Incompetent Cervix

[blessedatlast]

Did anyone with a stitch have the cervix open below the stitch? I had my 19wk scan today and was told the stitch was the only thing keeping it closed. It's open to the stitch but closed from the stitch up.. I am freaking out because I can't see my OB til next week. The registrar I saw quickly just told me to take it easy and said the OB might put me on bed rest.. At my 16wk scan the cervix was long and closed so there has been a change in the last 3wks. 1 day at a time, but I am so scared...

[crumpet]

have replied in your other thread hun, but lay down as much as possible with ur feet and butt elevated it will take the pressure off ur cervix can u get a earlier appt with ur OB??

[blessedatlast]

I didn't even try to get an earlier appointment because I knew I had an appointment monday. I also have to go see the medical Drs and have a scan so even if I did get an appointment I would have to go back monday anyway. I think if I just rest at home I'll be ok, I will go up if I'm concerned though..

[Julsie]

Hi everyone

I've been reading with interest your posts with regards to cervix issues. I asked my doctor to check my cervix from early on as I have had a procedure for CIN 3, and also have a friend who had her baby at27 weeks with this issue. My cervix s very short. About 1.3cm and is funneling but still closed. I am 27 weeks, am off work but just told to 'take it easy', not on bed rest.

My doc does not want to do a stitch, he said there is many dangers, infection, waters breaking etc and it sounds as though it is a bit late for one anyway. I am having scans once a week and see him again on Monday and will try and get a bit more info around what I can and can't do.

I'm interested to see if anyone else has been in a similar position and what they have done. This is my first pregnancy, it was a very long road to get here and I'm pretty anxious! Thanks

[blessedatlast]

Julsie - If I were you, I'd stay off my feet as much as possible. There's still a bit of length there, but you don't really want it to keep shortening. A stitch at 27wks would have an increased risk of rupturing membranes. I don't think they like to do them past 22wks (Not sure on that, could be less). Hope Bubby stays baking for a while yet.. Keep us posted.

Update for me: Cervix closed at 3.2cms.. I have had 2 more scans which showed that my cervix is closed. The OB thinks it was mucous causing a shadow in the last scan and my cervix hasn't been open at all. Yay! I have another scan at 26wks. I'm still on progesterone pessaries til 28wks. can't wait to stop them! On Tuesday I will be 24+3wks and that will be the longest I have been pregnant. this gestation with the twins I was in hospital labouring.. So glad I'm here and still pregnant with Button kicking away madly

[RainbowBrite]

That is all wonderful news BAL
I am so pleased to hear that it is going well for you and 3.2cm is a awesome length

Hi Julsie, I agree with BAL keep of your feet as much as possible, you need to keep as much pressure of your uterus as possible.
I had my stitch at 23+5 and that was about the latest they would do it and they said they had to they couldn't leave it...he was born just over a week later at 25 weeks.
My bub before him was born at 28 weeks again due to IC, I had no cervix left at 26 weeks and was 2-3cm dialated but they didn't stitch them either as it was to late and still got another 2 weeks but only because my waters broke and my cervix was open.
There are many woman who have made it to full term (or close to) and have have a shortened cervix all the way through.
It is great that they are doing regular scans, cervix's are very dynamic and with plenty of bed rest it may even grow.
Wishing you and bub the very best.

[blessedatlast]

The only thing that worries me with frequent scans particularly with an open cervix is risk of infection.. Are they doing internal scans Julsie?

RB - 23+5wks for a stitch.. I would have been terrified.. I wonder if any 'emergency' stitches late in pregnancy have worked.. Mine didn't and I was 19wks. I still went into labour though.. Maybe if I hadn't started contractiong I would have lasted longer?

[RainbowBrite]

RB - 23+5wks for a stitch.. I would have been terrified.. I wonder if any 'emergency' stitches late in pregnancy have worked.. Mine didn't and I was 19wks. I still went into labour though.. Maybe if I hadn't started contractiong I would have lasted longer?

