The Short Cervix Club cont.

[April1984]

As per the original thread, here is a new group as we have almost reached 1000 in the last group.

Thanks Donald. From what I gather after c-section damage the weakness is high in cervix rather than low so there’s less problems with funnelling but usually a sudden rupture of membranes. Which frankly sounds terrifying! Think I was just thrown by suggestion that TAC was overkill, have decided to go ahead.

Afternoon all how're we all getting on and coping with the heat?

So I'm having a good week! 33wks now, had a full scan at hospital today and baby is estimated to weigh 4lb12! On the 47th percentile lots of reassurances that if she makes an appearance now she'll be fine. I'm so relieved/chuffed/over the moon all round Next appt is 3wks time when I'll be 36wks. Still can't quite believe it! This last wk has been hard mind, lots of random pains and aches and pressure. Some of which I remember from DS, some feel new. This has been the first week where I've felt like my body might not hold on much longer. So the news today was v much needed!

Also, last week in work this week and I finish up on Thursday! Exciting times!!

Any news ladies? X

@CremeDeSudo your stitch has really held, I’m delighted! Not long now, hopefully you make it to term but as you say you’ll be ok either way.

I’m 10weeks tomorrow by dates (think not til Sunday by scan). Next scan is in a week. Having harmony test before putting in my TAC as I think a second trimester loss with a TAC could be a disaster. In meantime I’m feeling rubbish. Not long til the end of the first trimester thankfully, fingers crossed!

Officially on mat leave here. So bizarre. It's come round so fast but not at the same time. Seemed like a good idea to finish up the week before half term, now I'm wondering if I should've hung on the extra week lol!

So far so good for you too has the bleeding stopped now?

Bleeding stopped for the last week, hopefully stays away now. I’m in the feeling tired, dizzy and sick phase. Sometimes fine, sometimes feel like death!

I hope mat leave is fantastic!

Hi ladies, mind if I join you? I'm definitely an unwilling member of the short-cervix club (the club we all wish we weren't a part of).

I'm 12+4 with my 2nd viable pregnancy (5th if you include miscarriages). With my first I discovered at 15 weeks that my cervix was funneling and at 2.3cm. Doctors dithered around and decided against a cerclage at that point until we discovered at 18 weeks that it had shortened to 1.8cm and was 1cm dilated. I was given an emergency cerclage (it's actually called a tmv or cervical occlusion where I live which is slightly different) and put on full bed rest. That held until 23 weeks where I was 3-4cm dilated and put on hospital bed rest. I lasted 5 more weeks on hospital bed rest in and out of L&D with water breaking at 27 weeks and delivered my son at 28+2.

That was 4 years ago (he's absolutely fine btw) and I've finally mustered up the courage to go through this all again. Cervix is now 4.2cm (down from 4.5cm 3 weeks ago). Baby is doing fine so far and actually measuring ahead by 9 days (and I'm certain of my dates) which is always a good thing with our condition. I've been written off work for the duration of the pregnancy and I go into hospital on Tuesday to book my preventative cerclage. I'm really hoping the preventative cerclage will be the answer and I don't go through the same thing as last time.

Welcome @MissMedusa. Hope your stitch is sorted quickly.

My TAC has been brought forward to this Friday. Fingers crossed there’s still a heartbeat on Thursday when I have scan and obviously still one post procedure!

Excellent news! I wish I could get a TAC but I don't think they do them here, would be a lot more reassuring. If things go south with this pregnancy I'd consider flying to the UK to have one placed. My cervix was down to 3.1cm with a slight funnel today so things do seem to be going the sane direction as last time. We've scheduled the cervical occlusion plus a cerclage for June 11. Hope everything stays stable until then.

I think with a decent cervical length to begin with a preventative suture works well. I only have 15mm pre pregnancy and it’s mostly scar tissue!

