Just had my cervix stitched...

[JoJo32]

...and wondering if anyone out there is going / has gone through the same thing...? I had it carried out on Tuesday and I'm feeling a bit achy around my lower back and have had a couple of period like cramps.

I posted ages ago when I was told that my cervix could turn out to be a tad useless and had a nice, supportive message - can't remember your name though or find the blinkin' thread. So, if you are there...'hello again'!

I'm 26+5 and keeping everything crossed until the some what safer 28 week mark. Hopefully the pretty bow I now have adorning my nether regions stops my cervix from shortening and funneling enough to keep 'in' the tiny dancer I have bopping away on my bladder.

Fun being pregnant isn't it?!
x

JoJo32, no experience of this, I'm afraid, but just wanted to post a bit of support.

It must be a worrying time for you.

I hope your 'pretty bow' does the trick, and I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you and your tiny dancer.

Take care.

Hi JoJo

no personal experience of this, but done a google and pasted a bit of info here for you..spotting & cramping can occur after the procedure apparently//

"What can you expect after you?ve had a cerclage placed?

Once the cerclage has been placed, you will be put on bedrest from a period of 24-72 hours. There could be a restriction of activity or possibly continued bedrest if complications occur. Intercourse is also restricted once the stitch is in place due to increase risk of infection and trauma to the cervix. Spotting can occur after a stitch is placed as well as cramping. It is important to look for signs of increased discharge with odor, heavy bleeding, burning, itching, fever over 101, or heavy cramping. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is urgent you contact your physician.

The McDonald or Shirodkar stitch is often removed around weeks 37 and 38. Depending on the type of stitch, it can be removed in the office or in Labor and Delivery. Infection, pre-term labor, or premature rupture of the membranes might facilitate an earlier removal. Often, labor comes within a couple weeks of the removal of the stitch. For those who have a permanent stitch, the doctor, according to the patient?s needs, schedules a cesarean section.

While it?s frightening to be pregnant again once you have been diagnosed with IC, the outlook is very good. With treatment there is a success rate of 80-90%. There is every reason to feel optimistic, especially when the cerclage is done early in pregnancy."

hope that helps.....and good luck...

No, I didn't know they could do it either Kama, not at this stage of pregnancy. Not a pleasant experience but hey, having my legs propped up in the air with several people having a nosey was slightly more interesting than the upholstry course I was meant to be on at the time!

Thanks ladies - I've decided to develop a form of social agraphobia until the baby arrives. Just making sure I keep active enough to avoid DVT as an added complication!

My DP wants me to go to a firework display being held a couple of villages away from us this evening...is it me or is that a normal request when I'm supposed to be taking it easy? I know I'm not going to have to do much but I'm even paranoid about loud bangs starting labour off!

I promise I'm a well educated 32 year old and not a 12 year old spanner - it's just that common sense seems to have gone out the window along with my pretty 36B bras.

Ooo and thanks Lulumama, just noticed the bit that mentions that the stitch can be removed 'in the office' Bizarre!!

sorry...american site...! doctors office....i hope

Phew - not the local estate agents then!

hi jojo32,
i had to av a stitch put in at 14wks as my crevics was already openin ant the sack was slippin a miss carraige was inevitable with out the stictch, i was admitted straight away and put on bed rest. I was given steriod injections at 24wks for babys lungs in case of pre term delivery which was a maasive weight off my mind once id got to that stage.On tue i will be 28wks thank god!!i do feel 100% better and im actually starin to enjoy my pregnancy and relax a bit i cant beleive there could only be 8wks left its flown by! i will keep my fingers crossed for you and you keep ur feet up! i would like to no how u get one once stitch is out as im intereged as to how long it will take for labour to start.
good luck and take care
lisa x

Hi Greggy, so I'm a week behind you in terms of pregnancy legnth(27 tomorrow). It's really good to hear from you. I've had the steroid injections too - about 2 weeks ago now...

Are you having your stitch removed at 36weeks? If so you'll be able to tell me all about it and if poss let me know how long you manage to stave off labour (4wks hopefully)!!!

As for bed rest, I had conflicting opinions. My consultant said she was happy for me to take a gentle walk and also said I was OK to drive...but one midwife told me to sit still until the 28 week mark - 8 days and counting... It's hard sitting still with 4 dogs a cat and chickens - I must try though as I'd never forgive myself if anything happened at this stage.

jojo )

A friend of mine had this for ds2 and ds3. She had dd1 early and they discovered "incompetant cervix". Ds2 and ds3 were both delivered term and a very healthy size. GOOD LUCK!

hi jojo32
How nice isit to talk to someone in ur position! its a relief for my poor husband bless him he sick of hearin me moan! lol ive been to doc for check up today alls well and mesurin over 28wks i honestly feel like i can float with relife!im seein my consultant when i rech 32wks and hopin to get my app for the stitch removal on about 19th dec that take me to 35 wks my doc doesnt see why not at that stage so fingers crossed. i dont no how u r managin to stay with will all ur aniamls i struggled with a 3yr old an a hubby! lol. keep me informed on ur progress as its nice to speak to someone who knows just how hard it can be xx
take care
lisaxx

Hi Greggy, I know there's another way I can send you a messge rather than keep this thread at the top of the talk list - will look into that later though....

I had a scan yesterday and it looks like the stitch has done the trick - ie, my cervix is intact - hooray!

