Cervical stitch-anyone had more than one

[Snips]

I just wondered whether anyone has had more than one cervical stitch, and if so, how close together you had your babies. I had a stitch during my pregnancy with my son last year. At the time my elder son was 3.5-4 years so he was able to do lots for himself and I was able to rest a fair amount. I just wondered if I decided to have another baby, would it be madness having a stitch pregnancy with a child under two. Would welcome any advice. I have an incompetent cervix by the way.

Thanks.

I am wondering the very same thing. Has cervical stitch due to incompetent cervix after we lost 2 babies at 18 and 19 weeks or pg - now have a beautiful 2.5 dd - and are trying for no. 2! Will keep an eye on this thread!

Congratulations MrsWood on your 2.5yr dd.

How did you find your stitch pregnancy? Were you on any restrictions (apart from sex)? I have an 8 month old (as well as 4.5 yr old), and we are considering having another if possible. I just don't know if I'd be able to cope with a stitch pregnancy as well as a young toddler. I assume you'd have a stitch again?

Good luck ttc.

Yes, I have to have a stitch with all my pregnancies from now on but in the end it's all worth it. I am worried about how I'm gonna cope with toddler and stitch pregnancy but dh works from home and dd goes to nursery at the moment so hopefully it will be easier.
Stitch happened at 13 weeks and I was already 2cm dilated! I had to be in hospital for 2 days - one of those was complete bedrest. It's gonna be a nightmare this time as I've never been away (overnight) from my dd since she was born! Restrictions after the stitch was no sex, no standing up for a long period of time and no excercise. No bedrest but a rest. We ran our own business at the time so a lot was ignored but I'd stop as soon as I'd feel "tugging" pain - that would indicate cervix strain. This "tugging" happened a lot towards the end of pregnancy due to weight. The stitch was taken out under gas and air at 36 weeks - about 3-4 days later I had dd although you could go into labour straightaway.

dewberry, hope pains are ok and all is well

snips- its fantastic that your consultant did tests after you lost your ds2. the obstetician wouldn't happen to be dr gibb would it? i saw him privatly for a cervical scan recently when i was under impression that the nhs hospital was not going to offer me cervical scans. he was lovely.
I know what you mean about grey area, i might not have an incompetent cervix but i am not willing to find out for sure either at risk of my next baby.
i have lovely consultant now who will agree to a stitch now if i like, i think i will wait and see if my cervix shortens but i will also be taking progerone to dull out any contractions.
i am on the due in june thread but am not really a regular poster, i am mostly found on the pregnancy after miscarriage thread, i can talk more comfortably there without scaring anyone

mrswood- how awful to have lost 2 babies stitches do seem amazing things, i am starting to wish i had one, if only for the reassurance factor.

about the sex thing? is it unwise to have sex whilst at risk of preterm labour without stitch in?
and do you think its wise for me to not exercise, not that ive had the energy anyway lol

Have been to premature clinic today.
My cervix has shortened from a long 4 cm to a completely average 3 cm in the last two weeks.
The length is still good but she was a bit concerned re the fact that it has shortened. So I need to go back again in on week to check that hopefully it has not shortened any further.
Keeping my fingers crossed!

slinkstah - I think it depends on each case - I wasn't allowed to do any unnecessary excerise i.e going to the gym, morning running (not that i ever did!) etc. It's wise to not even go for any long walks - maybe 30 mins tops. It all takes the strain on your cervix. Same as sex - any disturbance down there can trigger premature labour - sperm being the cause - I think it's suggested you have a lot of sex if you're overdue due to something in sperm that can start you off. So, I suppose for that reason, it's wise not to have sex if you have cervical stitch. When I was pg with dd they told me any examinations down there are avoided when the stitch is in place as it can start labour off as well, so although we had lots of scans, I didn't have anyone poking inside before 36 weeks when they took the stitch out. Best to ask your gp or your consultant - as I said, every case is different.

Hi kayzed - how nice to also bump in to you here
I too am taking the progesterone pessaries. As slinkstah said they should reduce any contractions/BH and therefore minimize the pressure on the cervix. To be taken from week 14-16 and the rest of the pregnancy (or was it only till week 36 - can't remember right now)

Slinkstah - how many weeks are you by now?

mrs wood- i think i am going to make sure i don't exercise or walk for too long for the next 5 weeks, at least until im 24 weeks anyway and over the really tense time, i am going to assume if my cervix is normal length at 24 weeks then i haven't got an incompetent cervix.

