Cerclage Stitch went in yesterday...

nikkitaplin · July 2014

My doctor said he barely had enough to 'work with'. He said if we would have waited any longer, he wouldn't have been able to do it. He didn't give me major restrictions but by my standards, I've pretty much put myself on bed rest. If you have had one, did it work? I'm nervous that since it was so close to not working, it wont do anything and we will have this baby early like the last one. We lost that one at 20 weeks. I'm being told by friends and family to stop worrying about it and it will be fine. But lets be honest....you can't stop worry about something like this.

I've been watching tv, reading, sitting outside, and playing on pinterest...if you have any other suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

I'm even thinking about trying to crochet!

haliebabyx3 · July 2014

*loss mentioned

I've never had one but have had someone on BMB that did this pregnancy after losing her baby her last one. She just delivered a healthy baby boy. Just follow what your doctor says and I know it can be hard, but if they didn't seem concerned don't worry yourself crazy.

nikkitaplin · July 2014

that's a good point. Thanks for pointing that out. Why worry if the doctor thinks everything will be ok.

barbikins · July 2014

You can't stop worrying. I wish people would stop saying that to me too. Best you can do is stay positive XO

Can you tell me how the procedure went? My doctor said its optional for me as a preventative but I don't have cervical issues known. It's more of a precaution. But I wouldn't mind knowing how it went, how long, are you in pain? Were you sedated? Thanks!

nikkitaplin · July 2014

barbikins said:

You can't stop worrying. I wish people would stop saying that to me too. Best you can do is stay positive XO

Can you tell me how the procedure went? My doctor said its optional for me as a preventative but I don't have cervical issues known. It's more of a precaution. But I wouldn't mind knowing how it went, how long, are you in pain? Were you sedated? Thanks!

So first, we had an ultrasound the week before the stitch. The u/s said the cervix was 3.1 cm which is good. They said anything at 3 or under is a concern but the problem is, they can only measure the entire length, not just the part that was in the vagina...so when he went in to do the stitch, there wasn't a lot left in the vagina for him to get...which means it was already thinning...a lot...at 13 weeks. So it was a good choice for us.

As for the procedure itself, I made a bigger deal of it than it was to be honest. I had a spinal which was not a big deal. My legs were up in stirrups and I was scrubbed down with that iodine stuff. Obviously I was numb so I didn't feel much except some pressure. I was never in pain. Light cramping but because he didn't have a lot to grab on to, he did a lot of pulling and tugging so I'm sure that was the cramping. It was so light, I didn't even need pain meds. The worst thing was that night, my back where the spinal went in was really sore but again, not even enough for me to want to take meds. So, overall, I would say it was a breeze. I am still in no pain. I had a little bleeding that day but he had to do two actual stitches along with the cerclage and he said that is what the bleeding was from.

I also have to get progesterone shots...which was pure hell. That hurt so bad. They are weekly. It burns sooooo bad and it's thick so they have to put it in slow. We are trying to work with the ins. company right now. So far, they aren't willing to cover them and they are 8,000 every week!!!!

I personally will get a stitch if I get pregnant again. I will not risk loosing another pregnancy. Delivering a 10 ounce baby because my cervix decided to not do it's job isn't something I want to do again.

Why did your dr offer it if you don't have cervical issues?

nikkitaplin · July 2014

andreab7412 said:

My bff had an emergency one placed with her first. She was put on bed rest by her MD for a couple weeks and she had a healthy baby boy. Then with her daughter they placed one pro actively before the emergency point and had no restrictions, another healthy baby. For her yes it was stressful. I don't think you can not worry, but try and enjoy the fact that right now your pregnant and healthy. Way easier said than done. For her the hardest was deciding how and when to remove the stitch. With the first they placed the epidural and cut it, then she was stuck in bed and had a long labor. With her daughter they gave her iv pain meds and cut it and let her walk until she dilated more.

We were told that the dr would pull the stitch at 36 weeks if we don't go into labor before that and he'd let me go until I went into labor myself. I'm happy with that.

I totally know what you mean. I am so happy that I am healthy and so far we have a healthy little baby growing strong. I am just too type A and controlling. I feel like I need to be proactive and do 'something'...anything to keep this baby as long as possible and not deliver early again. I know there is nothing that worrying can fix and I'm trying not to. I have to keep myself busy. I am doing ok now and when I think about it...it's almost the end of July...I will only have 5 months after that before the stitch will come out.

I think I'm doing everything I can...trying to think outside of the box. I told my husband I want one of those scooter things that old people use so I can 'go for a walk'. LOL

cbranch89 · July 2014

I had mine done last Tuesday. Had my follow up today where I had an u/s and speculum exam to check the cerclage.

