IC I need some advice/success stories - please!

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Hi,

I am 24 weeks pregnant and at 17 weeks I had an elective shirodkar suture put in due to a previous loss at 22 weeks. (Angel Annie x) I had my cervical scan today and whilst my cervix measures the same length. 2.1 it is open up to the stitch and the closed after the stitch. The stitch is still in place and seems to be holding it all together.....

My consultant has admitted me to hospital for bed rest for the remainder of my pregnancy and administered some steroids for the baby's lungs incase I do deliver far to early (he assures me I won't. I wish I had his confidence!)

My head is not in a great place even though I know I'm in the right place with all the preventative measures I could have. I'm still so scared. Has anyone been through this? With a cervix open up to the stitch, that can tell me a success story? I'm so frightened.

I'm so sorry about your loss and sorry that I can't offer any personal experience myself but just wanted to offer you a hand hold.

As you said you are in the right place, your consultant will be watching you closely and, with every day that goes by, your baby is getting stronger.

I assume they can't put in another stitch below the one that's currently there? (totally ignorant as to the procedure..)

Hi Marzi,

Thanks for hand holding. I know this is the best place to be but just so badly want it to be okay. Can't put another stitch in as this one is working so no real need also it's risky to get too close to mbranes etc.

X

I think there is a lot to be positive about.

I have read of many cases where there is funneling right up to the stitch, and people have gone onto close or up to full-term. The stitch does seems to do a good job of holding things together in the majority of cases, and bed rest certainly won't make the situation worse, it seems to have even helped some women to gain length in certain situations.

One thing I'd say is do not go Googling for info. There are horror stories about virtually every aspect of pregnancy that can send your head into a spin. Especially if you've suffered complications or a loss in the past. (I make the same mistake frequently and really should take my own advice!)

The main things to think about is that you are now at the point of viability, which means every day from here is a massive plus side and a good indication you'll be holding a lovely baby in your arms. I know it's hard but have faith in the consultant's words, I doubt he'd tell you anything he wasn't pretty sure of!

Thanks Smithy! That's so good to hear! And you are right Google is the enemy! Thanks for taking time to reply x

After a couple of late mcs, a family member had two successful pregnancies with a cervical stitch; I am sure the doctors are doing the right thing for you. The good news was when the stitch was removed, she was immediately 3-4cm dilated and had quick births. Good luck.

Thanks AJH xx

No knowledge of the procedure but you're in the best place. Are you allowed to go home at all? I'm 24 weeks too and know id go insane being in hospital for so long. Lots of luck xx

I'm sorry for the loss of Annie. You must be feeling so frightened at the moment but the stitch can hold firm and you are in the right place to keep an eye out for complications. I hope 2014 brings you a baby in your arms. Good luck.

I often had just a few mm above my emergency stitch from 20 weeks.. never more than that. So although it wasn't opened to the stitch at scans, I am sure there must have been times when it was.

I think we spoke before but DC2 was delivered at 35+5, after I had the stitch removed at 34+2 due to preterm labour which stalled once the stitch was out. Ironically I had an EMCS because the scar tissue from the stitch stopped me from dilating beyond a bizarre 6x4cm, and I had signs of infection due to leaking waters caused by the PTL.

You're in the very best possible place if you're already in hospital. You have the steroids (excellent!) and you've hit viability (even more excellent!) Just a few weeks ago a lady on my due date forum on another board (I am due in March) delivered her baby at just gone 24 weeks and on the whole he is doing fine.

In my fairly limited experience, consultants usually like to doom monger when a situation is dire. They're all dismissive of concerns if they don't think there are any, but if they think something bad will happen, they love telling you all about it. So the fact your consultant is sounding confident is a really great sign. They have a lot more experience with these situations than anyone else after all.

Hang on in there, one day at a time. The two weeks between 24-26 weeks are the most beneficial of all and bring the biggest gains in viability. Hit 26 weeks and things are looking great and 28 weeks even more so!

I really hope you have a private room

Thinking of you

So sorry for your loss and offering you my thoughts and a hand to hold. I can offer my experience of bed rest if that's any reassurance. I had the start of a prem labour at 25 weeks with a shortening cervix (too late for a stitch) and a positive ffn test. After a scary week in hospital and lots of consultant appointments I was given steroids and then put on strict bedrest for the remainder of my pregnancy. Bedrest was very hard and stressful but so worth it as I delivered my little boy safely at 37 weeks.