dangirl- thats a bit freaky the loss of 1 cm, are they going to stitch you if you lose anymore? my dr did say though that some women naturally thin a little without any risk to preterm labour but i guess they really don't have many answers which i why all of the trials. hope everything ok in your next scan, let us know
do you have to take progesterone for the rest of pregnancy? my consultant has given me a months worth and said see how ya go, i have only just started them. have you had any side effects? what type are you taking i am taking cylogest.
I am 19 weeks today how many weeks are you?

kayzed- yes i mean braxton hicks, they are usually painless and irregular and normal and cause no changes to your cervix. i do not know whether they might cause changes to a weak cervix. i was worried about my braxton hicks because they started at 15 weeks and i am having a least 20 a day, some which take my breath. all the midwives said in my previous labour that unless the contractions were painful then you are not labour- i know this is rubbish as with my stillborn baby and with my previous live born baby i dialated painlessly until about 7cm. i am just taking precautions just incase the braxtion hicks change to labour contractions without me noticing.

Slinkstah - If I loose another cm then I think that they will stitch. Usually it has to be less than 2.5 cm but the progression is also important.
Yes it is also cyclogest that I am taking. So far no side effects but I have only just started them... as I said I can't quite remember if she said till week 36 or for the rest of pregnancy.
At the moment I am 16+5 so still fairly early. Funny thing is I had just started to relax about it all. Being this far along plus the 4 cm cervix and then it goes and changes and the worrying starts again.
What measurements have you been given slinkstah?

i have been given 32mm measurement, i am going back on the 3rd for another scan. are you going for another scan really soon to see if theres any change? are you due in june too?
i haven't had any side effects yet, i have heard of boobs growing which i don't mind

slinkstah - I will be going back next Wed (so after 1 week) to rescan.
I am due on the 8th of July so a bit later than you.
Nope, no side effects as of yet. But have only just started them. We shall see. Yep - bigger boobs would be a plus for me too
Have felt funny today. A slight dragging sensation in the uterus. And due to the news of the shortening yesterday of course think the worst Be positive...

Have you only had the one cervical scan so far?

Hi all.

Slinkstah - the consultant wasn't Mr Gibb, but he was the one that gave the second opinion on the telephone(is it ok to say that on mumsnet??). With regards to your question on sex, I would definitely say to abstain (hard though it may be ) until much later in the pregnancy. With a stitch they say no sex. With my stitch I was told no sex, no baths or swimming, no exercise (did I need an excuse!), but I did carry on working 3 days a week. In one way that was good as it took my mind off the worries I had. Also I was advised on another forum not to have caffeine as it can cause uterine activity. Don't know how true it is, but I didn't risk it. I was only put on medication to stop contractions when I had my stitch put in, and then steroids to strengthen baby's lungs at about 28 weeks in case I went into premature labour (which I didn't). Didn't have anything else, but it is great you have been given something to stop contractions. I will have to look into that if I have another. Slinkstah-guess you are in London. Which hospital are you booked into if you don't mind me asking, or what part of London (West?). If we manage to get pregnant again, I need to find a good NHS consultant (am a SAHM and don't think I could afford private, though I would love to be with my last consultant).

Dangirl-I know the worries when there is any shortening, but 3cm is still such a good length. I think when you go next week you will be in a much better position to know what you should do. Know its impossible but try not to worry too much in the meantime.

Kayzed-hope your visit to the docs eased your worries a bit.

Just to get you all jealous, I normally have no boobs, but am still breastfeeding at mo, and I HAVE A CLEAVAGE [GRIN]

dangirl, i know what you mean, i have felt some heavyness yesterday or and today but am not sure whether its normal or not, and maybe i wouldn't notice it if this pregnancy was all carefree.
i guess all you can do is keep off the cervix which i am trying to do by not walking around too much.

i have had 2 cervical scans, 1 done privately and 1 done at normal hospital, first one said 36mm, 2nd one said 32mm but am hoping the difference is due to the machines.

kayzed- glad your mind is eased, how many weeks are you? some people have a naturally irritable uterus anyway.

snips- i do not need any excuse not to exercise either, and as i have just finished uni there will be no need for me to be commuting and wandering around london etc. so all the exercise i will get is the school run. Baths however is an odd one, i bet its to reduce infection. i have been bathing in apple cider vinegar which is aparently good to keep that area acidic aswell as good for your skin etc. i don't have any caffine now, i have caffine free everything, and i have to say a glass of water awakens me more than a coffee also a caffine free coffee tricks my mind in the mornings and enables me to pull myself from my pit
i am booked with st marys in paddington so far they have been nice, the midwifes in the antenatal clinic are caring and the consultant i am seeing is great her name is professor lesley regan, she has written books on miscarriage and was on tv the other day too. she seems to know what she is talking about and she also agreed with me about cervical scanning when the other doctor i saw said there was no need due to having previous full term babies.
do you live in london too? are you ttc at the mo?

