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 both! Still reeling a bit and trying to get everything sorted asap to make DH's life easier. He's good as gold and tries his best but stresses a bit so anything I can get prepped for him will help!

@MissMedusa I had a spinal with my stitch, although at the time I felt quite anxious about it and almost wished I could have the general and be unaware of what was going on. It wasn't too bad in the end though.

@MissMedusa I had a general for my TAC. They use the safest option. Hopefully all goes well. How far did you get with your last stitch?

Creme if your DH is anything like mine leave a second bag of clothes for yourself packed. I ended up staying longer than expected with DD and asked DH to bring me some fresh clothes. I got heavy jumpers etc. Not what you want on a boiling hot ward!

My scan is later this morning. Wish me luck!

Stitch broke open after 5 weeks and I was able to keep the baby inside for another 5 weeks dilated 3-4cm. So basically gave birth 10 weeks after getting my stitch at 28 weeks. Not sure if that's really a success story but my son is doing great. I am pretty scared though, it all started around this time of the last pregnancy and went downhill from there. Currently down to 2.8cm and losing 4-5mm of cervix a week. Really hoping getting stitched up while I still have a good amount of cervix left will have a better outcome.

I think that sounds like a success story tbh, getting that far with a rescue stitch and dilated. Hopefully the preventative procedure will do the trick- they seem to be much more effective than rescue. There’s a UK Facebook group which has lots of stories from women with vaginally sutures. And look at Creme- barely any cervix but still pregnant at 35 weeks!

Scan was good. Measuring 11+5 which is what I thought I was. Nuchal looks good, all visualised organs look good. And dressing removed, my wound looks great, almost healed. I’m so relieved!

Excellent news @paranormal! Congratulations! What's the plan now then? Do you get extras scans? Or just consultant led like me? What's your due date?

@MissMedusa I think that sounds like a success story too although I can understand your apprehension.

Good tip for having a spare bag at the ready. Am definitely going to do that!

I’m linked in with a prematurity prevention clinic. Not sure what that involves exactly yet, I shall find out next week. Due date is Christmas Eve by scan today. But realistically 37-38 weeks so early December all going well. Hoping for some extra scans!

@MissMedusa do you know what sort of stitch you are getting? Are they going to try and move the bladder to place it?

That sounds intriguing and a beneficial programme to be on!

I'm now finding that if I'm sat up or stood up too much then the pressure is too much again, the pain in my cervix and bladder starts again and then my back starts up too. Ok after lying down for a bit so staying horizontal as much as possible atm! No bleeding or anything but it's all very disconcerting and I'm feeling quite on edge. I don't want to go back in unless I have to though and determined to keep her in til Tuesday! I'm very relieved it's been brought forward as I don't think I'd been lasting much longer!

In reality I think it’s just check ups every 2-4 weeks! How are you doing today?

At least you know they know what they're talking about!

I nearly went back to the hospital last night but it eased off after lying down for a while. DH has put me on strict bed rest til the when I go for my pre op assessment. So glad she isn't making me wait any longer than Tuesday, I don't think I'd be hanging onto her much longer anyway and bed rest is awful!

Good luck tomorrow Creme!! Hopefully you’ll be soon updating us all with your news!

Thank you! Will update you tmw 😁 eeek!

@MissMedusa is your stitch in? How did it go?

@CremedeSudo I hope all goes smoothly for you.

Cassidy Hope was born today at 14.54 weighing 6lb3. No NICU required at present! She's lush and tiny and totally worth it! We're doing well 😊
I got bumped a couple of times and got emotional as so bloody hungry but got there in the end! Stitch came out easily enough and they were surprised when I asked to see it! It's basically like a wide shoelace but fabric is see through. Mad to think it held her in all this time!

Congratulations!! I’ve been checking in all day! She’s not that tiny, especially for 36 weeks. I hope you aren’t in too much pain and can get some rest.

Congratulations @CremeDeSudo! That is wonderful news. Another graduate of the short cervix club. You give us all hope

My stitch is in and all appears well. I've been in hospital since Monday and just waiting for an ultrasound and should be able to go home shortly.

That’s great MissMedusa. I’ve had a preterm clinic visit this morning, cervix below stitch is already down to 13mm but TAC is in place so hopefully length doesn’t matter much.

Hi all,

There hasn’t been a post on here in a while but looking for some reassurance...

I’m due to have a cervical stitch on Friday at 19 weeks. Have had a cone biopsy in past but midwife never followed up so only got ball rolling with cervical scans this week. Anyway scan showing 2.3mm so not awful but not great. It’s closed and no funnelling.

