Anyone had a cervical stitch?

[LucyLucyLonglegs]

Just trying to find someone else who has had a cervical stitch due to previous m/c. Had one put in 4 weeks ago as it looked like this pg was going belly up, thankfully they caught it in time. Lost last baby at 17weeks pg due to early opening of cervix.

Just want to see, once they take the stitch out, how long before labour begins?
Been told stitch will come out 4 weeks before due date and to stay near hosp. Is this correct????

Hi Liza, thanks a lot for the info, i'll definitely have a look over there.

If you don't mind me asking, how did dd's delivery go? Did you get to full term or did you deliver early? How is she doing?

Thanks
Michaela

Hi there,

This is how my pregnancy panned out with DD1: cervical length scan at 23+5 showed 12mm of cervical length, follow-up scan at 25+0 showed nil length and 16mm dilated, I had been using progesterone pessaries prescribed for me after the first scan and continued to do so up to dd's eventual delivery at 27+5. During that period I had no cervical length left at all although things held steady. They did discuss the possibility of a stitch but basically did not recommend it, most likely because I had no risk factors and at 25 weeks was already carrying a baby who would probably survive if born. I was given a steroid injection at 26 weeks to mature the baby's lungs.

DD was born well but small at 27+5 weighing 1.088kg. She spent 56 days in the neonatal unit and a total of 10 days on the children's ward in her first four months.

However, this is just one story, so please don't assume you will necessarily follow the same course.

Take care

I had a stitch inserted three days ago (12 weeks preg), so far so good. no bleeding, only some spotting. my history: two m/c at 20 weeks, both no cause found; went into labour prematurely when i got to the hospital the cervix had already dilated and the membranes were buldging. initially dr wasnt sure if i have an incompetent cervix but has agreed to an elective stitch this time. was also told to try 75mg aspirin after 12 weeks, even though he is not 100% sure it will make a difference. has anyone else been on both aspirin and a stitch?

I lost a baby boy last year at 21 weeks pregnant. I had no signs or warnings that i was going to loose him. I went to the loo and felt pressure down below and when i looked i could see the membranes bulging out. I got to the hospital within 10 mins but they said i was 10 centmetres dilated and was going to have the baby any moment. The doctor there said i had an incompetent cervix and would need a stitch in future pregnancies.
When i was feeling better i did some research on the internet and found a specialist on Harley street called Donald Gibb. I saw him a week later and had to do a questionare about procedures i had had on my cervix. I have had in the past cervical erosions and had these treated with laser, and had to colposcopys just routine to check cells. This specialist told me that colposcopys are the biggest cause of cervical incompetence ( I was never told about the side effects of having the colposcopys prior to the treatment)when the specialist looked at my cervix he said it was so badly damaged that i would never be able to carry a baby normally and that the normal vaginal stitch would not work as i had hardley any cervix left. He recommended the transabdominal suture. Which goes through your stomach you are left with a ceserean scar and the will need to have a ceserean delivery, the suture is also left in place for future pregnancies.
I am now 35 weeks pregnant, I had the suture done at 12 weeks, i was in hospital for 5 days, bed rest for 6 weeks after that, I also had progesterone till i was 28 weeks pregnant. and will be booked in for my ceserean in around 3 weeks.
Im so glad i did my reseach as if i had got pregnant again and had the other stitch i would have def lost another baby.

I am so glad I came on this website tonight! You have given me so much hope! I too have lost 2 angels to premature labour as a result of Incomp cervix. I had an abdominal cerclage done last October and am now ready to try again for a baby. The operation recovery was very painful for me particularly on one side. I am worried about having a c-section, but figure its a small price to pay for such a huge gift of a baby! Let me know how everything works out!

Fi xxx

Hi everyone, sorry about your losses i lost 2 beautiful children at 20 weeks and again at 23 weeks. I have a gorg 2 year old and had the stich with her at 12 weeks. I am now 20 weeks and had the stich in this pregancy at 12 weeks also. I am really confused i hava a lot of milky white discharge something i never had with my daughter. Im frightenend because i can feel it coming out like you can a period. I checked on the internet this morning and its very common in "normal pregnancies" but is it normal in our situations. My waters broke with my daughter and they sent me home so i like to think that i would no the difference if this was the case.

hi all - I am new to this page. My husband and I are about to start IVF this month. I had a cine biopsy done about 3 yrs ago, and was told that I would need a stitch at 12 wks. I am worried that my cervix won't hold and I may be atmrisk of losing the baby. Or does it start dialtaing more after 12 wks, sorry to sound a bit stupid I have never been pregnant befroe and not sure how it all works? - thanks very much :-) Nikki

I lost my baby at 23 weeks at age of 41 (just)I was never someone who felt like I wanted a baby at all costs, but having gone through this now, I couldn't bear not to try again.
I had a mcdonald cerclage placed at 15 weeks as a preventative measure but eventually waters broke and I got an infection (not sure which happened first. Now going for an abdominal ceclage - has anyone my age had any expeience of this? I'm told I may be able to have this done via keyhole surgery - does anyone know the recovery time for this as I've been told conflicting things by surgein/nurses?

