Cervical Suture??

[AngelLukesmum]

Hi Helen

Sorry I missed this post earlier. I just wrote you an enormous response but the system lost it. Aargh, not happy!

I had my stitch placed just over 2 weeks ago due to my loss last year that my ob thinks was due to IC. I couldn't risk going down the just monitoring road as things happened so quickly last time that I wasn't prepared to risk it and luckily my ob agreed.

The operation was fairly easy. It was done under GA (no choice for me as my ob only does it this way) and I was admitted as a day patient but put in Maternity before and after the procedure. The op itself took about 40 mins, maybe a bit less and when I woke I was in quite a lot of bad pain, mainly cramping and strong pressure pain in my backside area. I was given morphine which didn?t really help with the pain, it just sent me to sleep so they gave me panadol back in Maternity which worked a treat. I was released later that same evening after the usual eating, drinking etc although they were happy for me to stay the night if I wanted to.

Recovery took about 4-5 days until I was completely back to normal. The first 2 days I was pretty much lounge-bound with panadol every now and again, and a hot water bottle pressed to my tummy. I found that the worst thing about the pain was that it was not centralised to just the uterus or cervix but was in the whole area - bladder, uterus and bowel/back passage area. One would play off the other while the area worked out what was going on I think! But my ob had warned me that due to my very sensitive cervix (I cramp when I have a normal pap smear) I might suffer more than usual.

Bleeding was minimal for me and was a bit like browny discharge rather than red blood. My ob had warned me though not to panic if I did have bright red blood as apparently the cervix can swell with pg and bleed easier. But luckily mine spared me that. My CM has been back to normal for about a week now so it didn't take too long.

I saw my ob a week after surgery and he did a quick scan to check on bubs. I have another scan this week at a proper clinic where they will measure my cervix and check the stitch position. 2 weeks later during my morphology scan they will do another check on measurements and my ob has warned me that if they have changed or shortened he will want me on bedrest in hospital. Hoping that doesn't happen! I will then see him again at 20 weeks and have another proper scan at our nervous time at 21w. We haven't gotten past that timeframe yet in terms of scan discussions.

When it comes time for removal, if all has gone well, my ob plans to take the stitch out at 38w. If he has done too good a job I will apparently need an epidural for removal and he said he might induce me at the same time. Something we will discuss further though as we get closer.

As for infection - well, it hasn't been that long for me so I don't have anything personal to contribute except that my ob has never seen a patient get an infection from a stitch and especially when you have it placed early as the cervix should still be nice and long and closed, making it harder for anything to get up where it shouldn't and also less chance of your waters breaking etc. Try not to google, but having said that I have read more good stories than bad so that can't be too bad a thing can it?
Oh and not sure if you know what type of stitch you will be having but mine is apparently a modified shridovkar (or something like that!) which means it is right up near the top of the cervix and is more under the skin. According to some research that can help prevent infection but I don't think they really have too clear a study either way on that.

I hope that all helps and sorry for the long post. I am truly sorry to hear of the loss of your DS too and congratulations on your new pg.

Minky - I am so sorry to hear of both of your losses and thanks for sharing your story. I am so happy you got a happy ending

Jo