Pregnancy after Stillbirth Community Group
Coping with pregnancy after stillbirth
I had my level 2 u/s today and the baby looks great. It's definitely a boy and all the parts are there. He's actually growing a little big, but he's perfect otherwise.
Ofcourse nothing can be perfect though; my cervix is funneling and I'm only 21wks! I had no clue what that meant before today, I had heard of incompetent cervix but not "funneling". MFM doc said that my cervix is only 2cm (I think) when it shoiuld be 4 so that's not good when compared to an u/s I had 3wks ago that showed my cervix completely normal. So in just 3 wks it has opened half way from the baby's side, it's still closed from the vaginal side though. My OB called me and said that I will most likely need a cerclage so I'm going in tomorrow morining to talk to her about it. For now I'm on strict bed rest.
I knew something was wrong because I've been having contractions since week 17 and I have a lot of pressure in my pelvic area constantly. My OB said I had to wait until 20wks to take any meds to stop the contractions so I'm sure she'll put me on those too. I am really scared, I know that the NICU will not accept babies before 24wks gestation so I'm praying hard that it doesn't come to that.
Has anyone ever had this problem or know of anyone who has had it? I don't think I'll sleep much tonight, hopefully I will feel better after my apt tomorrow. Thank for listening, I really needed to share this with you ladies.
Ofcourse nothing can be perfect though; my cervix is funneling and I'm only 21wks! I had no clue what that meant before today, I had heard of incompetent cervix but not "funneling". MFM doc said that my cervix is only 2cm (I think) when it shoiuld be 4 so that's not good when compared to an u/s I had 3wks ago that showed my cervix completely normal. So in just 3 wks it has opened half way from the baby's side, it's still closed from the vaginal side though. My OB called me and said that I will most likely need a cerclage so I'm going in tomorrow morining to talk to her about it. For now I'm on strict bed rest.
I knew something was wrong because I've been having contractions since week 17 and I have a lot of pressure in my pelvic area constantly. My OB said I had to wait until 20wks to take any meds to stop the contractions so I'm sure she'll put me on those too. I am really scared, I know that the NICU will not accept babies before 24wks gestation so I'm praying hard that it doesn't come to that.
Has anyone ever had this problem or know of anyone who has had it? I don't think I'll sleep much tonight, hopefully I will feel better after my apt tomorrow. Thank for listening, I really needed to share this with you ladies.
I'm worried about this with my two. I'm thinking that I need to go in for an extra ultrasound to check what's happening with my cervix. My next appt isn't until the end of this month, and it worries me that it can happen so quickly.
You just need to get to that 24 week mark, and they'll give you steroid shots to mature his lungs (that's if the funneling doesn't ease up - which it probably will, especially if you have the cerclage in.) You only have three weeks to make it to the 24 week mark. Stay in bed and off your feet as much as you possibly can. Do you know when they're going to give you the Cerclage?
Thinking about you. Hugs, Sam.
Good luck, keep us posted!
Ill Keep you in my thought and prayers.
This girl in my support group was pregnant with twin boys and right around Thanksgiving her docs put her on bed rest because they said her cervix was funneling. She was right around 25 weeks or so. Her induction was scheduled for 2/28 but when she went for a regular OB visit on the 17th they found that one of the boys hadn't grown in 3 weeks because of some restricted blood flow to his cord. So they admitted her and when they checked her cervix that night she was already dilated 2-3 cm. so decided to go ahead and do the c-section then. Only reason she was having a c-section in the first place is because the practice she was going to does c-sections for ALL multiple births; it had nothing to do with the funneling. Both her boys were over 5 1/2 lbs. and were perfect.
No she didn't have the cerclage, but it seems that the strict bed rest she was on (and I mean STRICT because she was only allowed to get up once an hour to use the restroom) prevented the situation from getting any worse. And remember she only ended up having them early because of the baby's weight, nothing to do with her cervix.
I hope that is a bit encouraging to you and that everything goes okay with your procedure this morning. I wish I could just tell you to not be scared and think positive but I know it doesn't work that way. I'll be thinking of you and hope that you'll update us when you can, but ONLY if you can do that from bed cause none of us want you sitting at a desk in these times.
Lots of Love,
Eboni
I am relieved that it will be done tomorrow but I am also really scared! First of all my OB explained the risks of having the cerclage. The one that really scares me is that the cerclage itself can send me into preterm labor right away and the baby is too young to survive right now. She said if that happens I will stay in the hospital and get some meds until/and if labor is controlled. She said that it happened to her at 21wks and had to spen weeks in the hospital but in the end delivered a beautiful, healthy baby boy at 36wks.
So for now the goal is to get me to at least 27wks, and if we get there, then to 34wks and all should be ok after that. In the meanwhile I will be getting steroid injections once I reach 24wks to mature the baby's lungs just in case. I am on strict bed rest for the next 12wks so I will not be able to return to work. I am trying to stay positive and hoping for the best possible outcome.
I will keep you all posted and thanks for being here for me.
Amanda
Now I just ahve to pray, stay in bed, and make it to at least 24 weeks. I will be getting weekly injections to prevent preterm labor to help me keep this bun in the oven longer.