22 weeks leakage and cervix funneling

[Bumblebee902021]

Hello,

After 4 miscarriages last year all at first trimester which included a missed miscarriage, I am now 22 weeks pregnant and desperately hoping to have a healthy first born child.

Yesterday went for a cervical length scan as I worry about everything and wanted to make sure I wasn't at risk of pre term.. And they discovered a shortening cervix at 18mm with funnelling but they could not do emergency stitch because I am also leaking a bit of amnio fluid 😢

Has anyone experienced this before and had a successful outcome?

@Bumblebee902021 he's a happy 2.8yr old but does have quite a few health conditions like cp / hydrocephalus from a brain bleed. Which I think stems from not having time for steroids. He sadly got the shite end of the stick and ended up with a lot of issues. Most 28 weeks are fit and healthy with no long term problems.
I'm 35+4 weeks and plan on getting the stitch out next Friday 😬 thanks to the stitch I have gotten this far. Dr did say if I'd not had the stitch this one would have made an early entrance to x

@boymum88 happiness is the main thing and it's good to hear he survived. Did you know of incompetent cervix before you delivered your son or was it due to delivering him that early that you then found out?
Wow awesome! Ditch the stitch next week! Do you know gender? Did you have any cervical scans since you got the stitch? Xx

I knew Nothing about it before hand, he came without the normal labour signs all I had was a bit of spotting and by the time I got to the hospital I was 5cm with the sac protruding and he was born 5hrs later, so after a lot of research and speaking with surgeons I work with I felt I had ic, so knew any future preg I would want a stitch.
I pushed to be seen early at 10 weeks and ended up with a lovely consultant who's supportive and placed a stitch at 13 weeks, she has seen me once every two weeks maybe three at a push and scanned cervix each time. Last week was the last time I will see her in person and just have a phone call this week. She's even happy that if all goes to plan I can give birth on the birthing unit not labour ward. Also it's another boy xx

@boymum88 not long till you meet your second son!! Exciting and great about the birthing unit too! Did your cervix stay the same more or less since you had stitch placed in at 13 weeks?
When you had the spotting was it brown with first pregnancy? I had this a couple times since my cerclage but it only lasted less than a day. This pregnancy was lucky I found my IC issue, as I asked for a cervical scan at 22 weeks and had no symptoms either, but I had a private cervical scan at 17 weeks and it was long and closed but then at my anatomy scan I completely forgot to ask them to quickly check so got the scan at 22 weeks as you know and that's when it was u shaped funnel and its scary how much my cervix changed in a space of a few days whilst I was at hospital before the stitch. Closed and then a couple days later dilated with no symptoms! Xx

It was red spotting when I had my 1st ds I haven't had any spotting this time. Cervix has been pretty much the same even got longer at times went from 2.6 at 10+5 weeks up to 3.2 then when I hit 28 weeks went down to 2cm with funnelling and has stayed the same xx I had a hell of lot of braxton hicks so dr wasn't sure if that had helped shorted my cervix

So pleased that you’re doing so well OP! And boymum too. I suspect I wouldn’t have DS2 if it wasn’t for the care I got in my second pregnancy. When they removed the stitches at 37 weeks they could immediately feel his head!

DS1 is crashing around downstairs and about to get in his taxi to go to school. He is proof that extremely premature babies (24 weeks in his case) can pull through. You’ve got this.

Saw this thread a few weeks ago, and so pleased you are hanging on in there. Every day is a step closer.

I had a stitch put in in my second pregnancy at 22 weeks. And the babies (twins) were born on their due date. I know that puts us at the very lucky end of stitch outcomes, but it can happen.

Take care of yourself, you are doing so well.

27w3 days and still cooking 🤞 @boymum88 ditch the stich this week! Let me know how it goes! You say you been funneling since 28w - does that mean membranes were in funnel as well? Mine have been since stitch placement but they don't seem concerned by it unless infection develops which so far so good.
@CatkinToadflax was your stitch for ds2 a mcdonald? I'm not sure how common the other one is in the UK.
That's awesome about your twins being born on their due date @barnanabas.
My next milestone is 28w 🤞 would love to make it to due date but each day extra is absolutely amazing x

Had it out today a few days early at 36+4 as went in with some tightenings. I'm home so now a just a waiting game. And I was funnelling but no membranes from what I've been told xx
That's what the stitch looks like

Well done boymum for getting so far. My stitches were also blue - I remember laughing hilariously at the colour - mind you I’d had so much gas and air, and I was so relieved to have reached term, that probably anything would have seemed funny at that moment. Best of luck for a smooth delivery in the coming weeks.

Bumblebee - my stitches didn’t come with a name. I had my antenatal care at a specialist high risk pregnancy unit and the head honcho there did his own method of stitches - one right at the top of the cervix and one right at the bottom. I am so pleased for you and your wonderful progress - you’re past the statistically trickiest weeks now! Great cooking!

Hope your still getting on ok OP and managed to make it to 28 weeks!