I asked about the removal yesterday...36 weeks falls on Christmas day so she's given me the option of either just before christmas like you or just after. Might go for just before...they took measurements yesterday and said the baby was nearly 3lbs in weight already. If he stay's in full term I reckon he could be like me and end up being a 9lb 5oz baby...ouch! Still, I'd rather that than a teenie one.

My partner has been really good with dog walking - he's knackered and I feel like I should be doing more...I've never been one for sitting still for too long. I'd best make the most of it as this time next year things will be oh so different!

Keep in touch and take care.
Jojo
x

hi jojo32
thats really good news about ur babys weight how did they measure it? thats somethin they not done for me yet will ask about it, i ad to go in hospital the other day with bad braxtions i didnt have them with my first so was unsure but the doc checked the stitch and alls well!!! yeh its still doin its job im so excited now i cant wait bet u feel so much better bein past the 28wk mark i no i do!
my email is [email protected] it would be nice to chat more and easier than comin on her all the time! lol findin the thread lol
take care hope to speak soon
luv lisa x

I had the stitch with both both pregnancies. With ds1 I had the stitch removed at 37w, and went into labout at 40w +4 (of course fully expecting to go into labour at 37w!). My consultant was a bit when he saw me at my 40w appt as he had been telling me that I'd be doing brilliantly if I made it to 32w!

I had cramping and bleeding a week after each stich - went into A&E to be checked out both times but with no problems. We were told to avoid intercourse until after the birth though.

Taking the stitch out was actually very painful I found. With ds1 I had gas and air in the end. Ds2 was born by elective c/section and they took out the stitich at the birth (39w).

Good luck!

hi ladymuck,
Its not the first time ive hurd about the pain when stitch comes out! i no a lady who also had gass an air when it was comin out! not nice im sure, its surprisin u went full term if i do after all this fuss and worry i think i will be a bit mad( without that soundin silly) but i will feel cross at all the worry we av had if u no what i mean? i will also be pleased i can carry to full term, i ad my son at 37wks naturally went in to labour with him and was monitord with my cervics but didnt actaully need the stitch.
thanks for ur message
lisax

I know what you mean - it definitely spoilt my first pg, as we were living in fear over each milestone (and it was an IVF pg, so we were also watching the early stages of the pg very carefully - fortnightly scans up to 20 weeks or so). But the stitch is a preventative measure, and early funnelling doesn't necessarily mean that there is a problem.

hi ladymuck,
Im just startin to enjoy the pregnancy i love it now we are "safe" its a huge weight off our minds but still cant quite belive it could be overi n 5wks! its gone so fast belive it or not i think its cause we have been countin the wks for so long.From what i can gather my consultant is presumin my crevics will dialate when stitch comes out as its very short as well as weak, but then again im tryin to tell my self i will go full term and that my cervics will be welded together from the stitch! lol only time will tell!

Well we were definitely expecting everything to start there and then (as did the consultant!) - we even had my labour bag in the car just in case!

In terms of having the stitch removed, I had it done in the Delivery suite, but in an ordinary room rather than in theatre (our delivery suite has its own theatre for sections and repairs).

Jojo32
hi not hurd from u in a while hope things goin ok? gonna try to start a new thread to see if ur still on here would luv to no how ur gettin on since stitch came out.
lisa x

Hi,

I'm 14 weeks and had a stitch put in at 11 weeks.

I've been searching the net for hours over Xmas to find info, what advice were you given after having a stitch put in?

Dr has said it's fine to go back to work as long as I take it easy and sit as much as poss. But friends have told me people they know were told to bed rest for months.

I'm really getting worried about it and just need some advice from someone else who's actually been thro' it.

Fi x.

hi jojo and cario

I had a stitch with both my pregnancies, put in part way through week 11. I now have a ds and a dd - the stitches held those babies in fine!

For ds I had the stitch out at 38weeks and they broke my waters. For dd I had the stitch out at 38weeks and went into labour three days later.

Having the stitch out did not hurt at all. I was lying there waiting for it to happen and it was all over. It was a bit like having a smear - speculum etc. but not as bad as there was no spatula. Then I was been shown a kind of freezer bag tie thing that had held me all together. I remember in my deliroius state think how much I loved that freezer bag tie thingy!

I am trying to remember after the stitch was put in. I think I had the odd kind of cramp - not like period pain but like a twinge and very slight spotting, enough to set my paranoia off I guess. I think I went back to work a few days later.

The very best of heartfelt luck to you.

(think of your little freezer bag tie thingy!)

btw they gave me gas and air for the second stitch coming out - didn't need it but may have contributed to me blessing the stitch when I saw it - as I remember DP liked gas and air too everytime their backs were turned - naughty!

greggy - hope you are well, how did things go?

THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH for replying so quickly!!! I'm so sick of hearing other people's horror stories about their auntie, cousin, friend, etc....

I really don't care about having the stitch taken out, although I probably will later on. I'm just worried about keeping everything in the right place until the right time.

I've been getting really stressed about going back to work and it's good to know that you were able to go back. It made me feel much better!

Fi x.

To be honest I remember just getting on with it. I thinkit takes a while to get used to the idea of having a stitch but if you have an incompetent cervix (as I do) they can work wonders. I remember thinking I had to lie in bed all day and the doc said

"yeah if you want a dvt - just get on as normal, take it easy like any pregnant woman."

So that is what I did. After a while you start to trust it and get on with your life.

TBH there was a time when I never believed I would be able to have children and here I am with my two little wonders.

Take care adn ask me anything! Would love to hear how you progress.