Incompetent Cervix, Cerclage, & Bed Rest

PaniaO · October 2015

I know there have been a lot of questions about IC/short cervix... sorry for another!

I got a cerclage last week after funneling too far (8 mm). The surgery went 'perfectly' and my perinatologist (who I definitely respect highly) says he thinks I'll go full term. I'm not supposed to walk much, but I'm not on bed rest. They've said it's fine to go to work as long as I'm minimally active. But reading so much about others' experiences has made me want to just stay in bed to reduce risk further. A big part of me wants to stay in bed and not go back to work! (It's totally up to me--according to everyone involved. I just don't want to be a quitter but also don't want to take risks with baby's life.)

I realize this is somewhat crazy because I just said I respect my doctor and he has said bed rest won't help. But I'm afraid, and I want to do everything I can. And I feel safest in bed, frankly. I'm confused about those stories wherein women continue to funnel even with a cerclage. And how can I prevent that..? I've asked my perinatologist, but I'm still super hyper-vigilant and fearful. I can acknowledge that. But I don't think it's exactly irrational; this is my baby's life, after all.

Any insight or experience is welcomed with wide-open arms. Thank you in advance.

ETA: I'm 24+5 weeks now and had contractions that brought about cervical check at 22 weeks. Have not had contractions since, but cervix funneled until I finally had surgery at 23+3.

PlainJane8350 · October 2015

If your doctor supports whatever you decide, then I'd trust your gut and stay home. (It's the same choice I'd make, too and what my doctor thought was best.) You don't have that much longer anyway!

peppercorn16 · October 2015

If it were me I'd be on bed rest! It's debated whether it helps or not with preterm labor in general, but I've read literally hundreds of success stories with a common thread of bed rest in cases of IC and shortened cervixes. It won't hurt anything, and might give you the peace of mind that you're doing everything you can. If you continued normal activities despite your gut instinct and you happened to go into preterm labor, you might have some mommy guilt spring up! Follow your instinct

Kelley421 · October 2015

I had a preventative cerclage placed at 14w. I am now 27w and my cervix has shortened to 1.7cm in the last month from 3.5. I am now on bedrest. The cerclage helps, but clearly you can get shorter even with it. My US report says no funneling though.
Do whatever feels best for you and what will work in your situation.
I have been sitting with little activity over the last month, and that doesn't seem to be good enough.

PaniaO · November 2015

Thank you all so much! I definitely feel like your thoughts/experience parallel my instincts. It's so scary that it can keep shortening even without contractions--without warning signs.

Anaelsea · November 2015

im also cerclage and on bedrest. things i wish someone had told me:

dont watch romantic/sultry things or makeout etc, it relaxes the cervix and can cause labor etc.

dont squat and lunge and twist alot, yoga is not your friend in terms of hip openers/spreading your legs wide etc.

doctors say bedrest doesnt help because a ton of studies have been done trying to reverse the 1950s mentality of 'pregnant women need to lay down' however me personally, i can feel the extra pressure if i stand up too much.

Anaelsea · November 2015

oh also eat prunes, figs, raisins or something that prevents you from pushing on the toilet ever, you never ever want to push

PaniaO · November 2015

Anaelsea said:
oh also eat prunes, figs, raisins or something that prevents you from pushing on the toilet ever, you never ever want to push

Ah, thank you @Anaelsea. I just tagged you in another post asking for more details before I saw your replied to my post, too. I appreciate your insight! I also notice more pressure when I'm up and about, despite what the medical professionals have said... Then again, they've said to listen to my body, so there's agreement there.

