Success Story for those with IC/Cerclage

Hi Ladies,

I posted a very long time ago (about 4 months now) but had a really tough pregnancy and bed rest and just didn't keep up with the boards.

I just wanted to offer some encouragement to those mamas here that have incompetent cervix and/or cerclage.

Long story short, my cervix went from 3.5 to 1.2cm in less than a week at 20 weeks. I had funneling and bulging membranes, and dr's gave me a much higher risk of infection, pPROM, rupture of membranes during surgery, etc if we were to go ahead with the cerclage but without it I most certainly wouldn't carry him to viability. We went ahead and did it, we already knew we were having a boy and had named him. I had to try for him.

After a really tough recovery I started strict bed rest, bathroom privileges only. I struggled with borderline low fluid off and on from 27 weeks despite drinking a gallon of water a day, but never getting below 7 (for any with low fluid I found powerade and gatorade, at least one a day, helped keep my AFI number up). I developed pubic symphasis diastis also, and so even laying in bed was quite painful. At 33.5 weeks the stitch was causing so much pain it was removed unexpectedly at a routine appointment, and I was given betamethasone for my son's lungs, just in case. I immediately dilated to a 2. BUT miracle of all miracles it has been 3 weeks and I have made no change, still dilated to a 2, 80% effaced. I have even been taken off bed rest (though with the PSD I don't push it too much). Due to a previous condition I'm having a scheduled c-section March 15th at 38w 4d. My son has passed every test with flying colors, he is 100% healthy and on track for size and weight.

I just wanted to give a happy story to those of you currently stuck on bed rest with babies who are still pre-term gestationally. The bed rest can be maddening at times, the house will get messy even with the best husband/family, relying on others for everything gets trying, the worrying "will they come today?", constantly preparing yourself each week for what to expect from the NICU if they were to be born today and freaking over every little symptom, worrying about finances from not being able to work, feeling like a burden, it is all so tough. But it can and will have a good outcome. It was so frustrating to hear moms who had breezy pregnancies dismiss me by simply saying "it's all worth it" when I'd describe a painful symptom or latest complication and they hadn't the slightest idea what I was going through, but I had to just let it roll off. It is true though, all this pain and frustration WILL be worth it when I see my son's face, and when my husband thanks me for everything I've done for our son it is the best feeling in the world.

Good luck to ALL the IC/Cerclage mommies here, I wish you all nothing but positive outcomes for both you and your LO's! 

p.s. while some people do have an ok time with their cerclage removal, I was one of the lucky ones to experience a decent amount of pain, so if you're ok with taking tylenol I'd recommend taking a couple just in case. It might take the edge off. And if they show you the stitch, don't be surprised to find it looks nothing like you expect, and more like weed eater line! lol