but my best friend had it because she lost her 1st baby at 20 weeks due to her cervix dilating. she had it i think around 16 weeks. she was in the hospital overnight but she was on bedrest for basically her whole pregnancy. that's weird that your ob didn't mention it. she got off bed rest i think around 34-35 weeks and had the baby at 37 weeks. but she also had blood pressure issues so they induced her. if you have any questions, i could ask her!

flowerchild77 · October 2010

I have a friend who has a cerclage due to an incompetent cervix. Shes had 3 babies but before that every time she became pregnant she would miscarry early on. All her babies were full term or very close to. I think 2 were in the NICU for a few days only. Not sure exactly why though. I know shes all cesareans.

ETA: She wasnt put on bedrest.

peanut0411 · October 2010

I'm hearing about bedrest from a lot of people I wonder why she didn't mention it. Not that I want to be on it, but I want to do everything I can to keep my baby. She said I can go back to work the next day too...I have another ultrasound 2 weeks after it so maybe she will tell me more info then once she sees how the procedure went.

schoolsoutbride · October 2010

My friend got one at 14 w and wasn't on bedrest. She delivered vaginally at 38w (2w after they removed it.)

Another friend had it done at 24w and was on STRICT bedrest for the rest of her PG and delivered early at 30w.

I think the earlier you have it done, the less risky it is.

3PupsAndABaby · October 2010

they're probably going to measure your cervix quite a bit. but it's all up to your OB. if you feel that he/she isn't doing all of the necessary steps, definitely check into a better high risk ob. it's very serious and we want that baby cooking as long as possible :-)

elvis_cbw · October 2010

I've had a cerclage in place for over a month now. I went into preterm labour at 20 weeks with my first pregnancy and was diagnosed with IC.

At the time of the cerclage my cervix was measuring 2.5cm and at my checkup yesterday it measured 5cm. I am not on strict bedrest but I am not allowed to lift anything or do anything strenuous that will 'engage my stomach muscles'. I am supposed to lay with my body elevated all night and also for about an hour or two during the day.

I was told that the procedure wasn't a cure-all as well but I am not worried about that. I was given the impression that along with keeping myself well rested and following doctor's orders that they would most likely be no problems.

The cerclage itself didn't hurt a bit which is what I was most worried about. I was given the chance of a local anesthetic or being put totally under. I opted to be put totally under and when I woke up I felt fine. There was a little bit of bloody discharge the first day and everything has been fine since.

My cervix is being checked every 2-3 weeks and I always have to have both an internal and external ultrasound every time I am booked for them. I have had three so far and am booked for another one at the start of November.

peanut0411 · October 2010

Thank yall very much! That makes me feel better and I am glad I am getting it done sooner than later. She has been keeping track of it at every appt I have gone to so she is being proactive. It was looking great until the last appt and it still isn't too short, but shorter than she would like to see it. Thanks again

leneae10 · October 2010

I answered your question on April yesterday, but I'll add this: the vaginal cerclage responds to gravity (all the weight of the baby is pressing down and is dependent on that stitch that sits low on your cervix). That's why if you start shortening or funneling, you have to get "off your cervix." Meaning bed rest. Some women funnel and shorten, some do not. If you do funnel and shorten even with a preventative cerc, the severity of your IC is greater than someone who does well with a vaginal cerc. Once you've got it in, they will do a watch and see. I didn't mean to imply that you WOULD be on bed rest, you just have to prepare yourself for it. Here's an illustration of what can happen and when bed rest gets prescribed:

The type of cerclage I have does not depend on gravity. It's the one at the very top:

leneae10 · October 2010

Did she say what type you were getting? There are two transvaginal ones - McDonald and Shirodkar. Shirodkar would be a high transvag. The higher up, the stronger.

peanut0411 · October 2010

leneae10:

I answered your question on April yesterday, but I'll add this: the vaginal cerclage responds to gravity (all the weight of the baby is pressing down and is dependent on that stitch that sits low on your cervix). That's why if you start shortening or funneling, you have to get "off your cervix." Meaning bed rest. Some women funnel and shorten, some do not. If you do funnel and shorten even with a preventative cerc, the severity of your IC is greater than someone who does well with a vaginal cerc. Once you've got it in, they will do a watch and see. I didn't mean to imply that you WOULD be on bed rest, you just have to prepare yourself for it. Here's an illustration of what can happen and when bed rest gets prescribed:

The type of cerclage I have does not depend on gravity. It's the one at the very top:

You were a huge help yesterday and very informative. I wasn't referring to you when I said many people have told me about bed rest I had some friends and women at work that freaked me out about it. Thank you very much for your explanation it really helps. I was just feeling more nervous about it today since I had time to sit and think and it's getting closer. No she didn't say which one I was getting.

leneae10 · October 2010

peanut0411:
leneae10:

I answered your question on April yesterday, but I'll add this: the vaginal cerclage responds to gravity (all the weight of the baby is pressing down and is dependent on that stitch that sits low on your cervix). That's why if you start shortening or funneling, you have to get "off your cervix." Meaning bed rest. Some women funnel and shorten, some do not. If you do funnel and shorten even with a preventative cerc, the severity of your IC is greater than someone who does well with a vaginal cerc. Once you've got it in, they will do a watch and see. I didn't mean to imply that you WOULD be on bed rest, you just have to prepare yourself for it. Here's an illustration of what can happen and when bed rest gets prescribed:

The type of cerclage I have does not depend on gravity. It's the one at the very top:

You were a huge help yesterday and very informative. I wasn't referring to you when I said many people have told me about bed rest I had some friends and women at work that freaked me out about it. Thank you very much for your explanation it really helps. I was just feeling more nervous about it today since I had time to sit and think and it's getting closer. No she didn't say which one I was getting.

No worries at all!!!! I've just been there, so I want to give you all the info I know.

You'll do GREAT!!!!!! Keep us posted!

Gemelli · October 2010

I had my first twins at 32 weeks so we are trying to avoid that with these.

It wasn't bad. They gave me a spinal and something to relax. The cramps afterwards were disconcerting, as was the bleeding, but I feel better knowing it's in there. I can sort of feel it in there sometimes, poking me.I am not looking forward to the removal. No one has said bedrest since I got it, but with preterm labor history and twins again, I am aware it's a possibility.

The worst part is imagining how it gets in there in the first place. I felt like my legs were over my head in the OR.

Good luck!

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