Loss due to Incompetant Cervix

Hi,

Sadly I lost my first baby, Clair, @ 20w just recently. I'm sad but I find each day gets a little less painful.

I read in the paper today about keyhole surgery for an abdominal cerclage, apparently it was a first in Australia, the keyhole method that is and was successful. Unfortunately the lady had a number of mc before the problem was corrected.

I expect that I will follow a similar path next time I fall pregnant (when I can think about trying again for the right reasons). I have enough cervix to bind, so to speak, but I was wondering if anyone else has had a cerclage done and how successful it was? They seem to be very common in America and although I hate that I had to find out about them this way the events leading up to it were so quick it was nobody's fault.

Best wishes

Melissa

hun Im so so sorry for you loss

I havent experience your problem but i hope it can be fixed and wish you the best with you next pg


xx

:hug: for you. I am sorry for the loss of your daughter. I am sure someone will post soon that has some info for you. Take care.

Melissa,

I am so very sorry for your loss of baby Clair :hug:. My heart goes out to you. I've lost Joshua at 20 weeks in October this year, althought not to IC. I thought I lost him because of IC, but it turned out my fibroid played up.

I have read several books on miscarriage and still birth, and they can put a stich in your cervix at around 13 weeks, accordining to these boks, through your vagina ( the books are a few years old though...). I also read that true cases of IC are pretty rare, and one of these women gynies/OB in the UK who runs a clinic dealing purely with miscarriages ( at all stages of pregnancy ) recommends testing for antiphospholipid syndrome of pregnancy a type of an autoimmune disorder which results in second trimester miscarriage.

Hope this helps.

Take care of yourself hun, and I hope your next pregnancy goes well.

Beata.

Hi Melissa
I am so sorry to read of the loss of your little girl.
I lost my son last November due to IC and am currently almost 23 weeks pg with a little girl. My ob recommended a preventative cerclage which was placed vaginally at 14 weeks of this pg. It is basically like a drawstring which is meant to help keep the cervix from dilating prematurely. As I am still on this journey and currently on bedrest due to my cervix shortening recently I can't testify for how successful the cerclage has been, but I suspect that were it not for that and also the extra monitoring I am under this time, we might not be this far along. Already we are almost 2 weeks ahead so that has to be a good thing!
As for the abdominal cerclage, I do know of a lady that has one here in Australia and so far in her pg she has had no problems and has needed no bedrest. Certainly the stats from overseas show it to be slightly more successful but I'm not sure how many doctors do them here. It wasn't something my ob suggested and unfortunately I think that sometimes a failed vaginal cerclage is needed for that extra step to be suggested. I could be wrong though. I have also read that the abdominal cerclages are used if the cervix is too short for the normal drawstring. For me, my cervix length is nice and normal...until we reach the 21 week mark of pg!
There are a couple of other threads about IC and cerclages here if you want to have a look -one is in the pg area, Medical conditions (I think) and also under the Loss section there is a post called "new and sad' which has some stories that might help too.
Good luck and if you have any other questions, feel free to ask. Everyone here is great.

I read that article too, and was wondering the difference between the keyhole surgery and a normal cervical stitch @ 13-14 weeks.

I looked in to it when pg with DS, because there was a drug that was given to women up til the late 70s ( I was born in 1977) for threatened miscarriage - which my mum had, and one of the effects they have discovered since is that daughters of women who took it can have IC. I got her to ring the hospital and aparently they stopped using it in 75 or 76.

I hope that you are offered some hope & options for the future :)

I suppose I am one of the sucessful stories in this department.
I prev lost 2 preg at 20 weeks before they decided that I was worth the risk of infection with a cerclege. Mine was done at 13 weeks and held with no shortening at all till 37 weeks.
The specialist that did mine had his own technique which placed the stitch high up in the cervix, and did alot of this procedure. I am 100% sure with a normal stitch I may not of got as far as I did.
Good luck do your research and my prayers are with you and your partner to get thru this terrible loss

B

Hi Mesi

I am so very sorry for the loss of your little girl.