It's great that you're being looked after in hospital, that you've had the steroids and that you're at 24 weeks now - all big positives. Keep being brave and let the doctors and your family look after you. I know it's hard but try not to google too much (I drove myself bonkers!) and maybe just look at sites like Bliss, Mumsnet and Keep Em Cooking if you want more information.

Sending you lots of positive thoughts and hugs.

Hi Sweetlittlebee

Thanks for your message. I must say it's a really positive experience to share and has helped my PMA so much! Thanks for sharing. Do you mind if I ask, what did the consultant day about your positive ffn? I thought they were very accurate?

Well done for getting through such an ordeal and thanks for sharing it with me!

X

So glad I can offer some reassurance. I know how scary and heartbreaking it is when everything feels so uncertain.

We were seen, amongst others, by one of the most experienced consultants at UCH in London who'd just done a study of ffn tests. It seems they're very helpful for predicting that you definitely won't go into labour in the next week or two but not so useful for confirming that you definitely will. I think a lot depends on the numbers involved in the test too - eg a higher result number indicates a greater possibility of premature delivery. Still, a positive result feels really frightening and so I took it as a warning to follow doctor's advice and my own instincts and be strict with the bedrest. Bedrest is really tough, especially in hospital, but the results can be brilliant and you're in the right place to be looked after. I was on bedrest for almost 12 weeks and, whilst it was so difficult, it was worth every moment just to have my little boy arrive safely.

Keep strong and take it one day at a time. Keeping your mind busy helps - puzzles, knitting, books, podcasts etc. My partner made me a little calendar with positive messages on and I found it really reassuring to cross off the days, knowing each day my baby was getting stronger and we were a step further along on our journey.

Sending positive thoughts and hugs to you and your baby x

Hi Crispy,

Thanks for reassurance! You seem to be giving me slot of that at the moment!! I know you are right my consultant would no way be do confident if there was not really a very good chance. I think it's just the waiting. It's lets my paranoid thoughts in!

SweetlittleBee thanks again!

I'm going to try to be relaxed and positive now!

Xx

Just popping in to see how you're getting on? Xx

Hey SweetLittleBee,

I'm doing okay. I'm still on hospital bed rest but do far so good. I'm 26 weeks tomorrow, so have done almost 2 weeks in hospital. Consultant is still very confident and is happy with my progress so I'm definitely feeling a lot more hopeful and positive. My next milestone is 28 weeks, when (hopefully) I will get my 2nd set of steroids and will keep cooking! I really hope so. I'm not sick of bed rest at all, I actually feel like I'm in the best place for my baby and just happy with each days progress that I make!

Thanks for asking.

So glad to hear you're about to hit 26 weeks!! Hang in there baby. What was your most recent scan like?

I've got my next scan on Tuesday but I have requested not to have a cervical length....! It's just too stressful, the results are never good and I'm at the point where I'm open to just above the stitch and the stitch is holding. I know I'm burying my head but right now nothing is going to change my current prescribed treatment so why stress myself out.

Do you think I'm mad?

Great to hear that you're well and that your little baby is still cooking. You're doing a brilliant job. Keep positive and keep resting.

Thinking of you and cheering you and baby on! X

I also have ic, lost a baby at 20 weeks. I had a mcdonalds stitch in with my next pg at 14 weeks.

They dont offer cervical scans where I am so I had no idea of cervical length/opening. When the stitch was taken out at 35 weeks the consultant said that my cervix had probably tried to open, causing the stitch stretch slightly. I was 1 cm dilated. Nothing else happend and the baby was born at 38 weeks by elcs.

My 2nd was born at 35 weeks 3rd at 32 before loosing my 4th at 20, all more than likely due to the ic, so going to over 38 weeks with no problems was good for me.

I also had progesterone pessaries between 18-32 weeks.
Good luck, I know its a really scary time

I don't think you're mad at all - after all knowing the length a) doesn't change anything - you're doing all you can anyway and b) is only a snapshot of how long your cervix is at that moment in time.

I needed to know so I knew how much to stress But we are all different, and deal with stuff like this in our own way.

Hi All,

Just a little update...... 27 weeks today! My consultant is pleased with progress, I had a growth scan at 26+1 and EFW was 1011g so good growth. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, that things will continue to progress well. Magic milestone next week 28 weeks.

X

That is such great news, good for you!
I'm one day shy of 23 weeks so counting down to the 24.

Excellent, glad you are hanging in there Miss Medusa! Excellent!