I'm not ttc at moment. I have an almost 9 month old and decided (for sure I thought), that that was it. However more recently I have been thinking it would be nice to have another if we could. Dh is very keen but is aware I'm the one who will need to have the stitch etc so has left me to make the final decision. I thought I'd find out whether anyone else had experience of a stitch pregnancy with a littlie to look after. Also I want to find a consultant who I am comfortable with before I try to get pregnant. Will probably go and see my GP and see what she suggests. I'm based in West London.

What you said about feeling heavyness, but not knowing whether or not its anything to worry about. Most of my last pregnancy I felt like that...heaviness, wetness, pains...never knowing what was serious and what wasn't. I went into hospital at least twice thinking my waters had broken (before 25 weeks!), another time worrying about the pressure I was feeling..it seemed never ending. I set myself goals-12 weeks, 16 weeks, 21 weeks (my previous loss), 24 weeks etc etc and this seemed to help as it was easier than thinking "when will the nine/ten months be over".

Sorry...am probably gabbling now..

Wasn't sure whether you'd seen my post, but I have a 2 year gap. It can be done although I did put ds1 into nursery for some halfdays to ease the load. We also played a lot in the bath - he loved water and the bouyancy was helpful. I did find that I could work our days wo that they were not too strnuous. He entered into a Thomas phase, so lot of videos and books on the sofa, and playing trains with me lying on the floor. Whilst we couldn't do a lot of "active" things, my antenatal group were really helpful, and so we would all go to soft play areas together and the other mums would rescue ds1 when it was needed.

snips, living in west london does give us alot of choice in hospitals, i went for st marys because its close and one of my friends lost her baby there and she said she recieved good care at the time. i recieved bad care at the hospital i lost my baby at so this was the most important thing for me.
you could put your little one in nursery a few days like lady muck suggests, if you got pg again.
i have had alot of appointments so far and i can go and see doctors friday mornings without an appointment so i feel like i can go in if necessary, i am doing small milestones at the mo, my milestones are 20 weeks(halfway) 22 weeks (i went into labour last time) 23 weeks(previous loss) 24 weeks(viable) wow now i have that written down i have realised they are weekly!! ooops. anyway if i get past 24 weeks my next will be furthur away

hi kayzed and lady muck

Having a bad day getting increasingly worried re the news of my cervix shortening last week. Also am feeling a number of "tightenings/contractions/Braxton Hicks" or what ever they are. Not at all painfull but I am aware of them. Also keeping in mind that I was not in pain with DD untill I was already 10 cm dilated.

The stress/worrying is just a bit too much right now.
Looking forward to Wed when next scan will give me more info.

Hope everyone else are well.

Dangirl

dangirl- oh no! are they regular? you should definatly count them and see if they are regular, if you get more than 4 an hour anyway you should go in to hospital and get checked over.
i know what you mean about painless until 10cm, i was painless with last 2 labours until at least 7cm.
what are you doing today? i hope you are resting. have you been using your progesterone?

Slinkstah - thank you for kind message

No they do not appear to be regular and I haven't had very many today. Perhaps a handful or two.
I try to just relax as much as I can today lying on the sofa with my feet up etc.
And yes I have been using my progesterone.

Hopefully it will all calm down (incl my nerves) very soon.

If only I hadn't had that 1st reading of 4 cm then I probably wouldn't be so concerned.
And would I even consider these tightenings for anything if I didn't know of the shortening?
I am not sure.
I remember having BH with DD from very early on as well. Allthough maybe not this early.

Bring on Wed. Until then feet up whenever pos.

Dangirl

dangirl- how are you feeling today hun?

kayzed- never heard of pelvic floor exercises strengthening cervix, will research it on the net when i get a chance

i put my progesterone pessary in a moment ago and felt what was probably my cervix (sorry if tmi coming up) anyway i rolled my finger over it and it had a large dip in the centre, i am now paranoid that my cervix is open slightly, i have never felt my cervix before so i am unsure what its suppose to be like, does anyone know?
am i being paranoid?

Dan girl - Hope you're feeling ok and not getting any more pains. Let us know how you're doing.

Kayzed-not sure about the PFE's and cervix. I thought that if it is weak you cannot build it up through exercise, but I may well be wrong. Would be interested to see what you find out.

Slinkstah-I'm not sure what my cervix feels like. I wasn't on progesterone but I had to insert a pessary for a urine infection and I too used to think I could feel something, but not sure what it was. Think you've got a scan this week, but if you're worried why don't you see if you can get your cervix measured sooner, and tell them why. Sorry..not much help really. Is your scan on Wed?