I have been told i need a stitch and i am a mess

[MrsPear]

I am 15 weeks tomorrow and have to go back to consultant in a week to discuss having a stitch put in and yet i am so scared. I know i am high risk of having another early birth and therefore of losing the baby but what if having the stitch in causes me to lose the baby? They won't even give stats on the likely hood that this could happen. There whole attitude screams if you miscarry so what these things happen. I just don't know if i can trust them. DH just says we can't have another early one but i got up this morning after going bed early sick to a dirty living room so how am i going to rest after having the stitch? I am just so tired and i can't stop crying. I just want a healthy full term baby. If anyone has any experiences i would grateful.

My friend had this in her 3rd pregnancy having miscarried at 21 wks in her 2nd pregnancy as her cervix didn't hold closed. She had no issues with the stitch- my understanding is that it's pretty minor- and tell your dh to tidy up the living room :-) anyway, she went to full term with the stitch in. Hth

Hi there

My sister in laws first baby was born at 33 weeks (now a healthy stroppy toddler) and when she fell pregnant again they scanned her fortnightly to check her cervix and after discovering it was shrinking they put in a stitch back in February.

Aside from feeling a bit weird at first and a bit scared to move until she relaxed a bit she had a relatively normal pregnancy and the stitch was removed at 37 weeks

She gave birth just last night to a healthy baby boy weighing 8lb 4oz at 40+6 following a sweep in the end to get him out!

The midwife said to her that these stitches have been used since the 60s because they are so reliable.

Good luck with your pregnancy and I'm sure all will be fine

Hi pear I've researched it quite a bit and found that most studies say that a stitch placed as a preventative measure is between 80-90 % effective which my consultant confirmed. Obviously it can depend on type of stitch.

The stitch is only classed as affective if labour starts after 37 weeks, so of that 10-20 % many of the babies will survive.

I can't remember, was your last early birth due to the cervix failing

On phone so struggling to find studies but heres one that also mentions the 80-90%

www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/Ce-Fi/Cervical-Cerclage.html

How many previous prems have you had? Why do you think your cervix is the problem? What is your cervical length?

I've had 2stitches a tvc (shirodkar) at 22w and a tac at 14w. Unfortunately both failed. It is worth considering progesterone therapy instead unless you have a definite need for a stitch.

If you have a stich you will have to take it easy. Your husband will have to look after you and the house.

I had a stitch 9 weeks ago following a loop cone biopsy several years ago. I was HUGELY anxious over going for it, I had 2 (early) mc's at the end of last year and the thought of losing this one after getting as far as 16 weeks was the most horrendous decision. My consultant really felt it was the best option to come out with a healthy baby and I have to say that now, at 25 weeks, it feels like the right choice for us. The procedure was fairly simple, I was in at lunchtime, had a spinal block and was home by 8.30pm after getting up and about and using the loo. I had 24 hours off work and then was back to normal! I'm taking it a big easier, not lifting heavy things but no different to pregnancy in general... I can do the housework, walk the dogs and have a life! (which is different to what the internet suggested would happen!) I feel a lot more secure that I'm not going to go into premature labour but they're still monitoring me closely.

There is a risk with any procedure and it's a big decision whether to take it but I've now spoken to a number of people who have had this and only heard good outcomes so far (as long as I keep away from google where the scary stuff is!)

I hope all goes well for you!

kel glad everything's going well, what type of stitch did you have ? I'm due to have one in 6 weeks

Moomin I had a shirodkar suture placed. Ive had 2 scans since and no probs so far! Hope it goes well, I'm sure it will

Thanks, I think I'm having a mcdonalds stitch

Thank you for all replies. It really does help. I think my head mess is a combo of the fact that a bodged cone biopsy and dr google that got me in this mess. I think i am going to step away right now.

Is it normal to have to have a stitch after a cone biopsy? I had one in about 2004 and am now pregnant - no one has mentioned that I need a stitch (but then I am now 29 weeks so presumably it's a bit late to worry about it!)

I really hope all goes well for you mrspear - stay away from Dr Google, he only sees the patients who have had bad experiences it seems!

funchum I think it depends on whether you've had a loop cone biopsy or lletz/leep, you're at higher risk of an incompetent cervix after one loop cone biopsy or after several lletz procedures as they remove a section of cervix, I actually had no idea and wasn't told there'd be a risk to future pregnancies when I had the treatment. I had to really push my midwife to refer me to the consultant as she wasn't aware of the problems associated with the procedure (even though it's a question on her booking in form!)... I only found out when I saw something on the pregnancy board here and did a bit of googling! To set your mind at rest my consultant said that generally they don't have to stitch very often but my cervix was particularly shortened when he checked. As you say, your 29 weeks now so all should be well! But it might be worth having a quick measure (takes 5 mins, internal ultrasound) if you have any more children... Or if you're concerned after reading this just phone your midwife and ask them to refer you to double check

I'm sorry I have no advice but I can sympathise with the worry,stress, mess and not being able to rest bleugh crying feeling.

I know people who had more monitoring during pg after cone biopsys but I don't think they usually suture unless the cervix shows funnelling or shortening. Both had scans on the cervix to check it between 17- 24 weeks and both were fine

It wouldn't harm to mention it to the mw when you see her and maybe mention it if you have any future pregnancys.

Thanks for the advice I will check at next midwife visit. Clearly having got to this point it's probably OK but for future pregnancies I'd like to know. Consider the fuss they make about having all these appointments you'd think they'd bother to read people's medical notes to check for things like this and I wouldn't think it would have killed them to tell me at the biopsy itself - I was 26 at the time so prime childbearing age!

mrspear if you're still reading I hope you're feeling better or at least a bit less stressed as the appointment approaches. Fingers well and truly corssed for you.

Just wanted to say having a stitch can work miracles! I had one with my DS1 when I was 23 weeks and 6cm dilated and they managed to keep him in till 28 weeks. With my ds2 they scanned me every single week as they were hoping it was a one off but at 22 weeks I dilated to 3 cm and was stitched that day! I also had tablets that I Ahhhh 'inserted' everyday and ds2 was born at 33 weeks by c section due to SPD complications!
I am now pregnant again and fingers crossed get to 13 weeks will have a macdonald stitch then as it's easier to have it done early and keep everything in the right place rather than let things start to happen and then try and fix it- hope that makes sense

Good luck x

That's good to know zoey did you have a macdonalds stitch the two other times?