I lost my little boy in July this year due to IC and need a cervical cerlage next pregnancy also. I have done alot of research on IC and the various stitches that can be performed. From what I have read, the abdominal cerlage is done prior to pregnancy and can actually stay there until you complete your family. I have heard it is a little more successful than vaginal cerlages but means you have to deliver by C-section. Like AngelLukesMum said, I think they only consider it for women with naturally short cervixes. Now unless the article is describing a new type of abdominal stitch on the market, the abdominal stitch in Australia is not at all common.

Can you tell me which paper the article was in? I would love to read it.

I am sending you lots of support :hug:

Diana

The article was in the Sunday Mail (in Brisbane) but here is a link which has much more detail: The greatest gift of all | Herald Sun

Thank you so much for your responses, it makes a difference. I will definitely ask about possibilities other than IC when I see the doctor.

Best wishes to all.

Thanks for the link Mesi. I didn't realise it was the first time this procedure was performed here in Australia. I will definitely have a chat to my FS/OB about it. Would love to hear about any more info you get on this.

I just read the story too and now it has raised a million more questions in my head! Like, had she had failed vaginal cerclages before getting this? Did she have to have a c/s (am guessing yes)? Even with this new surgery did she have to do any bedrest? Can think of many more but ah well, I'll have to trust my current cerclage does the job for me this time around!
Sounds like a much easier procedure though vs the normal abdominal surgery so hopefully it will be a common op soon enough.

Jo, I'm with you... I want to know so much more about her circumstances. Perhaps you could mention the article to your OB? I am sure he would have some info on this new procedure or at least heard about it.

Now as for you, your cervix will remain long and closed until baby girl's due date so don't you worry.

Hi, words are very inadequate when you have lost someone so precious, but I am sorry. We lost our DS in April 08 at 23+5wks, due to possible IC & infection. I had a suture placed with this pregnancy at 13+5days, so I can't tell you yet how succesful it will be, but I have a good feeling it will get us through. I had my 18 wk scan today and cervix is long and closed, have another in a month. I have a feeling like the other ladies said that they will only do the abdominal sutures as the last resort, but check it out anyway. The article sounded great, keyhole surgery is just amazing. Good luck on your journey.
Helen

Mesi - I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your baby. I too lost my son at 24wks due to possible IC. My next pregnancy occurred 3mths later and I was monitored from 18wks to 30wks every week for possible shortening of the cervix. I was also on bed rest for this time too. My beautiful daughter arrived at 37wks and I am convinced the monitoring (hence less stress) and bed rest helped me through it all. I have only ever heard positive outcomes from a cerclage being done so hopefully this will be your case too when the time arises.

Take care, T.

Hi Tess,
I am new to this forum but noticed that you were located in Canberra. I lost my twins 8 wks ago due to IC and have had mixed messaged from the ob I used about the use of preventative cerclages for any additional pregnancies. I am not sure whether you got a cerclage or not? Did you go through the Canberra Fetal Medicine Unit for your pg and monitoring or did you use a private ob? I don't want to use the same ob I did this time round but would love a recommedation for another if you have been happy with the care you receive and want to pass on their name.

Thanks heaps,

Hi

I haven't read any of the previous posts so my answer may have been said.. I personally had a stitch put in at 19wks as the U/S found my cervix was short and thin.. I was told there was 'no reason to think it wouldn't last to 36wks' I went into labour at 23wks.. Had my Bubs (twin boys) at 24wks and 2 days.. I have been advised that in a future pregnancy I should have a stitch at around 14wks...

Good luck.. x

Hi,

It has now been two months and I am fortunate that physically I have returned to normal so I have been told I can try again now. Mentally I'm much improved also, going to work was a big step forward and made a significant difference for me.
I didn't know about this but Logan Hospital has a private clinic run by Dr Draper who is an obstetrics\gynaecology specialist and she will be looking after me next time. I'm grateful for this as she understands how I will be slightly more anxious that usual next time ;).
I'm meeting with her next week for a check up but we briefly discussed the use of a stitch next time and it will be done at 12 weeks.
Anyway, first things first though, need to get pregnant for starters and then a day at a time.

