The Short Cervix Club

[Pizdets]

Given the high number of threads started in 'pregnancy' on short/incompetent cervixes of late, I thought I'd have a crack at starting a club which we can join to share how we're getting on and pool the information we've been given which hopefully can also reassure or inform other ladies coming on here and worried about the state of their cervixes.

I'll kick off with a bit about my own story:

I'm currently 24+4, due 26th September. I had a scan at the prem clinic at Queen Charlotte's in London who measured my cervix as 2.3/2.4cm and advised a stitch (they do this for anyone who measures under 2.5cm). I had the stitch put in at 15 weeks with a spinal block and so far so good - I'm walking the dog, doing pregnancy yoga, still fairly active and no problems or twinges at all (so far!).

Please feel free to share your experiences, ask questions or update, it's great to hear from other people going through the same worry and so reassuring to know if things are going well!

Piz

Glad to hear you're having another scan soon, Sell. Lots of rest for you too xx

Section booked for 39 weeks but bubs is measuring two weeks ahead, so we shall see xx

Not insensitive at all - and I hope I wasn't. Just in the antenatal ward with a few women expecting preemies and everyone wants to get that little bit further than they are but seems quite a few likely to deliver at 28-30 weeks and they've been looking around neo-natal as the babies have a great chance.

Our DS was born at 29 Wks due to my cervix. He was 3.3 weight and just needed to grow. He had a very easy journey through NICU and we were very very lucky. X

Oh gosh, not at all are you heading home today?? Each day is a victory and we're all rooting away for you xx

Took a while to get discharged but I'm home now 😊 Feet up for the coming weeks.

Lovely to hear that Fraggle xx

Hi all,

I'm new to the page, nice to see that I'm not the only one going through this and good luck to all our pregnancies :-)

I had a cervical stitch two weeks ago. (TMI) today when I when to the bathroom I had a small piece of white string when I wipe. It was white thin and about 1.5cm in length.
Has anyone else had this before?? Really worried, first time having a stitch and very little information after op!

Any information you can share would be good! :-)

Hi Haskell and welcome

It sounds like it could be one of the dissolvable stitches sometimes used (depending on the type of stitch) during the placement.

I would definitely contact the hospital/surgeon and ask though. I don't think it's something to panic about as it won't be the actual stitch itself. However, if you have these kind of disposable stitches you should really have been told.

Keep us posted x

Thank you for getting back to me so quick!

What are the dissolvable stitches used for in the procedure? And would this look like thin string (sorry if you don't know)

I wasn't told a thing other than the surgeon said to me straight after 'good job you have this stitch as your cervix is already open' and then they walked off, the midwives didn't really know much about the procedure, which is understandable. And the doctor who discharged me said no follow up action just go back to normal??? Still another 4 weeks until my 20 week scan, very nervous after seeing string today!

X

I'm not totally sure re the dissolvable stitches, but I'm on quite a lot of forums and have heard of these before. Doesn't sound like your surgeon is too helpful! Do you know the type of stitch? Do you have hospital discharge notes? E.g. A McDonald or Shirodkar stitch? So I'm guessing you're 16ish weeks, what made them decide to place a stitch in the first place (tho certainly sounds like the right course of action if your cervix was open). Sorry there's a lot of questions there!

Sorry you're not getting better care. My view is the midwifes should know about stitches no not maybe the specifics. Have you kept the white string? Maybe you could take that to show them?! Sorry not to be of more help.

X

Just trying to remember re dissolvable stitches and I know that eg. I had a Shirodkar stitch which means they have to make incisions in the vaginal wall as it's buried and those incisions would be sewn up after with dissolvable stitches. This doesn't occur with the traditional McDonald stitch, however my experience is that there are lots of different variants of these two stitches. X

Hi April,

I've checked the notes and all refers to is cervical circulage.

Yes I'm 16 weeks :-)
I had a miscarriage with my last pregnancy at 24 weeks, due to a 'degree' of cervical incompetance, that's the reason for having a stitch this time round. You can imagine my paranoia.

