Anyone else with a cervical stitch?

[Blossominspring1]

Hello everyone,

I'm 18 weeks pregnant with my second DS and had a cervical stitch put in last week after a scan showed my cervix had shortened a fair bit. I'm now home and resting up. We were being carefully monitored because I had cervical shortening and a threatened pre-term labour at 25 weeks with my first DS and spent the rest of my pregnancy on bed rest until he was born at 37 weeks.

I'd love to hear from anyone else who has/had a stitch or is on bedrest for cervical problems. I'm just trying to keep positive and keep sane whilst my family rally round to help with DS who is 2 1/2 and full of beans!

Hi Lala, glad that you heard back from your midwife although sorry she wasn't more helpful. I think a private scan sounds really sensible and, like you, I always think it's best to know and to be informed so you can push for the best possible care for you and your baby. Fingers crossed all will be absolutely fine and you'll be able to put your mind at rest. Take care, lovely.

Hi lala, sorry for jumping in but that doesn't sound particularly reassuring advice from midwife! A private scan sounds like it might set your mind at rest. With my stitch I went to see Dr gibb at the Birth Company in Harley street just to get advice. He ended up actually putting in the stitch itself but it was nice to know I was in safe hands. May be an option. Best of luck! Good luck Blossom too!! xx

Well I had my 16 week cervical scan today (my first one) and it all looked ok at 4.3cm. I am having another one when I have my 20 week scan apparently. That length sounds great to me but it doesn't stop me worrying that it can suddenly shorten and I have to wait 4 weeks.

Hi Diva, that's a great starting length - so positive! Take care of yourself and rest whenever you're able and fingers crossed all will be well. And if you have any worries or concerns in the meantime then don't be afraid to pop into your triage at the maternity unit and ask to be checked. Wishing you and your little bump a peaceful few weeks !

Mine was 3.7 at my scan today. She was happy with that and said she has no concerns but obviously it could still change at any point.

I know it's slightly below average for 16 weeks but I've been told I have a small cervix anyway.

I'm just glad it's ok at the moment and fingers crossed there's no reason to worry :)

Just an update. Had my next cervical length yesterday and it's 4.1cm. So slightly down on last time but they didn't seem worried and I'm not really. No sign of funnelling either so all good.

See the consultant next week and think he may say all ok and discharge me. Now just to get to 24 weeks!!!!!

Divadee, that's great to hear! Such a good length. Thanks for keeping us posted. Take care and enjoy feeling those little kicks - not long now until you'll be 24 weeks! I know it's pretty nervewracking up until then. I'm now nearly 26 weeks and all seems ok with the stitch and baby but I still feel quite nervous at times, perhaps I will do until baby is safely here.

Take care, lovely, and wishing you a peaceful uneventful pregnancy!

Hi! So after two first trimester and two second trimester miscarriages (one was incompetent cervix) I had a cerclage with my son at 16 weeks. Went all the way to 40+2 when I was induced! He's almost three now!!! Currently I'm 39+4 with my second baby a again had to have a stitch (a shirodker this time as cervix was v short) just waiting to go into labour!!!! Lots of help from family and friends to get here with a toddler in tow but all completely fine (just hoping I won't be induced again). Two miracle babies, it took us 11 years to get us our first child! :-)

Thanks for sharing such a lovely positive story, Spotsandstars. Congratulations and wishing your new little love a safe arrival!

Just wanted to update this thread with our happy ending as I know I spent lots of time searching for positive stories whilst pregnant. My stitch was removed at 36 weeks, all pretty quick and only a bit uncomfy, and I then spent a lovely month pottering around enjoying being very pregnant and playing with our toddler after all that bedrest. Our lovely DS2 was born on my 40 week due date in a quick labour. He's beautiful and I'm so happy to have him here safe after what was a fretful pregnancy. So there is so much to be hopeful and positive about if you're having a similar experience with a cervical stitch or monitoring and please feel free to PM me if you'd like to chat. Take care all

I just found this thread again, how lovely of you to update us Blossom! Huge congratulations to you and your family- enjoy every moment.

I too have a good news story! My stitch held strong until DS was delivered by EMCS at 35 weeks. There were no issues at all with the stitch, it held fast and true. Unfortunately i developed severe pre-eclampsia and DS was showing signs of inter-uterine growth restriction, so they had to deliver him early. He spend 12 days in NICU as he was only 4.1lb at birth, and is now a happy, healthy, HUGE (comparatively) 16 week old handsome boy. With silent reflux ;-).

