18 week cerclage

Hi, I am new to this forum and find it very encouraging to read how you have been coping with difficult pregnancies and bed rest. I hope some of you might have some advice for my situation.

I had a rescue cerclage placed at nearly 19 weeks of my twin pregnancy, because a routine u/s found my cervix was funneled, and shortened to 1.3 cm, and dilated to 1.5 cm. The OB who did the surgery said he didn't expect me to make it but I'm now at just over 24 weeks. He seems very lax about the notion of bed rest, saying it doesn't make a difference. Luckily, my main OB with whom he shares a practice, is more conservative and has me on modified bed rest - getting up to use the bathroom, get something to eat, or move around the house briefly to keep the circulation going.

During all my weekly appointments, my cervix firmness and length have not changed, until today. The OB says my cervix is starting to thin. He says it could be weeks before I deliver, or it could happen a lot sooner. He won't give me steroid shots until I'm in labour, saying the shots would not be effective if labour doesn't happen for awhile. He just said to come back in a week and he will feel the firmness of my cervix again. (I have been getting u/s checks every 2 weeks but this only tells the unchanged cervical length... it can't tell whether the cervix is softening.)

I have a 5 year old son at home and have finally managed to line up some extra help. I am wondering.... has anybody been in a similar situation to this and made it to 28 weeks or beyond????

Thanks, and best of luck to all of you.

Erin

 

Well, I don't have a cerclage. However, it was found at my 28 week ultrasound that my cervix had shortened to 0.4 cm and I was dilated to 1 cm. I've been on strict bedrest since then, and am now 33 and a half weeks without any changes to my cervix as of my last ultrasound last week. Thursday marks the beginning of my 6th week of bedrest. Sometimes I can't believe I've even made it this far!

 

It's my understanding that for maximum effectiveness you need to have two round of steroid shots which are given 12 hours apart. The effectiveness lasts a while - like a couple of weeks? and it starts as soon as the first shot is given so even a few hours make a difference. I think that current practice is to give only 1 the one round (two injections). I'm sure others will chime in but I've heard that protein drinks help - I wish I had known that when I was pregnant!

 

Surrodoula, good for you for hanging in this long on bed rest! It must have been a scary time for you with your cervix so short. I hope you're doing well. Jocasta, your kids are so cute and I'm glad things worked out for you. Thanks to both of you for your responses.

I'm almost at 26 weeks and am looking forward to another u/s in a couple of days. So far, no signs of preterm labour and the cervix is still firm... but short. Just setting daily goals... then 27 weeks... and making it to 28 would be fantastic. Am lying around a lot, and find the laptop is a lifeline...

Good luck to everybody!

 

Goals like that are good. :good: I can tell you that I got the steroid shots at 24w and my DS was born almost 3 weeks after I got them and I really believe they still helped him. At 26w6d, he did not go on a vent at all!!

 

Amy, that's amazing your son did so well and didn't need a ventilator at that young age. My OB won't give me the steroid shots yet.

Your kids are so cute!

 

Erin, thank you for the compliments on my kids. :wub:

I am sorry your OB won't give you the steroid shots yet.

 

I would definitely rest a bit easier having the steroid shots, especially hearing about how effective they are.

Code:

 

Hi Erin,

I just saw your ticker showing you gave birth to your twins at almost 28w. How are they doing now? I hope all is well!
Your post was a real inspiration to me when I was scared out of my mind.

wishing you and your twinkies lots and lots of good luck

 

Hi Sabrina,

Thanks for your nice note. My babes are doing quite well - still in the NICU but progressing fine. They came off intubation almost immediately after birth (I was able to get both steroid shots in) and went on nose masks, then graduated to nose prongs. Evelyn took to my breast milk right away through gavage, Shane had a little trouble at first but is doing great with feeds now. Both had slight heart murmurs due to small openings in ducts in their hearts, but the docs were not concerned, and now those ducts have closed. Docs say they are doing very well for their gestational age. Hopefully they will be able to come home closer to their due date, late December. They are putting on weight and just need to graduate off oxygen in the next 6 weeks or so. Hard to believe I almost lost them at 18 weeks... and now they're here! I am so thankful.

How are you doing, and feeling? I really hope you go to term with your pregnancy, or as close to term as possible. You are now at viability, which is fantastic. I am pulling for you and your babes - just hang in there, and celebrate each day as an accomplishment! :Clap:

p.s. My ticker is a bit schizoid... I can't figure out how to edit the lower half.

 

I am so glad your babies are so doing well, I hope they can join your family at home before the holidays. If you don't mind me asking, what caused you to give birth when you did...because last I heard your cervix was still holding strong.

So far my cervix is closed and measuring 3cm for the past 6 weeks. It seems like DD loves to kick my cervix...it was scary watching that on the ultrasound :shok:

I'm a little disappointed with the growth scans though, both baies are only in the 30th percentile :cry: .

take care and the NICU subforum has a wealth of information there and seems like a very good resource. Congrats on your twins :woman:

 

Have you seen a maternal fetal medicine doctor? My MFM doctor said studies have showed complete bed rest definitely helps with twin pregnancies, but not with singletons. Lay down on your left side as often as possible to help with blood circulation to the babies. The more you lye down the less pressure will be on your cervix. Hang in there. I was just in the hospital (24weeks pregnant) with preterm contractions and a shortened cervix. I was given oral meds motrin and procardia to calm my uterus. We can do this! Hug

 

Thanks Sabrina. To answer your question, I have no idea why I went into labour when I did. I just didn't feel right one day - a little nauseated, and had what felt like one long menstrual cramp that occasionally got worse. I had a regular doc's appointment the next day and he said my cervix was a little forward and felt different, and that night I went into labour. It was stopped for a couple of days with Indocin, but after finishing a 48-hour course of that, the labour started again. Thank God I got the steroid shots on board in the meantime.

Sounds like you are doing great with your cervix measurement holding steady. Good for you. I absolutely believe bed rest is the single best thing to help hang onto your babies. It just makes sense.

So keep up the good work and hang in there!!

 

Erin,
:Clap: Congrats on your babies! I'm glad you were able to get the steroid shots. Please visit the NICU forum we have all BTDT and there is so much support those Ladies have to offer. Hang in there, I know the NICU is tough. :hug: