Thank you all for the warm welcome! They wanted to see me back in 1-2 weeks but there aren't any appointments available until closer to the 2 week mark. I'll be 22+ weeks and my understanding is that if you're a candidate for the cerclage, 24 weeks is the cut off. I have no other symptoms so it's stressful not knowing what's going on in there and I wish they'd see me sooner. I have a 2.5yo DD and DH is traveling for work this week, so we've had to make a lot of changes in her routine to accommodate my inability to lift or carry her. She doesn't understand and the mom guilt is REAL.
@hkom I wish you had a special case where the issue resolved itself with the progesterone, but every day counts and you're doing an amazing job!! Your positivity is inspiring. I'm over here in a puddle of self pity already!
@parentingishard I definitely have pity parties for myself! Especially when I first found out about the issue - I was pretty sulky for about a week. I've been doing fairly well with digging myself out of them, but sometimes I'm down and out for a whole day. I'm in a bit of an easier situation than you, lifestyle-wise. I don't have any kids, and my husband doesn't have to travel overnight for work. The worst part about the whole thing, other than just general anxiety about the situation, is that I'm stuck in the hospital and I miss being home with my husband, but that's about it. Try not to feel too bad, I'm sure you're doing everything you can with what you've been given!
We were hopeful that progesterone would be our silver bullet but I’m down from 11 to 6 mm since Thursday. I’m wondering if switching from oral to suppository will help.
So cerclage is interesting. The indication is short cervix prior to 24w and no symptoms. The only reason my issue was identified was because I went to the hospital reporting cramping. So that actually automatically ruled it out for me, but I didn’t know. There’s also stuff around cerclages complicating future pregnancies. Lots of stuff I would look into if it was an option for me.
@hkom I know you mentioned talk of a c section (and a classical one vs transverse) but have they given you a detailed game plan of how they think things will go and when you will deliver? Or is it too up in the air/day by day?
@maureenmce As far as when I'll deliver, they really don't know. I could go for another month or two like this, or something could change and I could go into labor at any moment. It's a really frustrating situation. I'm just sitting here waiting for something to happen for an undetermined amount of time.
They also really don't have a labor plan until something happens. If we can catch it quick enough maaaaayybe they can stop it from progressing. But if not, it just depends on what the baby looks like at the time. If he's head down and in position, and there are no other complications, then I can try to deliver vaginally. If he's in any other position they''ll have to do the surgery.
@parentingishard welcome to Dec18! Sending you positive thoughts and also sympathies for not being able to pick up your DD. I was on pelvic rest and that was by far the hardest part.
@hkom and @barristerninja hang in there ladies! Positive thoughts for you’ll too!!
Gotcha @hkom - I'm sure the not knowing how/when things will go is very frustrating! Hang in there, you're doing awesome!
In fact, echoing @Jens_hoes you ladies are all doing so amazingly! Sending @hkom@barristerninja and @parentingishard good luck keeping those babies where they are as long as possible, and I hope time flies as fast as it can while you're stuck in the hospital and/or pelvic rest. (And welcome to Dec '18 @parentingishard !)
@hkom@barristerninja@parentingishard I'm sorry you ladies are going through this! But I'm glad they have caught it and are keeping an eye on you and baby! Prayers for all three of you!
@kristah2 Not much of an update this week! Everything looked pretty much the same yesterday as it did last week. Functional cervix is still far less than a cm in length and a little bit dilated. Baby is still trying to stick his feet down in there Still not showing any signs of labor, but the same plan from the doctors to keep me here until 28 weeks.
Yup there’s the reduced risk and also the delivery is more drawn out once you pass that 28-30 stage. Early preterm deliveries are super fast, less than an hour start to finish sometimes. A longish commute to the hospital from home once labour starts isn’t feasible now but should be after that stage.
Yup! I moved in last night. It was a slight bit of a letdown at first. Half of the suites are outfitted by IKEA and look pretty cool online. Mine just looks like a hospital room- DH observed that it’s actually a former isolation room, which creeped me out a bit. And the floor hallways are super desolate. No staff at the former nursing reception desk, barely anyone wandering the halls. It’s basically an abandoned wing. But I have a private room, slept through the whole night, have an awesome view with lots of great natural light, and unrestricted in-out privileges from the hospital. It’ll take me a bit but I will settle in soon enough.
Thanks! I think the plan is to stay until 28-30 ish weeks. So at least a month.
That’s a a good idea @ab_canada ! I can just get DH to bring it all over he’s been a real trooper, he spent the night sleeping in the reclining chair next to me and is at work now.
I’m off to help further science now. My doc happens to be conducting a study investigating alternative methods for assessing risk of preterm birth. If I’m in the hospital anyway then why not?
@barristerninja a month there? Holy moly. Try to make yourself at home I suppose! I definitely would also join the study. If it can help women later on and you're there anyway may as wel!
@barristerninja so sorry you're going to be there a month or so, but I hope you can make it as comfortable as possible! The abandoned hospital wing feel is a real bummer. Have you asked if they could move you to the nicer rooms since you'll be there so long?
I had another check yesterday and since there's no dilation, the doctor doesn't seem to think there's reason for major concern. I'm so confused about whether this is serious or not. One doctor has me on modified bed rest, taking progesterone, etc. and the other says it's something to watch but that's it. We will see...
@barristerninja Definitely get your hubby to bring you some soft lighting and things! Like some string lights to hang or a salt lamp. Maybe a real or fake plant or he could provide you with fresh flowers weekly? As well as you'd probably like having your own pillows from home!
@parentingishard That must be so frustrating that your doctors are telling you different things. I have four regular OBs in my group, and they all seem to agree on what to do with me, luckily.
Things are pretty status quo here. I had a small scare last night when I went to pee and there were a few small spots of blood on the toilet paper. But nothing in the toilet bowl, and nothing on the absolutely gargantuan pad they made me wear overnight. And nothing since while using the bathroom. The doctor didn't seem super concerned as I'm still not having any other signs/symptoms. She said it could just be from irritation from the pessary or from putting the progesterone in every night. Hopefully it doesn't happen again. I don't need another thing to prompt them to keep me here.
I agree, @kristah2 that’s why I signed up to take part. Apparently I’m only the second candidate to go through it, even though they approached several others before me. People in these situations are often just overwhelmed and don’t want to add to their stress. I don’t blame them.
What struck me me was how confusing and incomplete the state of knowledge is in the area, kind of hitting on @parentingishard ‘s point. There are conflicting papers, theories that some doctors accept while others don’t (leading to conflicting advice). There are many women with these conditions but the current science can’t, for instance, stratify women at risk of delivering super early versus just shy of full term.
So it’s just a hard situation. More work needs to be done but at the end of the day, it’s a vulnerable patient population, participation in research is voluntary and most will choose to be more cautious. Science will get there but it will take a while.
And on a lighter note, I’m now thinking about how I can use my participation money to spruce this room up a bit!
@parentingishard, @barristerninja and @hkom you each are so inspiring with your positive attitudes. It’s unfair you are in the positions you are in and my heart feels so much for each of you. Hope you all have healthy babies when it’s time - hang in there ladies!
Just checking in on you guys and catching up, @hkom, @parentingishard, @barristerninja You guys are so strong and are doing wonderfully with all of this. It's great that you're getting the best care possible.
Me: 31
DH: 29, SA - Great
Married: June 12,2011
TTC #1: 1/2014
Diagnosis: Hypothalamic Amenorrhea
Treatment: Clomid: 50mg, 100mg, 150mg - not successful and not monitored
I just wanted to offer some positive insight- this was how my first pregnancy went. I went into labor at 26 weeks, was 3cm dilated- after a month of hospital bed rest he was born at 31 weeks- he’s now a healthy 10 year old with zero complications from being premature.
DS 2, DS 3, and now DS 4 have gone on to be totally normal, full term pregnancies with zero complications or preterm labor! So even though this mont (or more) in the hospital is super sucky, it’s just a blip in time and there’s hope for normal future pregnancies! Hang in there!
Sheesh. Reading through these as I catch up. @hkom you are so steady and strong throughout this journey. I'm so glad you seem to be getting the amazing help from the hospital, and they keep you aware of their every moves. I pray everything goes well for you. You really are a rockstar. showing us how to carry through whatever we come faced with.
It's a tough situation, but I'm glad you are participating in the study @barristerninja! I've been in a clinical trial before and the participation bonus was a nice perk too.
I think that’s a pretty good way to describe what it’s like @texas_t
@hkom have you started making friends with other patients around you? I finally ran into some folks and struck up a conversation while picking up my lunch and it was really nice. Got some good intel/advice about this place too.
@barristerninja Unfortunately I'm not allowed to leave my room and go walk around (I can get pushed around in a wheelchair though!) So I haven't been been able to really interact with any other patients. I'm not even sure if there are any others who are in here long term like I am.