Yeah that's not a lot of cervix. I guess you haven't had a pregnancy with it so short before so you don't know whether it's stable at 15mm or likely to shorten more. I definitely think you made the right decision with the TAC. They seem to work wonders with even the shortest cervices (not sure what the plural of cervix is ). Good luck on Friday, I'll be thinking of you.

Thanks Medusa. I believe in my case it’s unlikely to shorten but likely to cause a premature membrane rupture. No way of predicting how soon. Anxious about tomorrow now but hopeful will all be well.

@CremeDeSudo how are you?

Hi ladies sorry been a bit rubbish now I'm not bored at my desk in work!

I've been to my midwife today and I have one fully engaged baby apparently! Slightly apprehensive about what that means for my stitch but tbh I won't be devastated if she arrives a little bit early! 36wks + lol

What time you in tmw @paranormal?

7am but don't expect anything done early! When is the stitch coming out Creme? You've done brilliantly, remember when the aim was 28 weeks!

I'm having section and stitch out at the same time on 2nd July. I'll be 39+1. I've got my next consultant appt on the 11th. Hoping she might bring the section forward a little bit tbh!

Keep us posted! Are you in overnight?

I’m going in first thing tomorrow. Will be kept 2-3 nights apparently (secretly hoping just the one!). Ended up working late to clear my job list so I’m only getting home now.

@paranormal hope it goes well today xx

Well I’m on ward. Quite a lot of pain but went well apparently. Huge wound!

Glad it went well! It's quite major surgery isn't it? Nice and reassuring that this little one isn't going anywhere!

Just worried it won’t survive all this. Yes big enough op. I’m quite sore but forcing myself to move around now to stretch out. Think I was ambitious hoping for home today though!

So far so good though? Was it Nick Wales? I gather he's quite the expert!

@medusa how're you getting on? Where are you that they won't do TACs?

Following my mw appt on Friday confirming baby is fully engaged I've started getting sharp pains in my cervix. I called triage last night to ask advice but they're not worried unless there's bleeding or I think I'm in labour. And they won't check my stitch anyway. I'm just paranoid it's going to tear! I'm not comfortable with this 'lets wait and see and hope' approach!

Yes Nick was around just now. I’m feeling much better, hopefully home later. Managing to slowly hobble around with paracetamol only so he thinks home today. GP will take staples out next week. Have got to take clexane for a few weeks to prevent clots as high risk in pregnancy.

Creme why won’t they take a look? It’s probably baby’s position but you are at high risk of preterm labour so thought they’d see you?

Do you have to inject with fragmin? I hate that! I couldn't do it myself, DH couldn't do it so had to go in every day for the week following my stitch!

They won't 'mess around' up there. I think for fear of causing infection. I was crampy when I went to bed last night and keep expecting to see blood when I go to the loo! I'm going to stick it out over the wkend and if if it carries on my consultant will be back in on Monday so I might call her secretary.

It's difficult because I know a lot of it is just normal pain anyway!

Yes I’ll do it at home, did it after my section before. Hate it but better than a clot I suppose.

I would call your consultant on Monday, you’ve been so well cared for up to now, you don’t want to lose confidence now.

Glad everything went ok @Paranormalbouquet! Probably good that you are still in hospital so you can be monitored. Do they operate through the abdomen like a c-section?

With my last cerclage I was in for 4 days as I had some bleeding afterward and lost part (or maybe all) of my mucus plug but it grew back and everything was ok at that point. Last time I didn't have enough cervix left to do a cerclage so they just did a cervical occlusion which is basically seeing the very tip of the cervix together and roughing it up so the cervical tissue grows together. It's apparently better than just a cerclage as it prevents bacteria from entering the cervix but didn't work so well for me last time. This time hopefully we catch it in time and i can get both done.

@CremeDeSudo I'm in Germany and I've not found anywhere here that does a TAC. I'm probably not really a candidate for one at this point but if I lost this baby due to IC and did decide to do it all again, I'd look up the possibility of getting one done in the UK.