I am so nervous that something could go wrong from the stitch or that it won’t work.. is there any advice on increasing chances it will work? Should I put myself on bed rest after too? What about progesterone suppositories? Sorry so many questions but it’s just shitting myself and can’t help but panic for my little girl.. xx

Hi all I just came on to see how everyone was doing and to complain about this heat with a newborn! All going well. She lost 11% of her birth weight so we were stressing about feeding her for a bit and having to top up with formula after feeds, having a 'mare BF'ing too because she's small and she gets tired easily. But back up now so we've relaxed 😁 today I walked the furthest I've walked in 7 months! My back is aching now but really plsd with myself.

@fruity, welcome! Not sure if you've read back but I had my stitch due to a previous cone biopsy. I had mine at 13wks as my cervix measured 1.9 when I was 9wks. When the Dr did the op she told me there was barely any cervix there and she'd had to move my bladder to get it in. I was devasted and panicked. A lot.

I had my little girl via elective section 2 wks ago 😁 @36+2 wks. She had to arrive a bit early as I was showing signs of early labour and my Dr wanted it to remain elective.

The only restriction my Dr gave me was no sex. She said bed rest wouldn't help. I am a member of a support group on FB and lots of women on there were given extra restrictions. So basically I tried to stay off my feet as much as possible, feet up when I could, no sex/orgasms and no baths/swimming.

Hope this helps! Good luck on Friday, you'll be fine. I recommend the FB group - Incompetent Cervix UK xx

Sorry I've been mainly offline lately. In that panicky phase where I'm over 12 weeks but not feeling movements yet (low anterior placenta so probably won't for a while). So I'm essentially feeling fat but not feeling pregnant! Next appt is July 11th so not too long to wait. 15+0 today.

@FruitandNutty Welcome! Hope all went well today. 2.3cm sounds pretty decent- mine was 15mm prepregnancy and was down to 10mm by 12weeks. @CremedeSudo is a great success story so don't lose hope! And agree re joining FB group, really supportive.

@Creme delighted feeding is going well now. DD lost 12% birthweight but was back up by 2 weeks old and I ended up having to forcibly wean at 2.5 years old! If this stitch works and I finally have baby #2 I'll be introducing a daily bottle from the beginning!

Hi @CremeDeSoda and @Paranormalbouquet - thanks so much for the supportive msgs. Had the op yesterday with epidural (stitch and occlusion stitch), and it went well. Feeling relatively back to normal now and just a bit of light pain and spotting down there. Not a lot.

Did you recover quickly? My Consultant also said no bed rest! I am planning to take it easy and work from home next week. Just hoping it does the job now. How did you cope with the worry? I feel like from now until 34 weeks (when I next meet Consultant) is a long time. Did you have cervical length scans to monitor too? Xxx

Ps. @Paranormal I only started feeling movements at 18 weeks!

@FruitandNutty after a lot of to-ing and fro-ing I had a transabdominal cerclage and occlusion stitch at 11 weeks. Mainly because my cervix was damaged during emergency c-section so it’s both short and very scarred. Damage is very high up so I have essentially got no normal cervix. Mine was an open surgery (like a c-section) so had quite a lot of pain initially but been back to work for last 2 weeks and am feeling fine. I’m having scans every few weeks too- next one is in 11 days at 16+5.

@paranormal sounds like the transabdominal was best in your situation. Interesting you’re having scans every two weeks, my consultant said no need to have them as all that can be done is now done! I’d still want to know if shortening though and if so I can put myself on bed rest xx

@fruitandnutty I was signed off work for two wks but could've gone back a couple of days later. Just had mild cramping and spotting like you.

Your consultant sounds exactly like mine! No additional cervix checks as if it decided not to hold there would be nothing they could do anyway. She checked it on the ultrasound when checking the baby though.

I didn't experience any issues at all with mine until I got to around 33/34wks when I could feel the baby had engaged and lots of pressure. Then I started to get the odd cervix pain.

@paranormal I'm so pleased to hear all is going well still! Lovely Christmas present on the horizon for you 😊

@cremedesudo that’s so reassuring to hear yours all went well!

I’m aware I have so long to wait and just want to take everything very very easy. I had the stitch done privately in London, but the rest of my care atm is through Tunbridge Wells nhs. They’re offering me scans every two weeks so I reckon I’ll do them. My London consultant also told me to have blood & urine tests for infection every two weeks - did anyone else have that?

Also - opinions on progesterone? I have some pessaries from Nhs although Consultant said he didn’t believe in them,but if I was going to use them, use rectally so as to avoid any cervical infection...

@FruitandNutty I think we might have had the same London consultant?! I’m having regular swabs for infection too (just picking up thrush at present!). Had my TAC in c+w but following up in UCLH. Seriously tempted to go back to C+W for my section though as I have the neatest wound you can imagine, which was completely healed within 7 days.

I believe there is no evidence that progesterone helps but it doesn’t hurt. I’m having scans every 4 weeks- wish it was every 2! Seriously anxious!