For me the procedure sucked! Six iv attempts, 12 spinal tries, 4 hours to recover, a killer headache, vomit, and 3 days of a painful back and headache. Sucked! I haven't bled though. Slight cramping during recovery. I was put on pelvic rest with NO stimulation and told to take it easy. Next appointment in 2 weeks

nikkitaplin · July 2014

cbranch89 said:

I had mine done last Tuesday. Had my follow up today where I had an u/s and speculum exam to check the cerclage. For me the procedure sucked! Six iv attempts, 12 spinal tries, 4 hours to recover, a killer headache, vomit, and 3 days of a painful back and headache. Sucked! I haven't bled though. Slight cramping during recovery. I was put on pelvic rest with NO stimulation and told to take it easy. Next appointment in 2 weeks

whoa. you went through hell!!! I'm so sorry! I wasn't told about an u/s at my follow up...so I'm curious what he will do. He said he isn't a fan of lots of u/s or vaginal check ups so that it doesn't introduce infection or cause problems. I hope everything goes well for you.

nikkitaplin · July 2014

chmwilliams said:

Hi. I just had one about 3 weeks ago. My story is a bit of a not-so-great, but still going story - so warning on that front. My cervix was .35 centimeters, so also barely enough to work with. I got it, and had no issues with the procedure and was home the next day. My first check up, my cervix had grown to 1.54. I went back two weeks later (yesterday), and it had shrunk again to .7. I wasn't expecting that. I've not had any dilation. They did steroid shots as a precaution in case baby girl comes earlier. I am also starting progesterone tonight. He still thinks I have a 'good' chance at her staying in until 34 weeks or more, as long as I take precautions. I'm on no bedrest (he says studies now show it really does little to change things), but I can't exercise, no sex, and have to sit frequently during the day. I can go out to eat, or grocery shop, but I have to take it slow, etc. My baby girl is doing perfectly though. And the doctor said sometimes this happens. With the preventions, hopefully it grows. I just wanted to give you that side - not to scare you, but to say the cerclage is still a lifesaver and I would do it in a heartbeat. Because even with it shrinking, there is no dilation, which is huge! So good luck to you and know that you are doing amazing things to help keep your LO in and safe.

can I ask how they measured it all those times? U/S? Do you have cramping? Did you feel anything with it thinning? I guess my one question or concern is if it does to start to fail...or it starts to tear, how will I know? We were told that if we go into labor early we have to get to a hospital quick to get it removed so it doesn't do damage. I was only in labor for four hours my son and I had my daughter in 20 mins. So I'm nervous about getting the stitch out in time if I go into labor before the stitch comes out. I am for sure taking precautions. I'm using the dr's as a guideline but creating my own too. He said no sex for two weeks...we aren't going to do it till the stitch comes out. He also said to 'just take it easy' but I am making sure I'm sitting, relaxing or laying down as much as possible and I'm not doing any lifting of more than a gallon of milk.

Also, why did you get the stitch if you don't mind me asking.

lmlee15 · July 2014

Can I chime in with a question? What was going on that you ladies had your cervix checked? I'm having an u/s every 2 weeks from 14-24 weeks because I had a leep roughly 5 years ago and they want to make sure I'm not thinning. Funny thing is when my mom mentioned that to her midwife who does my sister and mom's ob/gyn care she called that "old school and not done anymore". From the sound of your all's stories I am definitely grateful that my ob/gyn's office is cautious.

cbranch89 · July 2014

nikkitaplin said:

cbranch89 said:

I had mine done last Tuesday. Had my follow up today where I had an u/s and speculum exam to check the cerclage.

For me the procedure sucked! Six iv attempts, 12 spinal tries, 4 hours to recover, a killer headache, vomit, and 3 days of a painful back and headache. Sucked! I haven't bled though. Slight cramping during recovery. I was put on pelvic rest with NO stimulation and told to take it easy. Next appointment in 2 weeks

whoa. you went through hell!!! I'm so sorry! I wasn't told about an u/s at my follow up...so I'm curious what he will do. He said he isn't a fan of lots of u/s or vaginal check ups so that it doesn't introduce infection or cause problems. I hope everything goes well for you.

My follow up he did a speculum to check the cerclage and an external ultrasound to check baby

nikkitaplin · July 2014

lmlee15 said:

Can I chime in with a question? What was going on that you ladies had your cervix checked? I'm having an u/s every 2 weeks from 14-24 weeks because I had a leep roughly 5 years ago and they want to make sure I'm not thinning. Funny thing is when my mom mentioned that to her midwife who does my sister and mom's ob/gyn care she called that "old school and not done anymore". From the sound of your all's stories I am definitely grateful that my ob/gyn's office is cautious.

I lost a baby (boy) at 19.5 weeks in August. I had no pain, no indication that anything was happening. Even when my water broke, I had no pain. My doctor said that is the 'perfect' set up to an incompetent cervix. With no questions or hesitation, he suggested that we do the stitch when I went in for my follow up apt after loosing our son in August. That eased my fear of trying to get pregnant again. He said some doctors choose to wait and see if the cervix thins out before doing a stitch but he felt that just doing it would be better for me...which is a good thing because when I went in for the stitch, U/S showed that my cervix measured what it was supposed to but it can't show how much is above or below...so he said on my left side and back side, there was barely anything left to grab on to for the stitch. He said it was thinning that much already. By no fault of the u/s, it just can't detect the difference of where it is and what is left in the vagina...tmi...sorry... I'm thankful we got it in. Now just taking every precaution I can to not go into preterm labor...no lifting, light walking, rest-lots of it, etc. I hope all goes well for you too. I have a 7 and 9 year old and sometimes I miss the 'carefee' of not worrying if you are going to miscarry or wonder if you are thinning early, etc...but I am thankful, nonetheless that I am pregnant!

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