pregnancy and birth after a loop diathermy- have you had one?

[no1childminder]

Hi, i had a loop diathermy for CINIII in oct 2010 then fell pregnant in jan 2011. i was told before i had the treatment that any future pregnancies probably wont go beyond 37wks due to the treatment leaving my cervix 'fragile'. I was just wondering if anyone out there has had this treatment and if so was your baby early and was the birth quick? apparently a 'fragile' cervix will dilate quicker. any replies would be great. thanks!

Im 26 weeks pregnant and had the same procedure for CINIII in Jan 2009 and again in September 2009.

I told my midwife who referred me to the consultant as a high risk pregnancy because i remember the guy telling me that hed taken 'a lot of tissue away' and i bled for ages but i got referred back without even having a measurement taken. Was it a LEEP procedure or a cone biopsy? Aparently if its a LEEP they dont consider it risky anymore and exepect you to carry as normal.

I did have a big bleed at 22 weeks and they took it very seriously after i told them about the procedure but they couldnt find a reason for it in the end so it may not have been anything to do with that.

I know 2 people who have both had 40 week + pregnancies after a LEEP procedure and they were fine so im not stressed and i dont think you should be either.

Its also a great excuse not to do any strenuous housework (or so i tell my OH anyway )

Congrats on your pregnancy xxx

yes ive been referred to the consultant too. to be honest with you i was looking forward to having the baby 3wks early as im due to be my best friends bridesmaid exactly a week after my babys due- eek! she, and i, are worried il go over and/or still be hospital and have to miss her wedding. we would both be devastated if this happened! obviously going full term would be healthier for the baby, i know that.

i think it was the LEEP procedure, definately wasnt the cone one as i remember reading about it and feeling relieved. because apparently after a cone your cervix might not dilate.

thank you for answering. im meeting my consultant in a couple weeks so il ask more then.

thank you for the congrats, and congrats to you too :)

I had a loop and was monitored had my cervix measured and was given steroids at 27 weeks and I gave birth at 39+1 my labour was very quick 2 hours 5 mins from start to finish.

According to my Consultant a cone biopsy removes more of the cervix and can sometimes require a stitch to prevent it opening early (very early). It depends with a loop how much cervix was take during the procedure, mine was documented in the letter to my GP.

I have seen people on here say their labours progressed very very slowly and it was put down to the loop. So I think sadly it is unpredicatable how the cervix will/will not dilate until it starts to happen.

HTH.

I had an extensive loop in Jan 2008, dd born august 2009. I had a special appointment to check the length of my cervix and it was fine, that was at 22 weeks. It dilated fine and had a vaginal birth.

I was induced due to waters breaking but nothing to do with op. DD was born on due date.

Yes I have.

LLetz 1999 ( I was 19) for CIN11.
DD born at 32 weeks in 2005. My labour was 4 hours and textbook.
LLetz in 2007
Ds born at 27 weeks in 2008 after a shrodkar suture at 22 ruptured my waters.

I have an incompetent cervix but who knows if it was down to the procedures.

I had really atrocious care during both pregnancies. If you have a decent consultant and are willing to be a bit ballsy to get what you want you should be ok.

37 weeks is nothing to worry about. I wish my 2 had been 37 weekers :(

forgot to say my DS was born by EMCS in the end as I had an abruption.

I always feel a bit like the voice of doom on these posts.. I'm sorry if i come across like that :(

I have had two lots of LLETZ treatment in 2000 and 2005. DS1 born in 2006 at 33 weeks with a 1 hr 45 min labour. DS2 born in 2010 at 36 weeks with a 1hr 15min labour. So in my case the theory holds true!

Both DSs are absolutely fine and suffered no long term consequences as a result of being early, though DS1 was a big shock coming so early and fast (knew what to expect second time round).

It's great that you have been told the baby might (and it is only a might) be early / fast as it should be less of a shock if it does happen.

Legs crossed all goes well for you!

I had loop diathermy in 1999 aged 28. DS born was 2004 on due date by EMCS but was induced due to meconium, DD born 2006 planned c-section, both pregnancies textbook and the treatment didn't seem to affect them at all although I had worried that it would and had mentioned it to my midwives. Hope everything goes well for you.

Worzsel - your experience sounds similar to mine, though I appreciate 27 weeks is extremely early and must have been very tough.

I also had an abruption during delivery with DS1 and it was only afterwards that I found out how serious it could have been. I don't think it was linked to the treatment though - just very bad luck.

How is your DS now?

I should say after reading the other posts but not sure if it is linked to procedure or not, but am pregnant again now so might now more in a few weeks.
My DS which was number 2, was born at 36 weeks and I arrived pushing (however he was brow and distressed so ended up an EMCS), he was healthy apart from jaundice, he actually weighed more than DD.

He's fine now. We have been incredibly lucky ( and incredibly unlucky!)

I had the LEEP procedure & was put on consultant led care when pg in 2008 as I was told that it COULD increase the risk of early labour (between 32-36 weeks) - DD arrived at 33+5. Waters broke 5am on the thursday, contractions started friday morning & DD was born at lunchtime. She was a bit jaundiced and had to stay in SCBU until 37 weeks (they can't suckle until then) but has been otherwise fine.

A friend has also had the same procedure & has had to be induced at 42 weeks for both her pregnancies!

Am now pg with #2 & they have given me extra scans & steroid injections incase it happens again, but have now made it to 37weeks so perhaps DD's early arrival wasn't due to the LEEP after all?

Good luck & try not to worry (but do pack your bag early, just in case! )

thank you everyone. so really its 50/50. theres no proof it will or wont come early. thanks!

I had a loop about 2 years before my son was born. Told the mw but no issue was made of it, so I never knew there was any possibility of it affecting the birth! My son was born at 39 weeks, 3.5 hours start to finish, natural labour no complications. I do find smears more uncomfortable now but that may be down to the birth not the loop.

Good topic OP, I had diathermy loop procedure. I had meeting with MW few weeks ago and she told me it'd be unlikely to not go beyond 37 weeks. She said as well about maybe having to put a stitch in and that I may have to take it easier in later weeks.