Cervical Stitches

[KJRS]

Hi does anyone have any recommendations when it comes to having a cervical stitch put in? I recently lost our baby and have been told I will need to have one put in. I completely lost faith in the NHS with my last experience and and we have been able to get this covered under our private health policy and so am going private but dont know where to start... can anyone help or recommend. thank you

Sorry can't help but bumping for you.

Could your private healthcare company give you information on who they'd recommend? Wouldn't you have to use one of their 'approved' ob/gyns?

If not then,

What part of the country are you in? Could you start googling ob/gyns in Harley Street, London (or nearest major city) and work from there?

Are there any ob/gyn specialists in your NHS trust that also work privately? I know you said you'd lost faith in the NHS but a lot of (good) private docs also have NHS clinics.

Are there any private hospitals near you that have ob/gyn departments? Could try calling them and getting details?

I've had stitches with both my pregnanacy's. First done in New York by private ob/gyn and second done by NHS. DD1 now 7 and DD2 nearly 3.

See as many people as you can. Ask for stats/success rates. See if you can speak to previous patients. Go with someone you feel comfotable with, answers all your questions and is compassionate.

Wishing you the best of luck for a safe and healthy pg. And so sorry for your loss.

thank you for all of that, they have approved Dr Gibb who practices in Harley street but for obvious reasons I am desperate to make sure I get the right person who does this a lot! So wanted to try and get a few more names, nothing comes up really when I google it. We live in Surrey so am looking at london specialists. Can I ask how you made your decision and what kind of stitch they inserted?

Hi there
I have lost my IVF twins in June at 22+3. I live in Kent but as I was on my way to work (London) I ended up in St Thomas' hospital near Waterloo Station. I could not be at a better place. They were fantastic and the consultant who saw me at the time was genuinely concerened and interested in helping us. So much so that he invited us over after six weeks to discuss what has happened and what to do next. He went into quite a length to find out what has actually happened and the most likely cause was an incompetent cervix, which will posibly require a stich at my next pregnancy. St Thomas' hospital has a premature baby clinic and they do a lot of research into this subject. I have miraculously managed to get pregnant naturally last month and the consultant will start scanning my cervix from 11 weeks (fingers crossed I will get there). He suggested to wait and see whether I need the stich or not. If my cervix is not shortening, he might just monitor me weekly.
I have asked around about the risks of the stitch. The only one I was told about is the risk of infection but apparently they can give you pessaries for that.
I come from the Czech Republic and discussed my problem there as well as I have a friend in one of the best hospitals there. The Czech consultant told me that they used to do the stitch a lot in the past but they are trying to do without whenever they can and that he personnally wouldn't recommend it. So I am confused. However, I trust my consultant in St. Thomas' and whatever he will recommend I will go with.
To answer your question about NHS, I too lost faith after my misscarriage in June but being treated in St. Thomas' and receiveing the interest from the consultant even though I am not part of their PCT has restored it again. He spent an hour!! discussing with us what has happened. On NHS. No private consultant has ever spent so much time with me and I still can't quite get over how great he is.
See if you could ask your GP to reffer you to St. Thomas' prof. Shennan's early pregnancy unit. I really think you would be in good hands there.
Hope this helps. Let us know how you get on and good luck.

The decision was made for me when I was in New York. I'd had a cold knife cone biopsy for pre-cancerous cells of the cervix and as a matter of course the did a stitch at 16 weeks when I was pregnant with DD1 as my cervix was v short because of the op. My regular ob/gyn referred me to a specialist ob/gyn who did the stitch. It was a MacDonald stitch. Was kept in for all of pg and I was monitored weekly to see if my cervix was shortening. Stitch taken out at 37 weeks. Went into labour naturally at 40 weeks with both pg's.

When I came back to the UK and got pg with DD2 I opted to have a stitch again as wasn't going to take the chance without it. They weren't as happy to do it as they prefer to see what happens. I was at Kingston Hospital and the NHS consultant did it. I can't for the life of me remember the guys name. Although I know that they have a number of cunsultants that work within the hospital and also have private clinics.

The only thing I would say, and I really don't want to frighten you, was that both times the stitch was inserted I had pre term labour. Apparently I have a sensitive uterus! I had to get given drugs to calm the contractions down. Complete shit show at Kingston as they wouldn't believe me that I was having contractions. Grrrrrr. It took them 5 hours to get it under control. very frightening and painful. This doesn't happen to all women who hve stitches. Think I'm just unlucky.

I'm trying to conceive No3 and I'd go private next time to get the stitch done as the experience at Kingston left a lot to be desired.

Have you tried places like The Lister and The Portland in London?

Wish I could be of more help. Have you tried asking on the pregnancy thread? Someone might be able to give you better answers.