I am so sorry I did not respond to your question mariagab - I have not been on BB for a while.

I did go through the Canberra Fetal Medicine Unit - they were fantastic. I was monitored fortnightly from 18wks to 30wks where my cervix was checked and bubs was measured etc. It was all done through public health not private.

Hope that helps. Tess.

I also loss my son at 22wks due to IC in 03/08.....This was the worst experience in my whole life and it was sooooo hard for me( well it still is)... to grieve...Its about to be a year in a couple days and I am feeling destroyd....My doctor told be next preg..I am going to be taking progestrone and will have the cerclage put in at 12 weeks and take them off at 36 weeks and I will be having weekly visits to the doctor hopefully my pg#3 will be a success one HOPEFULLY!!!! keep me in prayers!!!! I loss my pg#2 on 12/17/09 when I went for my 12weeks u/s they discover my lil gurl had anacephally so I had to have an termination my doctor induceed my labor .....she stated she didn't want to do a d&c because she don't want to mess with my cervic......ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy I am devestated I am so hurt :( but i still have faith and I hope one day I will have my lil bundle of joy....thanks for listening...best wishes!!

Hi Helen

I was just reading your post and i was wondering if i can ask you a few questions since our stories seems similar. I too lost a son in feb at 23 + 4 days, also due to possible IC and infection. from about 15 week i was bleeding on and off, and the doctors thought the bleeding was from my cervix, turned out it was from behind the placenta, which might have caused an infection. did the doctors ever tell you what might have caused your infection. im just trying to find some answers before i try again.
thank you

Tia

Hi Tia
So sorry to hear of your angel baby, I have been reliving those moments a fair bit lately. The Dr's have no idea what caused my infection (except that it was ascending, meaning it travelled upwards) or what came first. We have thankfully gone on to have a gorgeous little boy in May, and I can't help but be thankful to Cooper for bringing us him. With Mitch's pregnancy I opted to have the suture put in as a precaution, it did carry the risk of developing infection as well, but for me I needed to feel like I had tried everything to get to the end. We had no complications throughout the whole pregnancy and cervix stayed well behaved, so who knows maybe it never was the cervix that let us down with Cooper. It is a very hard road to travel, but the ultimate prize in the end is worth every moment of worry! Did you have any labour? I just felt weird with a feeling of him being very low (he was footling breech, so the feeling I had was his foot almost in the birth canal), then I had a show, presented to hospital where I was already 4cm. Are you planning on trying again soon? I wish you all the best whatever you decide.

Hi Tia
So sorry to hear of your angel baby, I have been reliving those moments a fair bit lately. The Dr's have no idea what caused my infection (except that it was ascending, meaning it travelled upwards) or what came first. We have thankfully gone on to have a gorgeous little boy in May, and I can't help but be thankful to Cooper for bringing us him. With Mitch's pregnancy I opted to have the suture put in as a precaution, it did carry the risk of developing infection as well, but for me I needed to feel like I had tried everything to get to the end. We had no complications throughout the whole pregnancy and cervix stayed well behaved, so who knows maybe it never was the cervix that let us down with Cooper. It is a very hard road to travel, but the ultimate prize in the end is worth every moment of worry! Did you have any labour? I just felt weird with a feeling of him being very low (he was footling breech, so the feeling I had was his foot almost in the birth canal), then I had a show, presented to hospital where I was already 4cm. Are you planning on trying again soon? I wish you all the best whatever you decide.


