Cervical 'stitch' anyone know anything about that?

[baby1ahhh]

Im about 5 weeks pregnant now and 2 years ago i had an extensive biopsy after a severely abormal smear test. My mom had cervical cancer at 32 and so i got rushed in and the gynaecologist told me he had removed a lot of tissue from my cervix.

When i went for the aftercare chat he told me that if i ever got pregnant i would probably have to have a 'stitch' put into my cervix to 'stop the baby falling out' - his words not mine!

I have been bleeding and cramping (as you will see from my papranoid posts) and reminded my GP yesterday and she said its something that happens around 16 weeks and the midwife will talk to me about it - has anyne else had to have one?

I haven't had one yet, but I am being monitored in case I need one due to similar surgery to yourself.

I mentioned the previous surgery to the midwife at my booking in appt (9 weeks) and they arranged for me to see a consultant at 12 weeks. I was reassured at that time that they wouldn't be able to see much until 16 weeks so they booked me in for another appointment and cervical scan then. My cervix measured 3cm which they said was fine, and they'll see me again at 20 weeks (next week), and every 4 weeks until 28 weeks. If the cervix gets to 1.5cm before 28 weeks then a stitch will be the likely outcome. However, after cramping and pains today, I went to the EPU and they have booked me in for another scan tomorrow instead of next week.

So, I can't really help other than to tell you my experience so far, and to say not to worry just yet about any cervical incompetency (lovely term isn't it?!) as your uterus and baby aren't big enough to put any pressure on it just yet. However, be proactive in getting a consultant appointment at your booking in appointment with the midwife. Good luck!

Allbellyandboobs thank you x
Im just scared :(
I really cant wait to see the midwife and get the scan out of the way. Ive stupidly been on the internet and looked up how they do the stitch and it makes me even more scared!

OK, well firstly I am surprised that this is being left to a midwife discussion, unless you have very early midwife appointments? Putting in a stitch would usually be a decision made by the hospital consultant and their team, but I guess things may have changed over the years.

Whilst I can understand your stress, at 5 weeks embryo is still very small, and cervical competence isn't the immediate issue. (Can I just check - is this 5 weeks from date of conception or 5 weeks from your last period? PGs are usually measured from the latter).

In both of my pgs the decision was made at around 9 weeks to go for a stitch, but the stitch itself wasn't put in until after the nuchal scan at around 13 weeks. Whilst the procedure is fairly undignified, it was in my case done under spinal block so doesn't hurt.

When will you first see your midwife?

I did exactly the same thing and read some real horror stories. So I've banned myself now :)

Basically it depends on how much cervix was taken away I think, and I was told that they wouldn't be able to see much (with accuracy) until about 16 weeks, although I was seen at 12 weeks for all this to be explained to me. I was also told that only about 10-15% of people who have had cone biopsies go on to have some sort of intervention whether it is progesterone suppositories, a stitch or both, so the odds are in our favour. Plus, before my cone biopsy I had a LLETZ as well, and I have got this far without problems. Don't ignore the cramps and bleeding, but don't worry unduly about the potential issues with your cervix just yet. Can you speak to a midwife instead of GP?

GP didnt really go into it, just read the letters from the gynaecologist on the computer and told me to speak to the midwife about it when i see her. I couldnt book an appt as shes on holiday so ive had to leave my number for her to call me next week.

Its 5 weeks and 3 days since the first day of my last period. Is that my pregnancy time? (im so new to this :))

Yes, then you're 5w3d pg (until you get to your 20 week scan when they'll try to convince you of some other date!).

Oh wow, ive started doing that crying thing now - im so happy that im 5 weeks 3 days pregnant!!!
Thank you ladymuck x

I had a "rescue" stitch at 18w3d last pregnancy - I had just 3mm of cervix left and was already dilating. I had a bad feeling so went in early for a scan and we got there in the nick of time. She was thankfully fine, although the odds weren't very good at the time because it was a "rescue" stitch rather than a preventative one, which are done a lot earlier.

You really need to be seeing a consultant sooner rather than later. Preventative stitches such as the one you'll need are generally fitted at 12-13 weeks, once you've had your NT scan and all looks good.

The baby isn't heavy enough to fall out until at least 14-15 weeks if not later. It is very tricky to measure the length of the cervix before then as well, which is annoying.

The procedure isn't that bad at all for a preventative one, and the odds are great that you will have a normal pregnancy. You will be scanned more frequently, and it is possible you may need to rest a lot, especially around the peak incompetent cervix times of 16-24 weeks. There are risks, but they're tiny, and the benefits vastly outweigh them.

I'm sure things will be fine! :-) Just be assertive.. some doctors prefer to see women lose babies first before treating them for incompetent cervix which is just inhumane.

Hi baby1, just to say that I have had 2 cone biopsies and was also told, delicately, that my baby 'may fall out' if I conceived again as there was so little left.
Well I'm now 17 weeks, at 14 weeks I had the nuchal and dating scan and then I was taken for a cervical length scan and I have 3.9cms so they have decided not to give me a stitch. They explained that there may not be that much cervix visible from the outside but that there is more in the cervical canal (i think that's how they explained it!).
The consultant had seen me around 12 weeks and explained that if the cervix was less than 2.5cms then she would advise the stitch (to be done under epidural at around 16 weeks), any more should be fine. She will see me again to check how I feel but they did not say they would measure the cervix length again. Just so you know, the cervix length scan is an internal scan, not sure if you knew that but best to know before you go so you don't get shocked.
So, please, don't worry just yet and if they do have to do it it really is for the best reason.

Thanks for all the info ladies, i really appreciate it. Im definately going to ask the midwife if i can see a consultant to discuss my conerns/gather more info when she eventually rings me and ive banned myself from googling the subject my OH thinks its hilarious that im stressing so much about something that i might not even need doing.

I just had my second cervical scan (at 19w 2d) and it's actually a centimetre longer now than at 16weeks, with no sign of funnelling. So far, so good. I'll still worry myself silly but I think that's your lot once you become pregnant :o