In need of lots of hair pats & Ts&Ps

[duskymonkey]

Hi Guise! I just got home from my appt with MFM today and I have to get an emergency cerclage first thing tomorrow am. I think she wanted me to get one today itself but i needed to get an epi for it and had just eaten lunch. I am a total wreck now. I am basically 1cm dialated. I was given a few choices and after quizzing the Dr. she recommeded cerclage as the only viable option to buy as much time as possible but due to cervix being so short and open, there is a high risk that my water could break ???  during surgery and well i do not want to even think about it. I never though and neither did my OB think would even occur since I had 0 issues with DS. We were really worried about my fibroids deteriorating and other common stuff which could all still happen. This just sucks! On the bright side, babe seems to be doing fine. He just needs to stay in there for as long as possible. SaveSave

[riverraine]

Sending lots of support and vibes for baby to stay put as long as possible! I don't know much about cerclage except from what others here have posted, does that mean you'll be on bed rest too? That is obviously not ideal at all but it sounds like the best option to keep baby inside. Will be thinking about you tomorrow!

[duskymonkey]

I think with my situation, it would be highly recommended but definitely after surgery for a week until my follow up next Monday or Tuesday to see if how it's holding up my cervix. Still waiting for a call back to schedule an appt. for that. I know not much about it too so i am googling my fingers off right now. I think we have a few here that had to have one put in? I cant remember who though.

[rebeccabunch]

Dusky, what a day! I'm so so sorry for the unexpected news. I'd be encouraged that MFM had a plan. Taitai may have some encouraging words for you too.

We used to have someone on TCF with a cerclage, @carsaidyes maybe?

Crossing everything for you! It's good they discovered the situation now.

[arimaythea]

Thoughts and prayers for your procedure to go smoothly tomorrow and for baby to keep cooking to term!

[curmudgeon]

Keeping you in my thoughts & prayers for a smooth surgery and no water breaking!

[rebeccabunch]

duskymonkey I forgot, how far along are you?

[danvers]

I'll be keeping you in my thoughts tonight and into tomorrow! Rest, stay off your feet, we're all here if you need us!

[thecatsmeow]

Hugs, hair pats, and all the good thoughts coming your way.
Totally anecdotal, but I was 1 cm with a visible sac at 24 weeks with DS and I was still 1 cm at 39w5d, so a term baby is still possible. I just kept counting the days and thinking "every day baby is growing, every day inside helps". I will be thinking of you tomorrow and praying everything goes smoothly.

[CoachTsWife]

Sending lots of T&Ps duskymonkey! I'm so sorry, but glad babe is looking good. Please keep us posted!

[cougarette]

I'm thinking good thoughts.

[blackmamba]

Thinking of you and sending positive thoughts.


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[trinitrotoluene]

Thinking of you! I hope everything goes super smoothly for you!

[Taitai]

I just saw this - I am so sorry for the news you received duskymonkey. I will be thinking and praying for the emergency cerclage surgery to go smoothly tomorrow. Has your MFM mentioned a pessary as well? It provides additional support to the uterus, and I have heard of both being used for I/C.

Also, I would ask about them getting you on progesterone to help stave off PTL. Suppositories or weekly shots are the most common.

Finally, I know my MFM would order bedrest for the remainder of the pregnancy - esp as you are already 1cm dialated. Feet up, lots of water, just getting up to use the restroom and sitting on a bench when you take a shower. It's a pain (esp with a toddler) but I believe it is worth it to keep your baby cooking as long as possible. You mentioned your parents live with you - perhaps you could lean on them for child support/care during this time?

Again, So sorry to see this news. Please update us with how the cerclage goes. I have everything crossed for you.

[duskymonkey]

Appreciate all the hair pats guys! Means a lot. Times like these I wish we had family close by.
rebeccabunch, I am 23 wks along so right at the cusp of where they'd consider a cerclage.

[duskymonkey]

thecatsmeow, thank you for your reassurance. Hopefully I'll have the same outcome As you.

[Taitai]

Also - I have a happy anecdote for you! One of my friends ended up being dilated 2cm at 22 or 24 weeks. They put in an emergency cerclage and she went on bedrest until 35 weeks. At 35 weeks, she went off bedrest and went into labor within a few days. Baby was born healthy and with no problems! I think they were in the NICU for just 10 days, simply because 35 weeks is a bit early, but they all got released and now you would have no idea her little girl was pre-term. Just wanted to share a positive story with you before tomorrow.

[duskymonkey]

Taitai , thank you for being so reassuring especially coming from you. I just saw your post on HR check in. You've got a lot more going on and worry than me! So I shouldn't complain much. We can count the weeks together. Yes my parents live with me. My dad is back home now but will be returning in Sept. my mom has been watching DS for us when i am at work. She is a great help and so thankful for her but she tires easily and DS is now At a point where he's just too active for her and has a hard time keeping up with him. She's in her mid 70s and too much to ask off her.i feel bad already. DS will be going to school PT in August so that will ease her a little but she's actually going home for a month so if i'd have to be on strict bed rest we'll have to get a sitter or something. MFM did mention progesterone supps. And I did my homework this afternoon calling all pharmacies to check who stocked up white pills! My usual pharm just changed to red pills! WTF! Anyways I am cool with either. I actually still have PIO and all the accoutrement from a failed FT a couple yrs ago which ironically was found no to drop off at my RE after my appt. but decided to just come straight back home.