I'm a bit disappointed that my notes have no details of what time of stitch I had as I may have given me a little bit of ease.

No I don't have the string because I pulled it apart to see if it was string or my imagination.

X

They did say I would need another spinal to remove the stitch, don't know if that helps knowing what type of stitch I had.

X

Hey sounds like some kind of shirodkar to me since they've stated spinal for removal. Tho difficult to say. Ultimately I'm sure they've done whatever they think is the best stitch so I wouldn't worry about its name as such, I was only really asking to try to help gauge whether the string could be dissolvable stitches. Sounds like it to me. Though I'm certainly no expert! I'd call your midwife and push for an explanation. I can't think what else it could be tho unless it was v stringy discharge?! Sorry for your loss. I lost my first when he was 2 weeks old, I had him at 25 weeks. X

Hey sounds like some kind of shirodkar to me since they've stated spinal for removal. Tho difficult to say. Ultimately I'm sure they've done whatever they think is the best stitch so I wouldn't worry about its name as such, I was only really asking to try to help gauge whether the string could be dissolvable stitches. Sounds like it to me. Though I'm certainly no expert! I'd call your midwife and push for an explanation. I can't think what else it could be tho unless it was v stringy discharge?! Sorry for your loss. I lost my first when he was 2 weeks old, I had him at 25 weeks. X

Hey sounds like some kind of shirodkar to me since they've stated spinal for removal. Tho difficult to say. Ultimately I'm sure they've done whatever they think is the best stitch so I wouldn't worry about its name as such, I was only really asking to try to help gauge whether the string could be dissolvable stitches. Sounds like it to me. Though I'm certainly no expert! I'd call your midwife and push for an explanation. I can't think what else it could be tho unless it was v stringy discharge?! Sorry for your loss. I lost my first when he was 2 weeks old, I had him at 25 weeks. X

April, I'm so sorry for your loss :-( and thank you so much for your help x

Hi Haskell, my first thought was white stringy discharge. I had issues exactly 2 weeks after my stitch was put in place (brown discharge in my case) and got scanned by the hospital as I was so worried otherwise. Don't worry about getting checked out whenever you need to.

I've also found that midwives don't know much about stitches so I've been going straight to my consultant for anything stitch related, and midwives for more general pregnancy queries.

Let us know how you get on xx

Yup Blue could be right. I did have some very strong (!) string like white discharge soon after placement. X

Hi blue :-)

Thank you, did you find out what the issue was? 2// it string or string like discharge?

Did you scan go ok?

Yes I found the midwives are a little uneasy when I ask them, my consultant has been on a lovely 4 week holiday, she is back to business tomorrow! I will give her a call :-) x

Afternoon all, I hope you are well, 'ore string again today.

I hope you don't mind but I've uploaded an image to see what you think, it's defiantly string but would it be the stitch or does it look like the desilvable stitches. I'm in work tomorrow so would value your opinion x

Hmmm not sure. Could be discharge or string. Though it looks a bit like two knots at the top which may suggest a dissolvable stitch. Just to clarify it wouldn't be THE stitch. Usually that is merseline tape which is coloured and flat and thick. I'd ask your consultant for sure. Let us know!

I'm not sure either I'm afraid. My local hospital has a Maternity Assessment Unit that is open at weekends - do you have anyone like that that you contact for advice? Otherwise call the consultant tomorrow- having a pic is useful.

My discharge at 16 weeks was brown blood so not the same as yours. Let us know how you get on xx

Welcome Haskell xx

I'm afraid I don't know either and haven't got any words of wisdom, but I'd say if you have any concerns at then to contact your ADAU or labour ward for advice? I had some light red bleeding for a few days after the stitch, which was then followed by brown spotting for up to a week. My friend who had a (successful) stitch told me that when they removed it it was a relatively thick piece of nylon looking thread, but I guess they may use different materials at different hospitals? Sorry, not much use here, but hope you're ok and keep up posted xx

How is everyone else getting on? Are you ok now you're at home Blue? Xx