Re: The Bed Rest Thread (formerly Hospital Stay)
@hkom I wish you had a special case where the issue resolved itself with the progesterone, but every day counts and you're doing an amazing job!! Your positivity is inspiring. I'm over here in a puddle of self pity already!
Sorry to hear you’re joining @parentingishard
We were hopeful that progesterone would be our silver bullet but I’m down from 11 to 6 mm since Thursday. I’m wondering if switching from oral to suppository will help.
So cerclage is interesting. The indication is short cervix prior to 24w and no symptoms. The only reason my issue was identified was because I went to the hospital reporting cramping. So that actually automatically ruled it out for me, but I didn’t know. There’s also stuff around cerclages complicating future pregnancies. Lots of stuff I would look into if it was an option for me.
My progesterone wasn't a silver bullet either, even with the suppositories I'm sorry to say. I'm down to a maximum of 5mm right now.
They also really don't have a labor plan until something happens. If we can catch it quick enough maaaaayybe they can stop it from progressing. But if not, it just depends on what the baby looks like at the time. If he's head down and in position, and there are no other complications, then I can try to deliver vaginally. If he's in any other position they''ll have to do the surgery.
@hkom and @barristerninja hang in there ladies! Positive thoughts for you’ll too!!
In fact, echoing @Jens_hoes you ladies are all doing so amazingly! Sending @hkom @barristerninja and @parentingishard good luck keeping those babies where they are as long as possible, and I hope time flies as fast as it can while you're stuck in the hospital and/or pelvic rest. (And welcome to Dec '18 @parentingishard !)
That’s a a good idea @ab_canada ! I can just get DH to bring it all over
I’m off to help further science now. My doc happens to be conducting a study investigating alternative methods for assessing risk of preterm birth. If I’m in the hospital anyway then why not?
I definitely would also join the study. If it can help women later on and you're there anyway may as wel!
@hkom any update? Hope you're doing ok!
I had another check yesterday and since there's no dilation, the doctor doesn't seem to think there's reason for major concern. I'm so confused about whether this is serious or not. One doctor has me on modified bed rest, taking progesterone, etc. and the other says it's something to watch but that's it. We will see...
Things are pretty status quo here. I had a small scare last night when I went to pee and there were a few small spots of blood on the toilet paper. But nothing in the toilet bowl, and nothing on the absolutely gargantuan pad they made me wear overnight. And nothing since while using the bathroom. The doctor didn't seem super concerned as I'm still not having any other signs/symptoms. She said it could just be from irritation from the pessary or from putting the progesterone in every night. Hopefully it doesn't happen again. I don't need another thing to prompt them to keep me here.
@hkom I’m glad it doesn’t seem to be anything major.
What struck me me was how confusing and incomplete the state of knowledge is in the area, kind of hitting on @parentingishard ‘s point. There are conflicting papers, theories that some doctors accept while others don’t (leading to conflicting advice). There are many women with these conditions but the current science can’t, for instance, stratify women at risk of delivering super early versus just shy of full term.
So it’s just a hard situation. More work needs to be done but at the end of the day, it’s a vulnerable patient population, participation in research is voluntary and most will choose to be more cautious. Science will get there but it will take a while.
And on a lighter note, I’m now thinking about how I can use my participation money to spruce this room up a bit!
Me: 31
DH: 29, SA - Great
Married: June 12,2011
TTC #1: 1/2014
Diagnosis: Hypothalamic Amenorrhea
Treatment: Clomid: 50mg, 100mg, 150mg - not successful and not monitored
Menopur 75ml (upped to 112.5ml), Ovidrel, & IUI IUI #1 8/31/2015
9/15/2015: BFP HCG - 400, 9/17/2015: HCG - 827, 9/21/2015 - HCG 3,327!I just wanted to offer some positive insight- this was how my first pregnancy went. I went into labor at 26 weeks, was 3cm dilated- after a month of hospital bed rest he was born at 31 weeks- he’s now a healthy 10 year old with zero complications from being premature.
DS 2, DS 3, and now DS 4 have gone on to be totally normal, full term pregnancies with zero complications or preterm labor! So even though this mont (or more) in the hospital is super sucky, it’s just a blip in time and there’s hope for normal future pregnancies! Hang in there!
I'm still hanging in there. I'm keeping myself occupied just fine, but still dying to get out of here and go home.
*Rainbow 8/2015*
*Expected Rainbows 12/2018*
*Loss of Twin 5/2018*
@hkom have you started making friends with other patients around you? I finally ran into some folks and struck up a conversation while picking up my lunch and it was really nice. Got some good intel/advice about this place too.
I'm glad you're able to meet people there!