Congratulations Blossom and London

Lovely to hear your stories. I'm at 9 weeks now and my cervix is 35mm at the moment but I'm already on progesterone due to IVF so I'm not sure if it would be shorter otherwise. Waiting to see if/when I'll get a stitch after my loss at 21wks last year. Anyway, it cheers me up to see success stories- thank you

Thank you! And big congratulations on your lovely little man too. Sorry you had a rough end to things but so pleased he's out safe and thriving now. Oh yes reflux is hard going, my DS1 had it, but it will pass and you'll be extra surprised by the delightful little person who appears once their tummy problems have settled. Take care x

No me personally but my friend had to have a cervical stick after 2 miscarriages so on her 3rd pregnancy they recommended a cervical stitch which she got done and she went 10 days over her due date and her DD is 6 months now.

Blossom-

What helped you with be reflux? I am slowly losing the plot with it!

Oh my goodness it was hard as he cried so much and sleep was pretty dreadful. Things that helped were wearing him in a sling/carrier loads, breastfeeding which acted as an instant settler, seeing a paed for ranitidine, a newborn insert on our pushchair so he could sit reclined rather than lie flat, keeping upright after feeds and letting family and my partner give me a break. It feels never ending but by five or six months he was a lovely sunny baby, still sicky but way more cheerful. Sleep fell into place when he could roll over onto his tummy to sleep (7 1/2 months - a joyous time!) and started sleeping through the night and taking longer naps in the cot. He's now three and truly a delight, such a lovely gentle soul that no-one can believe he was such hard work as a baby. I'm ready for reflux this time too but at least feel I know the nature of the beast and know it will be end!

What have you tried so far? X

Blossom, that is so helpful.

We feed him upright, let him rest during feeds regularly, wear him in the sling as much as possible, and have his bed raised at one end. He has also been prescribed ranitidine after gaviscon made it worse, and added constipation to the mix. The ranitidine has helped but he still screams blue murder about 30ml into each feed. I can't breastfeed unfortunately (my milk never came in whilst DS was on NICU and then an undiagnosed tongue tie meant he never latched once he got home, grrr).

We are 16 weeks in. It seems to have peaked over the holidays (also coincides with a developmental leap and huge changes to routine) and is hopefully starting to settle with the ranitidine.

When can you put them in the pushchair? I agree that would help immensely! Xxx

We had an Uppababy Vista and you can use the newborn insert in the pushchair bit from very early on and that helped as he hated the pram bit. I just wore him in the carrier before that as the crying was so awful otherwise.

You're doing all the right things for him so just hang on in there and get as much help as you can and get out into the fresh air too (makes crying seem less full on!) if you can bear it. It's exhausting but it will pass and he'll be lovely, I promise! And that loveliness will feel even sweeter for being hard won. X

Thank you

An update from me.... Well I have made it to 36+3 no stitch required..... But now have the fear of scar tissue welding my cervix shut and not getting the home birth I so desperately want. Obviously baby getting here safely is the main thing but I hate hospitals so want to avoid a c-section if possible.

Isn't it ironic that we spend the first 24-26 weeks panicking about keeping baby in, and now it's the opposite that baby might not be able to get out!!!

Great news, Divadee! Will be thinking of you over the next few weeks and wishing your little one a safe arrival and you a positive experience. Keep us posted on your happy news. X

Its so nice to hear everyone's positive stories and congrats to everyone! :-) Hopefully other people will see this thread and be reassured that the stitch does work. There is so much negativity out there.
My daughter is now 5 months old and is such hard work but I am truly lucky to have her and going through such an anxious pregnancy was worth every second. Best of luck to everyone on their journey! x

Congratulations on the new arrivals, ladies! Great news! I had my stitch put in 6 weeks ago after a lost at 19+6 December 2015, and now I'm 21+2 and stitch still holding strong, so hoping all will continue to go as well :) xx

Hi ladies! Firstly Congrats to all the positive endings and thanks for sharing...I'm 16 weeks and had a cervical scan yesterday that showed that I have a short cervix so I have been booked it for tomorrow for the stitch to be put in(I had a late miscarriage at 21 weeks last year so docs decided to book this asap)...I've been soo worried since yesterday evening but I'm so happy I found this thread with so many positive stories and good luck to all that are in my same situation!

Hi from one Jess to another :) Best of luck tomorrow, I found the thought of the stitch was actually worse than having it done. Expect some light bleeding and mild cramps for a few days, and take it easy. I'm 27 weeks now thanks to the stitch and all is still going well. Best of luck xx