I was terrified!! There were so many risks involved with doing it that late but the head OB said that they could not do nothing as they could not risk it.
I think they were also trying to cover the other OB's butt who should have stitched back at 14 weeks (grrr but that is another post)
I went into labour the night that I got the stitch and I was stuck on complete bedrest (no getting up for toilet anything) and the bed tilted backwards.
Fortunately they stopped it and I at least got all my steroids in.
It does seem that later stitches are no were near as successful as earlier ones.

[crumpet]

Hi everyone

I've been reading with interest your posts with regards to cervix issues. I asked my doctor to check my cervix from early on as I have had a procedure for CIN 3, and also have a friend who had her baby at27 weeks with this issue. My cervix s very short. About 1.3cm and is funneling but still closed. I am 27 weeks, am off work but just told to 'take it easy', not on bed rest.

My doc does not want to do a stitch, he said there is many dangers, infection, waters breaking etc and it sounds as though it is a bit late for one anyway. I am having scans once a week and see him again on Monday and will try and get a bit more info around what I can and can't do.

I'm interested to see if anyone else has been in a similar position and what they have done. This is my first pregnancy, it was a very long road to get here and I'm pretty anxious! Thanks

like the other girls have said, rest as much as u can and stay off ur feet.... the best thing my OB told me to do was get my feet up so that my butt was slightly elevated to take as much pressure off my cervix as possible.

id be agreeing that there is no way id let them do a stitch at 27weeks, especially if ur funnelling, as there is a very high risk of puncturing the waters whixh would obviously lead to pre term labour.

with the scans, i was having mine done monthly to monitor mine, but if they are doing internal scans id be watching how many internal ones they do becasue as blessedatlast said the risk for infection is high, and if ur funneling, the infection can get into the womb area and affect your placenta, whixh happened to me.

's its a tough position to be in, but keep those feet up, every day bubs is inside makes a huge difference!

Julsie - If I were you, I'd stay off my feet as much as possible. There's still a bit of length there, but you don't really want it to keep shortening. A stitch at 27wks would have an increased risk of rupturing membranes. I don't think they like to do them past 22wks (Not sure on that, could be less). Hope Bubby stays baking for a while yet.. Keep us posted.

Update for me: Cervix closed at 3.2cms.. I have had 2 more scans which showed that my cervix is closed. The OB thinks it was mucous causing a shadow in the last scan and my cervix hasn't been open at all. Yay! I have another scan at 26wks. I'm still on progesterone pessaries til 28wks. can't wait to stop them! On Tuesday I will be 24+3wks and that will be the longest I have been pregnant. this gestation with the twins I was in hospital labouring.. So glad I'm here and still pregnant with Button kicking away madly

my OB wont do a stitch after 22weeks, had one where the waters were puntured and will never do it again, he is more in line with the ill do the precautionary one, even if its just incase!

whooo hooooo!!! your cruising along nicely hun!!! good work!

I was stuck on complete bedrest (no getting up for toilet anything) and the bed tilted backwards.
Fortunately they stopped it and I at least got all my steroids in.
It does seem that later stitches are no were near as successful as earlier ones.

that sounds all to familiar!!
in my pregnancy with DS, i went into labour at 21w, and my OB admitted me straight away, bed angled head down, no getting up for the loo, actually no getting up at all , and i was like that for a week, until infection set in and my body couldnt fight it anymore

from what i read when i was researching things, a precuationary stitch is a massive amount more sucessful than a bugger things are hitting the fan stitch...

[Julsie]

Thanks everyone for your reply posts and the extra information. I am having another scan today and yes they are internal. After that I see my OB so I'll check with him as to the risk of infection, perhapse once a week is too often to have the scans.

Good luck BAL, each week bub is kicking away is wonderful isn't it! I'll continue to keep off my feet as much as possible, and keep fingers crossed.

thanks again xxxxxx