Delivery after LLETZ

[fruitloop85]

Hi, I had LLETZ treatment around 3 years ago after an abnormal smear. I told my midwife at booking appointment and nothing was said, then I started to find out that it could affect my cervix dilating, so I mentioned it again at 28 week appointment, she told me she'd let clinic know (presuming that's the hospital where I want to give birth) but nothing has been mentioned since. I am prepared that my baby could come early if my cervix isn't strong enough, but I am terrified of going overdue and being induced and being in labour for hours and then having to have an emergency C section because it has affected it the other way. Should I just see what happens or should I mention again at my next appointment, I have heard that other women have scans and examinations to check their cervix. Has either of these things happened to anyone? Am I just being super paranoid?? Thanks :)

Can't help but following because I've had the procedure too

I am intrigued to know of anyone's experiences with this too, as I am in a similar situation. It is in my notes and was mentioned at booking appointment. No major concerns have been raised though. I am 28 weeks.

This was ten years ago but I had 2 lletz (2004 & 05) and 10yrs old DS was an EMCS because I didn't dilate in 12 hours of heavy labour.

It just hadn't occurred to me or my gynea consultant that it would be a problem. Only afterwards did he discover my cervix was so scarred it was nearly shut. We'd both overlooked the fact my periods weren't able to come out properly and assumed labour would be ok. He was just relieved I wasn't induced as he suspects it would have gone horribly wrong.

If you have had problems with your periods coming out then it might be wise to speak your midwife or consultant.

I've not really had periods as I've been on the injection and then the pill, but I did have one when I came off the pill this year before I got pregnant and that was pretty normal and happened straight away, hopefully that means something positive.

I had laser treatment for abnormal cells, but it was never mentioned during either of my pregnancies. Induced early with first for high BP, 6 hour labour and all well. 2 hour labour with number 2, pretty much on due date.

It's called cervical stenosis and happens sometimes if there's a lot of scar tissue. Unfortunately it's not possible to predict it as scar tissue doesn't mean it will happen so you'll just have to wait and see. Even if you do fail to dilate, it may not be the cause!

I had LLETZ and had a dreadful Labour but I did dilate so the 2 aren't necessarily linked!

I had LLETZ treatment in March 2003. When I was pregnant in 2004/5 I mentioned it to my midwife. She noted it as it could have meant that my cervix was weak. Anyway, I went into labour 36w+ 5. Nothing to do with my cervix as far as I know. I didn't actually give birth to DS until he was precisely 37 weeks . All perfectly normal. Very easy birth. Minimal pain relief. You'll be grand OP. Don't worry.

I had lletz in Dec 2013, fell pregnant sept 2014. Had my cervix checked at 21 weeks due to spotting anytime we attempted intercourse. Checked then at 23 weeks then Checked again at 24 weeks and it had shortened by 1cm in a week, I was given progesterone pessaries to use until 36 weeks, and at 32 weeks was signed off for the remainder of the pregnancy as DD was engaged and my cervix was soft, I rested up until 37 weeks, dilated to 1cm within a week of stopping the pessaries, one my due date midwife did a sweep and could stretch to 3-4, labour progressed very quickly at 40+5 and DD arrived just over five hours after the first contraction. Hope that helps, appointment wise I was initially seeing a consultant for a different pregnancy issue and mentioned the spotting and previous lletz and that's why I was seen for it I think.

My cervix had shortened to 2.4cm btw at 24 weeks and had steroid shots just in case

I had LLETZ in October 2010, got pregnant the summer after and ds was born 2012. It was mentioned I might need a stitch in my cervix and I had regular bleeds through the pregnancy. My labour in the end was only 4 hours start to finish and I pretty much went from feeling a bit weird to arriving at the hospital and being at 10cm an hour later. It was only afterwards thst the midwife said that this is quite common after LLETZ, or that the other option is that labour stalls. No one warned me before hand though!

I mentioned it to my midwife and she said in her experience, it can mean that the cervix doesn't dilate at first and then it does it all at once right at the end. She seemed entirely unconcerned.
My doc booked me in for an ultrasound to make sure it was strong enough to bear the weight of a pregnancy, that was reassuring. Maybe talk to your GP as well?

I had lletz in 2008 and then two babies in 2013 and 2015. With both my cervix measured short and I had a preventative stitch at around 14 weeks. DC1 arrived at 40+2 and DC2 was induced at 41+5!!

I was worried about scar tissue, especially after the stitches and so much dicking around with my cervix, but both births were fine and DC2 in particular came in only about 6 hours. If you're worried maybe try and push the midwife on it next time you see her, but I think a scarred cervix is extremely rare and the opposite (although also rare!) is more common.

Best of luck, pregnancy is such a stressful time but hopefully soon (not too soon) you'll have your lovely baby in your arms.

I had lletz about 9 months after my first baby. Just had baby number 2 and the midwife wasn't concerned that I'd had a lletz procedure. I was seeing a consultant anyway due to csection and mentioned I was anxious about my cervix after the procedure so he allowed me to have 2 cervical scans, one at 16 weeks and 1 at 20 weeks, both fine any they signed me off. Was booked in for csection at 39 weeks and didn't go into labour any earlier.
Lots of places do private cervical scans if you are concerned. I believe you're meant to have them done at 16 and 20 weeks tho as after that point it's hard to tell if your cervix has changed? Think they compared the length of my cervix at the 2 scans to see if it had significantly shortened and if it had then they would have put a stitch in.

Not sure if this helps but i had a lletz last October and am due soon....i have mentioned this to 2 different midwives who were not concerned and when i was in hospital for monitoring a couple of week ls ago, a midwife asked a conaultant about it and he said they only cause weakening after 2 or 3 lletz procedures usually so nothing at all to worry about......

I also wondered about scar tissue etc but i guess i won't know until the day comes!? Good luck....I'm sure you'll be fine.

Thank you ladies! I guess I will just have to wait and see what happens! My mums labours were both under 3 hours anyway so I'm hoping for a super fast one myself!!

I have had 3 LLETZ treatments in total over 12 years. I have been under the consultant until 25 weeks. He then signed me off for a home birth as cervical length scans were all ok and as long as I get to 37 weeks I can have a home birth.

I have spoken to the home birth midwives and they have said it would be wise to maybe have a couple more internal examinations during labour if I seemed to be in labour for a long time without progression. They have confirmed they won't let me go hours and hours without progression without transferring me in as that would be a sign of scar tissue preventing cervix from dilating and they would transfer me in for an emergency c-section.

It is ironic that in the 2nd trimester I worried about going into labour early from an incompetent cervix and now at 30 weeks I'm worried about it being welded shut!!!