cervical stitch

6 replies

pickle84 · 04/02/2015 08:41

Please help ladies,
i had a scan yesterday and have been booked to have a cervical stitch,
i have no idea what this entails as i have never experienced this before, and i dont know anyone who has either,
Im so scared,
Please only positive stories, i dont need scaring further :(

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KittyandTeal · 04/02/2015 08:47

I'm sorry I don't know what it entails but I do know someone who had one and went almost full term with their baby. He is now a very bouncy 7 yo!

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pickle84 · 04/02/2015 10:03

bumping to keep near the top, hope this is ok?

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pickle84 · 04/02/2015 14:27

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Chatty987 · 04/02/2015 14:43

Positive story here....I had cervical scan which resulted in me needing cervical stitch as cervix length was 1.8cm. Had the macdonald stitch. Procedure was quick although under GA. Took 2 weeks off work on partial bed rest/minimal activity. Keep activity light until you get to 24 weeks. Had stitch removed last week (was a little uncomfortable but overall fine) and am now 37 weeks waiting for baby's arrival. Stitch is for the best is docs recommend it. Follow their advice closely.

jmojo · 04/02/2015 14:46

I will answer since no one else seems to have experience of this.

I have seen several stitches put in and looked after many women with them during pregnancy. (I used to be a MW)

Obviously I don't know your gestation or the situation with your cervix. I assume you are under 24 wks.

Either way the procedure is similar. It can be done vaginally or abdominally (quite rare) I have only seen vaginal stitches going in so this is based on that.

So you will most likely be admitted to hospital, they may ask you not to eat the night before and give you some antacids to take. Once you are admitted and they have checked your observations, they will take you to theatre. They usually do a spinal (so you are awake) unless there is a medical reason for a general anaesthetic and the block takes away all your pain (just like a c/s). You may feel a little sick a few minutes after they lie you down, just tell the anaesthetist and he/she will give you something to take it away quickly. They put the stitch in. It doesn't take long but all of the ones I saw were inserted by one of the best drs at this technique. Then they will take you to recovery and keep you all day until you can pee for yourself. They may keep you over night to observe you depending on the hospital. They should have discussed risks already with you. Not to scare you but they are primarily, risk of the anaesthetic (rarely) infection of the stitch, and rupture of the amniotic sack - all rare. The only one I have seen is the infection one but it was later on in pregnancy and they just removed the stitch. Our patients were advised to observe for infection (temp and smelly abn discharge) and had mainly consultant led care in pregnancy. If you get near term (37 wks) the stitch comes out and you are otherwise well and uncomplicated you will just go back to normal care. But that depends on your history and the dr should be able to tell you that. If you have bleeding or contractions any time in pregnancy then you have to go in to be checked over incase it is labour as the stitch would need to come out as it would potentially tear you cervix if it opened.

They do tend to work quite well but often it is to do with how early they go in and what your particular situation is. I would not be scared, but obviously I would feel worried everything goes well but the procedure itself is straight forward in my experience! Good luck, and have a good pregnancy!

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pickle84 · 04/02/2015 17:21

Thank you very much ladies,
jmojo, i have sent you a personal message i hope you dont mind :)

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