Cervical stitch/ cerclage

[Sunshineeeee]

Hi all,

Just looking for experiences. I had a cervical stitch with my DS, after finding that my cervix had shortened and was funnelling at 23 weeks. I had it as an emergency cerclage and it was removed at 37 weeks. I carried to my due date and delivered naturally.

Has anyone had a cerclage before and then gone on to have healthy pregnancies without one?

No personal experience. Are you pregnant again? Normally you’d be referred for a discussion with an obstetrician (by about 12-14 weeks). Depending on other history, cervical length at that time you’d have the options of either another planned cerclage (usually done about 12-14 weeks) or of surveillance with cervical length scans every couple of weeks, from 16 weeks. The fact that it has happened previously doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have complications in another pregnancy, but there are other things that would make the doctor suggest one option or the other being preferable (eg previous cervical treatments, or particular things about your last pregnancy). I’ve known people who have taken either option and been fine - hopefully some others can share their own experiences.

@TenThousandSpoons0 thanks for the reply. Yes I'm pregnant again and really want to avoid the cerclage this time. I'm 7 months pp and my body just wants a bit of a break from foreign objects. If I have to then of course I will but I'm interested to see if anyone has experience of carrying to term without.

Hi, no personal experience with the cerclage but I lost my daughter at 19 weeks due to a suspected incompetent cervix, but they never managed to tell us if that was really the reason so I am not sure if my experience will be relevant to you, but I got pregnant after that and I managed to have a little girl and didn’t have any issues. They were monitoring my cervix with regular ultrasounds and it was in the short side but normal. I did a lot of lying in the sofa that pregnancy! And took it very easy.

I am now pregnant again and worrying that as I had a normal pregnancy last time they are not going to be checking on me.

Hope we both have uneventful pregnancies.

@Gatomalo I'm sorry to hear of your loss. I lost my daughter too at around 17 weeks (my first baby) so with my son they monitored and my cervix was on the short side but they said it would be fine. Just before signing me off the ob randomly checked it at 23 weeks and my baby's head was almost out. I was rushed to theatre. I really pray that isn't the case this time. I can't imagine bedrest or recovery with a 7 month old.

When are you due?

@Sunshineeeee I am so sorry to hear of your loss and the worry of going through it again with your son. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been. Really hope this time is different and you manage to have a normal pregnancy. How far along are you? Have you spoken to a midwife yet to see what is their plan this time? Hopefully they won’t suggest to put a stitch straight away and just monitor you.

I am due in early February so I am only 8 weeks, hoping to have my booking appointment this week and have a chat with a midwife about it but previously they have told me that as my last pregnancy was fine they shouldn’t need to monitor me this time. But as you... with an energetic 2 year old I can’t do any bedrest so I am slightly worried about it.

Sorry to hear about your loss OP. I’d say the extra info (2 pregnancies with cervical incompetence plus only a short time between pregnancies) means that a cerclage will be recommended to you, and would be done around 12-14 weeks if you accept it. It’s a lower risk surgery if done in a planned way rather than due to ultrasound findings or symptoms - I understand the wish to avoid it but I’d say you’re a bit higher risk than if it was just the one oregnancy with short cervix and cerclage. Congrats on the new pregnancy btw :)

Thank you for the responses. Hmm yes it seems I'll have to go in for an early preventative cerclage this time. I hope that doesn't mean I need pelvic or bed rest again. It just isn't possible.

I had a preventative stitch at 14 weeks after losing my son at 20 weeks. Emergency stitch placed at 18 weeks but failed

With the preventative stitch I didn't need any bed rest, I was in about 6 hours after the stitch was put in and then home. No problems throughout the rest of the pregnancy, no bed rest etc Stitch was removed at 35 weeks and baby was delivered at 37 by elcs

If you decide against the stitch I think my worry would be that you could need one later on and then have to go on bed rest etc . My older ds was almost 7 months when i had my emergancy stitch.at 18 weeks. i was in hospital for a week then home for a few days then back in for 48 hours before he was born at 20 weeks

I have had a preventive stitch placed at 14 weeks and also prescribed progesterone pessaries and I've not had to have any bed rest. I'm now 28 weeks and everything is going well so far. X

I also had the pregesterone tablets but had to stop them after about 3 months b3cause they started to make me itch

@EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall I'm so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing that with me. You're right. If a preventative means no bedrest then I'm better off. Thank you for the advice.

@JSLACEFAMILY thank you!