[Vegarchist]

Hi! Just wanted to introduce myself! We are due 2/06/06. Last pregnancy I was diagnosed with an "incompetant cervix"

: What jack*ss thought up that name? I like "dynamic cervix" better.

Anyway, I had planned a homebirth and doctors were in no way part of the equation. But for some reason, I was having a really hard time accepting that I was really pregnant. Against the advice of my mw, I sought out an ultrasound. All was well and come back @ 24 weeks. I was not going to go back as I had my proof and that was enough. Anything else felt like spying.

But when 24 weeks rolled around, I felt like I should go back. Everyone tried to talk me out of it, dh, mw, bf... But something told me to go. So I did and they saw that my cervix was effacing. I was put on immediate bedrest, referred to specialists, dropped out of school, quit my job, the whole bit.

At 27 weeks I started dilating and was checked into the hospital. Ay 31 weeks they sent me home. That night, my water broke so back to the hospital we go. Ds stayed one more week and was born vaginally into dh's hands weighing 3lbs 13oz.

I pumped for ds every 3 hours. I had so much milk I was feeding two other babies. We tried to be there with ds for every feeding (ie, every three hours) so I could "nuzzle nurse" him and do kangaroo care. After we both almost literally collapsed from exhaustion (especially after being in bed for 2 months), we realized that this was not a reasonable plan.

I started skipping one pumping session a night to sleep. But with the pumping, labeling, storing the milk and cleaning, sanitizing of the pump, this did not leave much time for sleeping or getting to and from the hospital. We spent another 4 weeks in the NICU.

When he came home I was waking him every three hours to eat and try to nurse and so I could pump for him. It was Hell! Even when he finally started nursing I was so "addicted" to the pump it took me weeks to get my supply down. I would practically drown ds and he'd wake up soaked with milk.

Eventually we leveled off into a beautiful nursing relationship and live happily ever after.

Now, I am pregnant again and "they say" it will probably happen again. They want me to get my cervix sewn shut (!) which I am NOT willing to do. I am so afraid of losing the baby, going on bedrest with a toddler to care for, having to stay at the NICU. How am I ever going to relax and have a good pregnancy and be a good mama to ds?

Sorry so long, thanks for reading and letting me get that out.

 

[Erin+babyAndrew]

I'm sorry to hear you had a difficult time with your previous pregnancy. A suture in the cervix is not a big deal, and if it were me I would do it in a heartbeat to increase the chances of a full term baby. They remove the suture at about 38 weeks and then labor will progress as normal.

 

[Vegarchist]

Thanks for your support, Erin, but I have to disagree that a cerclage is "not a big deal"! Have you checked this out?

Cerclage
Here's the study:

Study

 

[LaLaLuna]

Jeez, Vegarchist; i don't blame you for being nervous about the second time around- I was on bedrest for just a couple weeks with ds2 and it was very difficult (maybe more so for me than for ds1, heh.)

Seems like you're in the unenviable position of having to weigh risk and benefit- NOT the sort of thing you want to have to do in your pregnancy
:cry

Can I ask who "they" are? Who are you using for an OB? (I'm in Eugene too- hi neighbor!

) Maybe it would be useful to go get a second and third opinion; maybe giving your history and adding that the latest studies from ACOG suggest that cerclage is not recommended so what do they suggest as an alternative, given your previous experience?

When I had to go on bedrest, my midwife really went to bat for me and helped me find care and playdates for my toddler- it was the longest he and I had ever been apart and it was really hard but I do have to say in retrospect that it was the best thing that could have happened because it gave him a "pre-baby" chance to reach outside his (and mine!) comfort zone to get accustomed to a wider world before he had to be jealous of a baby brother. It wasn't nearly as traumatic as I had imagined it would be. For what that's worth.

Anyhow- hugs to you, mama- let me know if I can help, ok?

 

[Vegarchist]

LaLaLuna, I was seeing perinatologists Dr. Katz and Dr. Balderston. They are partners and trade days. I really like and respect them both, and that is saying something as I am very skeptical of doctors! I have a great midwife (Joni D.)! She went to the specialists with us and helped decipher any jargon they threw at us, but they were very repectful of our choices. Unfortunately she is on vacationm for mw'ing.

I haven't been to see the doctors yet, have an appointment next friday. But i know that cerclage is what they are going to say, we talked about it after ds was born. But that was before I read that study. I plan on having it in my hand when I go in.

I might have been able to be talked into it if I hadn't read that study. Dr. B. is "famous" for being one of the only drs. able to do some sort of special type of cerclage, so you know he is going to be all about it. I am waiting to see if they want to take me on for my OB care. They have a CNMW in the office for that sort of thing. I am definately open to second opinion if I feel that I am not getting what I need from these guys, but I really trust them. When I say "No cerclage," they are not going to try and insist or talk me into it or anything.