Hi

Thank you for your reply Helen. they have no idea what caused my infection as well or if that was the cause of me to lose the baby. or even if i did have a weak cervix, i just had funneling, then it closed. it was all the bleeding that was scary. I was in labour for almost two days. the first day i went to the doctor i got told it was just muscle pain, and went home, i couldnt tell it was labour either, cos it was coming from really low down, and they told me not to worry that and that it normal. the second day i had pain and that was it, i must have fallen a sleep from the pain cos when i woke up the cord was out and it was too late by then. they couldnt even check how many cm dilated i was, the baby was almost out by the time i got to the hospital
Iam planning on trying again soon, just really anxious even now thinking about what might happen.i guess the only thing i can do is hope for the best

thanks again
tia

The anxiety is always there, but you will get through it next time, they will monitor you so closely. If they don't find someone who will and MAKE them take you in whenever you have the tiniest concern. It is hard not to have a definiteve reason to what happened.
Good Luck
x

Hi Tia,

I just wanted to firstly say how sorry I am for your loss. My situation was a little different but I wanted to share with you what I have been through with this current pregnancy.

I have an excellent Ob who organised for me to have my cervix scanned every week from 15-24 weeks to see if my cervix was actually the problem which cause my Nikita's early arrival. At about 22 weeks it shortened but still within the "normal" parameters. I have had some funnelling but still because the cervix length is long and closed it has given my specialist and Ob no reason to be concerned.

We talked about a stitch initially and again at 22 weeks when the shortening frightened me. We decided that if we continued to shorten to 2cm then we would have a stitch put in place.

I am now 25 weeks and I have one final cervix scan next week at 26 weeks. It looks as though my problems were contraction related and not cervix. I have no idea if I will make it to term but my goal is 34 weeks. I am glad that I didn't rush out and have a stitch put in because they are not a sure fire guarantee that the pregnancy will last to term, they also can cause irritation which may start contractions and there is also the risk of infection, and once you have a stitch you will always need one for every subsequent pregnancy.

I know for some women this is the only option they have so for those people I would say to definately have one put in. But if you are not 100% certain that you have IC perhaps discuss close monitoring with your Ob then as a second option (and before it becomes an emergency situation) to have a stitch put in if you shorten to a certain length.

Do your research so you have a clear understanding of the Pro's and Con's of a suture. No matter what you do there are going to be risks for you and the baby as well as a load of stress.

Best of luck when you start TTC again, it is scary but the rewards are soooo wonderful especially when you pass the "trouble" time of the previous pregnancy.

Nae x x x

Hi

I lost my daughter Mia at 21 weeks from a failed emergency vaginal cerclage last year. My mother has experienced 4 pregnancies on bedrest with 2 losses, so I have been determined not to lose another child because of my incompetent cervix.

After months of research on forums and reading medical journals, we have decided that out of the two operations available we don't want to take the risk with a vaginal cerclage, as the abdominal cerclage has a much better success rate. Unfortunately it is not as common in Australia as it is in the UK and US.

Good new is that last week I found out that there is a very experienced doctor in Brisbane, Dr Laurie Brunello. He has performed the abdominal cerclage approx 20 times and also overseen another 20 operations.

Dr Brunello doesn?t think women need to have multiple losses to prove that she qualifies for the operation, or that she needs to prove that a vaginal stitch wont work. He said ? Why risk losing another child when you can have an operation that almost guarantees a successful pregnancy (of course other things can still go wrong like any pregnancy).

The Gold Coast couple that met with Dr Brunello has experienced 3 second trimester losses after doctors told them they would be fine with a vaginal cerclage instead. Now they have finally found someone that can give them a successful pregnancy.

Best of all, Dr Brunello has never had a patient with a loss due to Incompetent Cervix with an abdominal cerclage in place.

For those that are unable to travel to Brisbane, a lady in Melbourne had her abdominal cerclage done by Prof Tom Jobling two months ago after losing twin boys and she was very happy with him and the procedure.

Hope this information helps those that are considering their options for a full term successful pregnancy.