[Taitai]

I totally understand about the childcare/aging parents situation - esp with an active toddler. We have a nanny/helper to watch DS during the day (she also prepares snacks for me and does housework while DS is napping or at nursery school) which has been essential. I don't know what we would do without her. I wish I could do more, but I have to remind myself that my priority right now is to keep this baby cooking as long as possible.

I took a pic of the suppositories I'm on. I was also on weekly compounded P17 shots, but we stopped those last week as too much progesterone later in pregnancy can cause gestational diabetes. I don't live in the states, so not sure if they have these where you are, but they've worked well for me. Your MFM will know what is best for you. Good luck tomorrow!

[duskymonkey]

Taitai, thanks for the progesterone brand pic. As you know there are generics and brands here and dealing with IVF for several yrs I am accustomed to all hormone related drug usage so if they prescribe the pessary i am certain I'll be getting the usual so I found a pharma that has white pills this afternoon 💪.
Also I was wondering since you are an expat and don't have family too. Glad you have a helper you can trust. Not sure where is SEA you are but help is much easier to come by back home - I am from M'sia btw 🤗

[Taitai]

Yeah - getting help here in Thailand is so much easier than in the states. I think if we were back in the U.S., we'd just get a part-time nanny for when DS isn't in school. DH would have to do more housework....which I'm sure would be a disaster since he hates cleaning. Hard to be across the ocean from our families, but the expat lifestyle has its perks too.

[Taitai]

One more quick thing - just to clarify - a pessary is a plastic device (not a medication) that the doctors could insert inside the dilated cervix, which can stave off PTL. It is common in the USA for twin pregnancies where the cervix is shortened/funneling, and it is actually more popular than cerclage for singletons or multiples where I live. My MFMs have told me a pessary could be used if a cerclage doesn't take. You might want to ask about it when you see your MFM.

Finally - I would also not be too worried about the leftover meds from your RE. I also have gone through IVF, and the hormones used in IVF and during the beginning of a pregnancy are not suitable for use later in pregnancy to prevent PTL. So in the case of PIO - your doctors will not have you use that now. Instead, it would be compounded P17 or this really expensive brand name drug they have in the U.S. now (I forget the name). Those are different from PIO chemically. Same goes for crinone suppository gel - I used it in IVF, but my MFM said it will not protect me from PTL (so that's why I am on the other suppository now). Just letting you know - so you don't feel like you are "wasting" the stuff you already have on hand from the RE.

You are in good hands and I am sure the MFM will take care of you - positive thoughts and deep breaths!

[thatgirlrachel]

I am just now seeing this, but I'm wishing you all the hugs and T&Ps duskymonkey. I hope your procedure goes smoothly this morning and baby stays cooking as long as possible. Looking forward to a positive update from you later today!


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[thatgirlrachel]

For those of you who have experienced this and/or had friends experience it, how was it discovered? Does your doctor do cervical exams this early or were there other signs that prompted them to check?


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[mkrupar]

duskymonkey sending you successful cerclage vibes. I hope all goes well today!

[mommabakes]

Hugs and prayers duskymonkey !

[rebeccabunch]

We are thinking about you today duskymonkey! We are all here for you.

[Taitai]

Jun 14, 2017 4:32:44 GMT -6 thatgirlrachel said:

For those of you who have experienced this and/or had friends experience it, how was it discovered? Does your doctor do cervical exams this early or were there other signs that prompted them to check?


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For my friend who had it, she was already seeing an MFM, because her prior pregnancies had been high risk. So I think she was getting transvaginal ultrasounds every other week, which is the most accurate way to measure cervical length. If you aren't high risk and they are not measuring you regularly, your OB probably would order a transvaginal ultrasound to check the crevix length if you reported symptoms associates with PTL (painful and long contractions, bleeding, suspected amniotic fluid leakage) - or if you had a strong family history of PTL. There might be other reasons to check before the 36/37 week mark, but I'm not sure what those would be.

[thecatsmeow]

Jun 14, 2017 4:32:44 GMT -6 thatgirlrachel said:

For those of you who have experienced this and/or had friends experience it, how was it discovered? Does your doctor do cervical exams this early or were there other signs that prompted them to check?


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I had no signs whatsoever. I had to go back in for an ultrasound to redo nose/lip views and DS was head down, so while the tech was trying to get the views needed she noticed my extremely short cervix. I had some small contractions that night - showed on monitor, but I hardly noticed them- otherwise nothing. They were watching for/asking about the symptoms taitai mentioned.

[codex320]

duskymonkey, I'll be thinking of you today! Hope everything goes smoothly.