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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

LLETZ and vaginal delivery anyone???

16 replies

witch6 · 20/09/2010 21:35

Cross posted from childbirth as no replies..
Have had a search and can't find this topic but....
I had a LLETZ several years ago and am now 33 weeks pregnant with first child.
I had cervical length scans, which were fine but both the consultants that did them remarked on the scar tissue on my cervix...
I'm now totally convinced that I won't dilate properly and will end up with an emergency section, which I don't want. Would rather just have elective and be prepared for that...
But has anyone had normal delivery with a similar scarred cervix??
Experiences please..

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lilmamma · 21/09/2010 08:55

what is LLETZ ?

Magic8ballhastheanswers · 21/09/2010 09:12

Hi Witch6 I had a LLETZ 2 years before my DD was born and had no problems with dilation/delivery although I have minimal scarring. Ask your consultant at your next appointment what their opinion is. I am sure you will be fine. Good luck.

Original poster

witch6 · 21/09/2010 09:15

Sorry- LLETZ is large loope excision of the transitional zone. It's basically removing a loop of cervix from those who have pre-cancerous cells...
Thanks magic8, yours is the first postivie story that I've heard.

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nunnie · 21/09/2010 09:20

I had a LLETZ in 2002, and I had the opposite problem, my cervix dilated very very quickly and DD was born in 2 hours and 5 minutes and the majority of that was pushing.

DD was born in 2007.

yellowflowers · 21/09/2010 13:31

I had LLETZ in 2001. Am now 28 weeks pregnant - no one has ever mentioned anything about it or it havign an impact on the birth. Hmm - I will ask when I have my next appt.

amalur · 21/09/2010 13:36

Hi witch

I had a LLETZ in 2000 and first baby in 2005. Had no problems dilating, had problems going into labour but I was induced and once I started contracting dilation was normal. Second baby was the same. I was never aware that it may be a problem with dilation.

Best of luck with your birth!

nunnie · 21/09/2010 13:39

My cervix was only monitored, as the sugeons letter that went to the ante natal clinic, went into detail about the depth they had gone when they did the biopsy. And my cervix measurement was shorter than normal, and cervix softened early into 1st pregnancy, so there was in my case an increased risk of premature labour (which didn't happen). This time round I have had no monitoring as they say my cervix has proven it can cope.

Yellowflowers, just mention it, try not to worry about it though, as it can depend on depth of biopsy and other factors I believe.
Also my very quick dilation may well not have been linked to my biopsy at all.

nunnie · 21/09/2010 13:41

Forgot to say, I had no idea till coming on here a few months back and reading a thread that LLETZ had been linked to dilation problems, it was never mentioned during my appointments with DD.

veyron · 21/09/2010 19:08

I had LLETZ in 1999 and my DD was born in 2003 - I had huge problems dilating and had to have an emergency c-section. I had a lot of scarring though.

This time round I am 34 weeks pregnant and am insisting on an elective c-section.

Mads76 · 22/09/2010 08:12

I had LLetz treatment in 2003 and after reading up on it in various books, I was concerned at how this would affect my pregnancy. I did have spotting twice at 10 weeks and at 11.5 weeks. I raised my concerns with my midwife who said the spotting maybe due to scarring around my cervix following LLetz and she didn't think that it was a problem at all for during pregnancy and when it comes to labour.

I also raised my concerns with my GP and she thought I was mad for even mentioning it and didn't think it was an issue to cause problems during labour. Even though I had quite a lot of tissue removed from my cervix. I taken her word for it. If she's not concerned, then I will cross it off my list of other worries!!!! Good luck, I'm sure you will be fine.

aichi · 22/09/2010 08:51

Hi there,

I'm on the same boat as you...I had a LLETZ a few years ago and I'm 32 wks pregnant, with my first. The doctor who performed LLETZ warned me I may have the baby slightly earlier than EDD or like you mentioned might not dilate because of the scar.

I had cervical scan last week and it was fine, 2.7cm and the consultant thought its fine...

I was also told if you've only had one treatment your scar shouldn't be that big/interfer. Its those people who had it a number of times may experience their cervix not dilating etc. But its one of these things you will never know until you go in...

I've been given a green light for natural birth and I'm putting all my worries aside and wait and see what'll happen.

Good Luck and hope all goes well for you too!

LadyBaiter · 22/09/2010 08:58

Watching with interest. I had a LLETZ at the beginning of the year and have just discovered that I'm pregnant. I have been suffering lots of problems with bleeding since the treatment, although I have been told it's hormonal rather than as a result of damage done, but there is scarring.

I had know idea about a link with problems during labour and I'm glad this thread brought my attention to it. I will be mentioning as soon as I see my MW!

Original poster

witch6 · 22/09/2010 09:40

Thanks for your replies everyone.
My understanding is that it can either cause cervical incompetence and therefore premature labour (hence cervical length scans to monitor, leading to cervical stitch if found to be short). Or, it more rarely causes dilatation problems due to scarring of the cervix.
The likelihood of this happening is related to how much tissue they took away. This is more likely to be more if the procedure was done under a general anaethetic rather than a local.
My scarring is a thick bright white line on the scan, and both consultants initially thought it was a stitch already in place, hence my paranoia.
I'm keen to hear other stories so please continue to add yours if you have had a LLETZ.

OP posts:

Giddyup · 22/09/2010 10:27

I had Letz and after the follow up apt I have been really slack about the yearly smears (I am disgusted with myself really but that's in the past now & will be rectifying ASAP). I am 34 weeks now. I told the midwife at booking in and was put under consultant care.

I had the (dildo-cam) internal scan to measure my cervix and consultant said it's length was fine, but they never mentioned scarring. She said she wasn't concerned and a HB shouldn't be problem.

yellowflowers · 22/09/2010 11:40

I have to see an obstetrician in a couple of weeks for other things so will ask then and report back if that helps?

yellowflowers · 12/10/2010 17:52

Hi - just to resurrect this thread because I saw the obstetrician today and she said that it is important they know about the LLETZ so it can be in your notes because very occasionally this can slow down dilation and if they examine you and see you are not progressing then it is good for them to know this may be a reason for it but that beyond that there are no other implications for birth.

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