I have just lost my beautiful baby boy (21 weeks) and am still bleeding heavily and crying constantly.
When I went into hospital, the doctor said she may put a stitch in to stop the labour but the bleeding didn't settle down and I gave birth to him naturally.
My baby was developing perfectly and I had no infection. I would like to have the stitch put in if I get pregnant again as a precaution. I am petrified I will lose another baby though. It would help if I could be given a definite answer as to why it happened but I've been told that's very unlikely. Two doctors did ask me about a biopsy I had two years ago but added that it wasn't connected (why ask then?). I really need some help, I feel like I'm falling apart.

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I have no experience of this but didn't want your post to go unanswered. Hopefully this will bump it for you and someone will be able to help.

This has obviously been very recent if you are still bleeding.

Sounds like a good idea to have a stitch put in as a precaution next time. I'm sure your consultant will be happy to discuss this with you.

Right now you need to concentrate on yourself and getting over your loss.

My heart goes out to you it really does.

Hi Sayitwithsam

I totally know how you are feeling I too have just lost my baby boy and have been told that with my next pregnancy I will need a stitch. Throughout my pregnancy both me and my baby boy were fine, no morning sickness etc. I had to have my blood and placenta tested and these have come back as normal, we are now waiting for results on a post mortem. I feel at lost too but each day I am trying to come to terms with my loss. I am petrified of getting pregnant again but having read some of the messages on the success of the stitch has given me some hope that I one day will become a mum. This was my first pg.
My heart goes out to you

Hi PharmChick, I was just wondering what the outcome was of the pregnancy that you posted about in April 2009. I am currently in the same situation that you were at that time, and desperately in need of some inspiration! Thanks.

Angel, i am sorry to hear of you sad loss.
I had to have an emergency stitch put in at 22+6 as my cervix was opening. I too had read alot on the internet and the outcome of emergency stitch wasnt as good as one that was placed at 12 weeks or so. I was also put on weekly progesterone injections. I spent many weeks worrying about what would happen. I had the stitch taken out at 36 weeks and am now 38 weeks and still waiting for labour to start!.
The stitch can and does work well, especially if it is placed in early pregnancy.
Hope this may give you some encouragement for the future

Hi I have just found this site and wish I had found it weeks ago to I'm 33weeks today and am having my stitch out at 36 weeks as well I had the stitch put in at my 20 week scan where they told me my cervix was opening and that it wouldn't allow me to carry to term but they also told me of the emense risks involved as it was later than the prefered 12 weeks they normally perform this procedure I think it is awful that they don't tell you when you have Letz treatment that it can have this effect and I had it twice stage 3 so they removed a lot
For anyone having the stitch the statistics are 50/50 really if you don't and your cervix doesn't hold your in the same position as if you do and the stitch doesn't hold or they rupture your waters it's the hardest decision I have ever had to make but now am so pleased I did
It is not painful to have the stitch put in but you have a spinal block which takes 5 hours to wear of not being able to move from the waist down is a really horrible feeling but I had no pain once it had worn of
They tell you two weeks bed rest after the stitch which I sort of did but have a 7 year old so still had school runs to do now I'm back to normal activitys
I have spoken to my consultant who says having the stitch out is like having a smear they just cut the knot that holds it together no pain relief needed and then it's just awaiting labour to start which canoccour at any point from then on

I hope this is of help to anyone going through this I had to push really hard to get these answers but feel better knowing what is happening with my body and where things are headed

I'm so sorry for all your losses

I also want to add my thanks to everyone who has posted on this thread. I had my twin DDs in October last year after an extreme premature labour at 24+3. My beautiful girls didn't survive even with the amazing care they received in the neonatal unit and I am now pregnant again and waiting to find out if I need to have a stitch.

I'm really worried about it as my specialist is definitely one who likes to go on about the risks of having it done which scares me so much. Part of me thinks that I'm not going to relax in this pregnancy unless I have one yet the other part knows that I'll be on pins if I do :(

iv just stopped using my progesterone pesseries at 34wks for a weakened cervix im now 35wks 4days im just wondering if anyone has been in the same situation as me an how long after stopping using them did they go into labour.I havnt had a stitch i was just put on the progesterone cyclogest which really worked for me.

hi there i have had 3 cervix stitches and my last one i had my son was a week over due

hi i am 9and half weeks pregant and had 2 miscarriages and and still birth and 17 weeks gone was advised to have the stitch i am just worried i have heard storys that he can make you misscarriage if not done right any advise