It's interesting how I've always thought I listened to my body, but now I realize I never have at all; what I've done is simply experience my body and proceed to ignore its messages and deny its needs. Suddenly that has consequences--talk about a crash course.

mrsdepew22 · November 2015

I'm 20 weeks and 6 days pregnant with twins. I had a cerclage put in last weekend due to a short cervix (went from 2.2 cm to 1.5 in a day) and some funneling. My dad is a perinatologist, but he lives in another state so we are with a female perinatologist in Scottsdale (both my dad and our doctor have been practicing for a long time). After talking with both of them, we came to the conclusion that bed rest is best. They both agreed that there are no 100% guarantees with bed rest, but it certainly is not going to hurt anything...Whereas being active very well might. Our regular OB is much younger and she said bed rest isn't really proven to help, which is true. However, I don't want to look back and wonder "What if I had just been on bed rest?". I'm pretty much off my feet except to shower or make a sandwich. We may be a little less strict with bed rest once we are further along, but we want the babies to "cook" as long as possible. It's not easy to be on bed rest, but there is some comfort in feeling like I can at least do SOMETHING to help keep my babies healthy. Best of luck!

PaniaO · November 2015

Wishing you the best! It's awesome that you have a perinatologist parent! I'm curious, if you don't mind sharing, how did they find your cervix was shortening? I'm guessing it may have been during your anatomy scan, since you're so early. Mine didn't show any issues at 20 weeks, so I'm lucky it was discovered before it was too late.

Anyway, as for me, I'm no longer keeping myself horizontal because I've made it four weeks since my cerclage surgery and am still stable. Each week I've become slightly more active; the first week, I basically had myself on modified bed rest. Then I started working again part-time. This week, my perinatologist said I could start easy strolls again (20 mins at a time for now, and up to an hour over the next month). He is always reiterating that research shows women on bed rest actually have worse outcomes and that the idea that bed rest helps by way of diminishing the effects of gravity is an erroneous assumption that the field needs to correct at this point. He's pretty insistent that being up and walking is not associated with adverse outcomes. I hope he's right. So far, my cerclage is fine and I haven't had issues with PTL. ETA: I'm 27+2 now.

Anaelsea · November 2015

Im glad youre up and about thats really lucky! I hope the cerclage keeps working and that you make it full term

PaniaO · November 2015

Thank you! So far so good... I'm still nervous, of course, but I'm grateful to be stable and to have reached 28 weeks. I started walking a few miles each day this week, finally. Even five yesterday, and my cerclage is holding. Funnel is stable. Walking again has helped me a TON emotionally, my body feels like it's not turning to jello anymore, and I've had less pressure/crampiness than in weeks prior. Knock on wood!

hell3838 · December 2015

I was on 10 weeks of modified bed rest at home. Short cervix started week 20 something weeks, the decision of going on bed rest and took short term disability was the best decision I have made... I made it to 39 weeks and 5 days!! 9lb6oz boy!
I made the decision early to be on bed rest because I did not want to wait till the position where I may need to be in hospital bed rest.

Note, my cervix was short (2.1~1.x since it was discovered) but it was closed, no funneling, and no contraction until 39wks 5days.

One may argue if BR really made a difference. I will trade my freedom and be on BR than seeing my baby hooked up to machines in NICU.

Modified BR:
No driving, no sex, no exercise.
Allow to make 2 trips downs stairs for food.
Allow for shower only
Allow to get up for pottie
No chores

PaniaO · December 2015

Thought I'd update...

I'm now 33 weeks 3 days. Had my cerclage in since 23 weeks and have an appointment to take it out Jan 11 (just before 36 weeks). I've been on reduced activity but have been rated for normal activity now (since 32 weeks). So sex and moderate exercise is allowed and I still haven't had any issues with PTL since my first emergency at 22 weeks. I began walking 2-5 miles/day around 28 weeks, and it's gone well. If I didn't have the cerclage, none of that would've possible, of course, as I was funneled down to basically nothing.

JennyS86 · December 2015

great news!!

PaniaO · January 2016

Probably my last update.. Just wanted future bumpies to be able to have a full story when faced with a similar situation. I'm 35.5 now and just had my cerclage removed this morning. So officially a success! BTW, it hardly hurt at all, and the procedure was very quick. In fact, the cervical check afterward was worse!

Best of luck to all of you out there managing scary situations. I'm certain I'll be sending out regular positive vibes for all at-risk pregnancies for the rest of my life.

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