@Bumblebee902021 just to let you know I'm following this thread. I'm a few weeks behind you and had the cerclage done at 21 weeks. I'm now 25 weeks (today) and on progesterone. They were monitoring my cervix and due enough it reduced dramatically in a short space of time. I was 1.9cm in length and had started funneling and they suggested the stitch. Luckily no fluid leaking or membranes poking out. Like you I have been inclined to put myself on bed rest although they dont advise it.it just feels right. I can definitely feel pressure down there when I stand. Your story is giving me hope. I will keep checking in for your update. Well done, it all takes a lot of guts xx

@boymum88 great to read your full story too. Very happy for you and your advice and experience is something people can draw strength from xx

Hello!
@boymum88 let us know how everything goes!! Looking forward to your update of your new arrival 💙
@CatkinToadflax sounds really good about the stitch, did you have to do any bedrest with preventative?
@LarsErickssong 28w 2 days today 🤞🤞 next milestone I'm aiming for is 30w 🤞
@Bigbellies great news that no membranes and sounds like they did your stitch in good time - was it a mcdonalds suture?. Are they carrying on with monitoring cervix post cerclage? Is this your first baby?
For me they did just one check 2 days post cerclage which showed I gained a length back (from nothing as day of surgery there was no measurable cervix, was dilated slightly and membranes in cervix) of 1.2cm below the stitch but up to the stitch it is still funneling with membranes. Since, not being monitored to avoid risk of infection that an internal scan or speculum could do but am going in for bloods weekly.
I too feel pressure sometimes if I stand around for too long (at hospital mostly when I go for bloods) and then when I lay down it goes away so I am a bit too scared to get off bedrest but I know I'll have to start doing a bit more once the inhexa injections are finished (in a week) to avoid blood clots. Best wishes to you as well, we can do this!
Xx

@Bumblebee902021 I can't believe he's still cooking, spent 9 months worried I wouldn't make it to term and now it's a waiting game 🤦‍♀️
When u finish ur blood thinners and start to move about just listen to ur body you will soon know when uve done to much. I've sofa surfed for nearly the whole time, so don't moved about loads but tried to go for a short walk 20 mins a few times a week, gettin up to cook clean ect x

@Bumblebee902021 just read this thread how fabulous that you are at 28 weeks + now! Fingers crossed for that baby to stay put for a while longer

Hope you're ok @Bumblebee902021 - been thinking of you and sending good vibes!

Hello guys, I am currently 29w4 days 🤞 still holding on and really hoping to get to end of next month! Hope you're all keeping well x

That's great to hear x

@Bumblebee902021 so sorry I didn't reply sooner and not been getting the notifications weirdly. Well it's actually my second but I lost my first at 23 + 3, she was born and survived 2 weeks. I had an infection but they don't know how it got in there but it is highly likely that an incompetent cervix was the culprit so in one way I am one of the lucky ones that at least knows the reason for our loss. So they were on it this time with the measuring. No more measuring as they don't want to prod and poke anything up there. I'm 26 + 4 today!! Going well, baby (belly) definitely getting bigger! So wonderful you are going strong - just amazing. You are nearly a the biggie of 30 weeks!!! Very happy for you, such a relief isn't it, each day and week that passes are milestones.

I have been moving a bit more, feeling more confident. The midwife said that usually if the cerclage isn't going to work then something will happen within 48 hours. I still keep wondering how that tiny band on 2cm of cervix is holding up so no doing any walks or cleaning but I have cooked a little more and going up and down the stairs a few times a day. I think the Cyclogest is really helping as well. Sorry I can't recall if you are taking them?

@WolfMother326 how is everything going with you?

@boymum88 - are you still waiting for little ones arrival?

@Bigbellies - really sorry to hear about your loss😔
You are doing really great and sounds like you are confident and I think you got amazing chances to go all the way to term. It's amazing what a little stitch can do!
I am on cyclogest also - 400mg, how much dosage are you on and till when are you taking it? I only started taking it a week after cerclage and now I'm in two minds about whether to stop it or not because with a stitch and no cervix left to lengthen and I got irrational fear of whether progesterone impacts the baby too (I got fears about everything at this stage, and probably will until I have a healthy and happy baby in my arms!), I don't know what benefit there is for me as its adding excess hormones? Of course my aim is to get to term for best possible chances but I am not sure whether continuing cyclogest would help that or stop that from happening? Very tough to know if medicines work, benefits and what would happen if they're stopped etc x

@Bumblebee902021 yes still playing the waiting game 38+5, can't believe he's still not here. I would personally say don't stop the progesterone, from as far as I'm aware it does no harm to u or baby. I up my does when I started to funnel at 28 weeks and I feel it helped stabilise my cervix. If u stopped and then went into labour, you would always question if that was why x

@boymum88 wow thats amazing!! Is your plan for fully natural delivery?

You're right, that's what's been on my mind whether if I stopped if it would hinder progress. Though I'm fully funneled to the stitch already with 1cm below the stitch so this is why I'm not sure it can do anything with cervix anymore? What dose were you on post 28 weeks and when did you stop taking it? Xx

@Bumblebee902021 the plan is to try the birth unit, but I'm getting nervous and just want him here now, hoping they will do a sweep on sat and that will get him here.
At 28 weeks I had 2cm of cervix left with funnelling but not down to the stitch. When stitch was removed I was dilated 2cm with 1cm of length left
I think it's ment to help maintain ur cervix and help support the uterus x

Sorry, I can't remember what I did about cyclogest, or what the advice was. (And may well all be out of date anyway!) But I did just want to say I'm so pleased you're hanging in there!

@boymum88 birthing unit sounds really good. I can't believe after months of stitch you're not on the other side of wanting him to come out! I bet you'll even go to your due date!
When did you stop taking progesterone? Did you have any side effects from stopping it and were you on 400mg? x