Personally I'll be going over to the US this month to have the operation done there by Dr Davis. He has performed the abdominal cerclage for over 250 patients, his pre-pregnancy placement success rate is 100%. It is a simple procedure that takes 30-60 minutes to complete and I?ll be in hospital 1-2 nights. Dr Davis doesn?t recommend bed rest to his patients as most of them work up until their scheduled c-section. The cost is approx US $4,000 for the operation and the hospital stay (i have to sell my car!).

After talking to 100s of women with incompetent cervix, I've learnt to do as much research as possible, consider my options, and then decide what?s best for me; if it is bed rest, the TransVaginal Cerclage (TVC) or the permanent TransAbdominal Cerclage (TAC). And only you can make the decision that's right for you.

Once you have decided, find a doctor that has the experience (very important). Listen to the advice from doctors, but also remember that it is just their opinion. There is nothing wrong with getting a second or third opinion, because its your body and its your choice.

I have decided to get the surgery done as the traditionally method (like a c-section) rather than laparoscopic surgery (key hole), since the success rate is higher. Lately I've heard of two ladies in Brisbane and Sydney that have experienced that the laparascopic abdominal surgery didn't hold the cervix because it was done by doctors with little/no experience.

My surgery is on 28 August and I can let you know how it all went when I get back 2 weeks later. We'll TTC on the next cycle and I can?t wait to have a normal pregnancy without having to be on bed rest or worry about my cervix. I have been in touch with a lady from Sydney who went over to Chicago to have the surgery done after 4 losses and she is currently pregnant. Although I feel confident at the moment I'm sure I'll still be freaking out a little.

Kristin
~angel Mia's mum~

Hi All

Thank you so much for all your replies, ive been doing a lot of research as well, just to put my mind at ease.

Kristin, I want to wish you the best of luck with your surgery, we'll be thinking of you

NaeNae, i want to wish you the best of luck with your pregnancy as well , ill be praying for you

tia

Hi
I am a TVC success story after losing my son, but just wanted to wish Kristin all the best for her upcoming surgery & I would definitely be interested in hearing how you go. I have heard Dr Davis mentioned on the IC forum & it sounds like he is the man to go to for the TAC. Good luck!
Tia, I am sorry to read of your loss & good luck for when you decide to try again.
Nae, I'm so happy to read that things are still going well for you. I was wondering if you had ended up getting that stitch or not.
Jo

Hi Jo and Tia

Thanks for the well wishes :)

Its great to to hear that the TVC has worked you Jo, in many cases it seems to be all it takes to bring a baby home. I spent many months deciding on which way to go, before it came down to the stats of the two operations. So I'm getting TAC'd. 23 sleeps until we fly over to see Dr Davis, I have heard so much about him and can't wait to finally meet him.

By the way, my husband's name is Luke so I smile every time I see your screen name :)

Take care xx

Kristin
(kriklo79@hotmail.com)

Just reading through the replies it is obvious that there are a number of opinions and fortunately options available. The successes and cautions are both comforting and informative and I wish everyone undergoing these procedures the best of luck.

I myself and 7 weeks and go for my first check-up next week. After my loss at 20 weeks this time I feel like I have already been pregnant for ever! Even though I try not to dwell time is morning soooo slowly!

Anyways, providing all is well I will be getting a suture at 12 weeks. Nothing is guaranteed but weighing up the risks I would rather take the risk of getting a suture and be closely monitored than wait. At 36 I don't feel I can afford not to do as much as I can to ensure a successful pregnancy.

As everything progresses I will update as I know I looked for this information myself when I came to this forum and no doubt others do too.

Melissa

Hi Melissa

Congratulations on your pregnancy and best of luck with getting a TVC. I'll be thinking of you :) And I'm sure your little angel will look over you as well.

You are so right, its great being able to read about other people's experiences and share our knowledge. Only then are we able to make the decision that is right for us, whether its choosing to get a Trans Vaginal Cerclage, Trans Abdominal Cerclage or none of them. Knowledge is power :)

Take care

Kristin
kriklo79@hotmail.com

*Pre-pregnancy TAC 28 August 2009*