If I have to get a regular OB, I think I will call Jon Stafl (sp?) as all the semi-crunchies/not quite wanting a homebirth mamas I know go to him and love him.

Who was your midwife? You said you were on bedrest, was it something she recommended? Glad to talk to a neighbor! Thanks for the support.

 

[lilgsmommy]

I have a very incompetent cervix. I will be getting a cerclage as soon as I hit 10 weeks. I have lost 7 babies, most of them due to my cervix. Whatever decision you make, we will all be here for you! Hope you have a happy and healthy 9 months!!

 

[Heavenly]

I don't quite understand your decision not to get a cerclage. I read the study you posted and it doesn't seem to present any major risks. One study stating that it doesn't necessarily help does not negate the countless stories of women who lost baby after baby and then finally got one and carried to term. What you do is up to you but I would look into a bit more before discarding the idea.

 

[LaLaLuna]

Hey Vegarchist- I have a bout 2 seconds before I have to run off to work so this will be brief and disjointed

Dr. Katz has a great reputation around here- he basically kept my severely endometrial friend going long enough to carry a baby to term (yay!) I don't kjnow anything about Dr. B.

I'd go to jan Stafl in a hot minute- he assisted me giving birth to ds1 and his part of the whole deal was positive in the extreme (vaginal breech.) I went with a mw 2nd time around because the hospital experience in general was extremely negative, esp. as I wouldn't give permission for anyone to stick needles in my newborn. Jill Cohen was the mw; she was great. I was on bedrest for PIH- she used Jan as a backup in that case but Orion was born at home, in water, with no further complications.

I will ask around at work to see if there are any other perionatologists whose opinions would be worth having and get back to you-

 

[Vegarchist]

Heavenly, the idea of having my child sewn in is pretty freaking scary to me as well as the higher risks of infection requiring hopitalization and anti-biotics, increased risk of tocolytics, prolonged labor (which can be very dangerous to a preemie when the stupid thing doesn't work). There is also this:

"The main issues regarding the use of cervical cerclage include whether it should be offered at all; if so, to whom; and when and how the stitch should be inserted."

I do not fuly trust Western medicine. I have issues with being a guinea pig for this or any procedure. And I would be very interested to see the number of women who carry to term paired with the number of women with cerclages who don't. I guess that's what the study was about.

I did not write this post to defend my postion on not wanting to get my cervix sewn closed. I know I said I am not willing to do it, but I will change my mind about a million times probably before dinner (as a pregnant person, I am sure you can relate). But I am not dismissing the idea outright. Of course I am open to everything. But I am not going to overlook ANYTHING in my decision making process. I will show up at the doctors with this study in my hand and we will talk about the risks together. After talking with my midwife and my partner, we will make this decision together.

It is also hard to agree to this when I can look at my perfectly healthy 17 mo baby and think, "Well, I did it last time with no stitch." It is scary how time makes you forget what you had to go through to get there. Also, having not lost any babies gives me what my midwife calls a "very unique and priveledged perspective" on the whole notion.

In the end I know my intuition will tell me the right thing to do.

Sorry if I am all over the place, I am sick and tired and so emotional. Thanks for hearing me.

s

 

[Vegarchist]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilgsmommy I have a very incompetent cervix. I will be getting a cerclage as soon as I hit 10 weeks. I have lost 7 babies, most of them due to my cervix. Whatever decision you make, we will all be here for you! Hope you have a happy and healthy 9 months!!

, Mama. Did you have a cerclage with your son? I would be interested in how it went/goes as I am very nervous about the whole idea. Who thought of that stupid name anyway! Why can't it be "cervix with it's own agenda?"

 

[mama2gracie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegarchist Why can't it be "cervix with it's own agenda?"

:LOL that sounds like a better name to me!

a friend of mine has incompetent cervix and went into labor at 20 weeks and lost her baby. she had cerclage with the second and was put on strict bedrest and he was born full term.

she knows that there is no research stating that getting a cerclage OR being a bedrest prevents premature birth. but she says (in not so many words), "my first baby died and my second lived." that's enough proof for her.

you sound like you will research every angle and get all the info you can. i have no doubt you will make an informed decision.

to you. what a difficult place to be...

 

[DecemberSun]

I am nervous about my pregnancy too. I had PTL and 7 weeks of bed rest, and my son was born at 36 weeks. I think I had PTL because my uterus is tilted to the left. I am afraid that if I start contracting this time, my cervix will dilate because it "knows what to do" this time around... I have a 2.5 yr old, and two foster daughters (one with lots of medical issues), so I will not have the opportunity to rest as much as last time. So I am entering this pregnancy with caution and a little anxiety about what is to come...

It does sound like you have, and will continue to get, great info regarding all the options available to you. I have a feeling (don't ask me why) that you'll get through this without a cerclage, just bedrest and takin' it easy... I am confident that I will make it through this pregnancy without having to go to the hospital every other week for meds to stop my contractions. Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but it can't hurt!!!

Please keep us posted!