New here - external os open to fingertip at 12w2d and shortened cervix

[Mariko]

Hello! Am new here and newly diagnosed with probable IC. Have had PTL in both of my past pregnancies but ended up delivering at term following months of bedrest and extensive medical intervention (Fenoterol, Adalat, Tractocile, Prepar - not sure if any of these meds are being used in the US, though Fenoterol is similar to Terbutalin and Prepar is another name for Ritodrine; personally, the ones that worked best for me were Adalat (nifidipine) and Tractocile (don't remember the generic name but is an oxytocine receptor blocker -- very expensive one and they only use it here in a real emergency). Now am at 12 weeks of my 3rd pg and to my great surprise found out on Monday that my external os is open to fingertip (it was closed 5 weeks ago when I had my last internal exam, and in my last pregnancy my cervix started to change at 24 weeks) and the cervix is "short" (how short, I don't know - my peri will do an US on Monday to see; I know from the past I have structurally a relatively short cervix). Given my history and other high risk factors in this pg, my peri is not taking any chances and wants to do a preventive cerclage this week. Now am on bedrest (bathroom/shower/meals privileges) and progesterone until the cerclage. Am curious about the cerclage since never had one before, and would be interested to hear others' experiences: what were you allowed to do afterwards and what not? My peri said something about partial bedrest, but what does that mean in practice? Anyone still working after their cerclage (I have a desk job even if a very stressful one)? Sorry for the long post, hopefully someone will have the stamina to wade it through...

[bellastar]

I don't know how helpful my story will be since I really think I am one of the few that has such a pain in the butt cervix. My history includes a shortening cervix with my prior preg (triplets) at 22 weeks. I had them at 23w6d with no survivors. This time I became preg with a singleton and choose a preventive cerclage at around 14 weeks when I had a cl of 3.5. Well a week later it was down to 2.5 and opened around the stitch with pressure. 2 weeks later it was around 1 and I was 2 cm dilated. Then I went in for a second emergency cerclage and short hospital stay. I was placed on IV antibiotics since I was already dilated and also placed on nifedipine 60mg 2x a day (which I am still on 11 weeks later). I have had several minor vaginal infections since treated with oral antibiotics, but that is it. I am now 27 weeks. I have also been on STRICT (no sitting) bedrest since my cerclages.

"Normally" I think up to week of bedrest is normal for a cerclage,then normal activity can be resumed. Since your cervix is already opening,make sure to get some form of antibiotics and something to quiet your uterus since messing with the cervix can cause PTL. You should have a followup appt about a week after the procedure.

As for the procedure itself, you will either get a epidural or light general anesthsia. Afterwards it is just a little crampy, maybe a bit worse than menstrual cramps.

If you have any other questions...please let me know.

Rachel

[alynn]

I just had a cerclage put in. I had a twin loss at 23.5 weeks. I am pregnant again with a singleton. For me the choice of getting a cerclage was never an option. I had it done a few weeks ago at 14 weeks. I am not on bed rest yet but being closely monitored. I am hoping that the stitch will prevent a cervical issue. I am at 2 cm now and still puttering along. I hope that you are doing ok, hang in there..

[sj4775]

I had my first cerclage placed on Sept 30. DH and I had a 20wk loss last year. Unfortunately, we were never really able to get an answer on the cause. (At our 20 week u/s we were told that I was dilated and my membranes were bulging, sent home, and ended up less than an hour later in L&D after my water broke.) We have since moved to a different part of the country and my OB essentially said they would not follow me in any pregnancy because of our loss. We have been seeing perinatalogy since week 10. She chose to put in a cerclage since that would address one possible cause of our loss (IC). She used a spinal anesthetic (she said safest for the baby because it never actually reached the baby) and a mild general anesthetic (to calm me down...I was awake just relaxed). They checked baby's HR before and after the procedure. I would have to be honest in saying that for me it was one of the most uncomfortable procedures I have ever had done. I had a lot of cramping, more than just menstrual type, that lasted for about 24 hours. I found it uncomfortable to lie down and actually slept in a recliner type chair the first night. It was much better the next day and continued to get better from then on. I was never on any kind of official bed rest, just told to take at least three days off from work (I have a very physical job). I found that if I was up walking or standing for any amount of time I was very uncomfortable. She did say pelvic rest for two weeks.

I think it is important to note that I did not have any cervical shortening at the time of the cerclage. Your doc may have different recommendations for you after surgery since you do. Also, everyone has a different pain tolerance and reacts different to surgery. I just want you to be prepared in case it is more like my experience and less like what the doc told me to expect

[Mariko]

I heard this was the best site around for this type of problem but now I am truly impressed to have got so many useful answers in one day ; I have tried looking for a European website (am from Europe and live here now though lived for many yrs in Canada and am married to a Canadian) but can't find one where ppl have actually much experience with IC or cerclage...

Am so sorry to hear about your losses. I guess I must count myself lucky to have been seeing a high risk peri - and a very conservative one at that - from the start (I have a history of secondary hypertension and have a stent in a major artery which means I have to take blood thinning meds throughout the pg; there are very few experiences of women with stents being pg, hence the peri and also because of my history of PTL).

A bit worried about the cramping some of you mentioned: I have a hyper-irritable uterus and even after each internal exam it takes me 2-5 days to stop contracting, so I can only imagine that once they "mess" with my cervix a bit more, it will be bad, a bit like yours sj4775...

Thanks again and I wish all of you best of luck as well!