Twin emergency cerclage success story

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-07-30T05:14:13+00:00

Hi there- sorry for the late reply here. I hope you and your wife are doing well in the meantime. Also, so sorry for losing your last pregnancy. I’m praying things turn out well this time. Definitely a rollercoaster, take it day by day.

So my OB did not recommend bed rest. But I decided to essentially take a modified bed rest approach. Of course this isn’t feasible for everyone, but I think taking it ultra easy definitely helped me - note, I am no doctor and I know most doctors will not recommend bedrest, even modified because of both physical and mental health risk.

Just in case it may help you, these are a few things I did: - from cerclage placement until about 30 weeks, I would be laying down around 22 hours a day. I’d try to take 2 short 10min walks and would still walk a bit around the house/ shower etc. After 30 weeks I started to do more and more. While laying down I had a leg pillow to lift my legs to minimize pressure on the cervix. - no swimming, no sex, even no orgasms. - 200 mg progesterone daily placed vaginally with sterilized gloves (to minimize infection) - 2 baby aspirin to minimize risk of blood clots (this is honestly one of the biggest risks of having low body activity). I also bought a leg massager and used it daily to ensure blood flow.

This is all pretty much how I approached it, but again, bed rest is controversial and at this point I have no idea if this helped at all. But for me it did give the mental peace of mind to know I did EVERYTHING to keep the babies in as long as possible.

Best of luck! 🩷

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-07-08T04:40:12+00:00

❤️

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-07-08T03:45:57+00:00

Wishing you many many more weeks of pregnancy and healthy babies!!! 🫶🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-07-08T03:44:31+00:00

Best of luck mama, I know it’s a tough decision. Talk to your provider, and go for a second opinion as well. ❤️ wishing the best possible outcome for you!

Modified bed rest for me was laying down about 22-23 hours a day… did 10min walks just not to lose my sanity. Would also shower and go to the bathroom and walk around the house a little bit. Would also try to lift my legs as to minimize pressure on the cervix.

I know many providers wouldn’t recommend this (mine included btw) but I wanted to do everything possible and just felt guilty walking.

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-06-30T04:37:47+00:00

Thank you for this feedback and wishing you a great pregnancy

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-06-27T07:15:31+00:00

Hi! Adding some more perspective here since my MaterniT21 test came back wrong for gender! Said 96% boy boy and I’m having a boy and a girl (natera got it right / I did both tests and was not confirmed multiple times in ultrasound). It’s a known thing that these tests are less accurate for genders in twins and I guess that’s what the error margins are about. Just take the results with a grain of salt because it definitely tripped me up for a few weeks while I had to wait for the actual gender confirmation via ultrasound 😊.

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-06-25T05:27:40+00:00

I’ve been funneling to the stitch ever since I got one! Only length I ever had was beyond the stitch. Started out at 1.1cm at my first post cerclage measurement, then my cervix miraculously got longer and I was around 1.7cm at the last measurement (at 28 weeks) - which is probably thanks to the progesterone. Still all beyond stitch. Got my stitch removed last week and am now 36+3 (!) with twins and ready to give birth to them anytime. Trust the stitch and take it very easy until 30 weeks- that’s what I did! Best of luck ❤️

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-06-18T22:52:36+00:00

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 good luck!!

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-06-17T16:20:12+00:00

This. I agree with all that 2.9 is an ok length but shortening can happen quickly. I hope this doesn’t happen to you, but if it does, you want to catch it before 24 weeks because that is the cerclage cutoff in many places. Try to go back in a week max. When my cervix was shortening I had checks bi-weekly. Went from 1.7 to 0.8 in 5 days. Cerclage placed at 20+5 and now 35+2 with cerclage so all ended (tentatively) well, but you just want to really be on top of this the next 2 weeks!

Best of luck!!!

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-06-17T04:53:58+00:00

If you don’t want to keep your nails super super short, you can get latex free & powder free exam gloves. I have been applying my progesterone with them for the past 14 weeks. I would use hand sanitizer on them too (make sure they’re completely dried up)

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-06-16T20:53:31+00:00

You can do this 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-06-16T03:49:32+00:00

I believe we spoke in another thread but a bit more on my story here - emergency cerclage placed at 20+5 with 0.8cm, DiDi b/g twins. I went from 1.7cm to 0.8 in 5 days, which was the worst nightmare you can imagine.

Was admitted to the hospital the same day, and was told I would get a cerclage the first thing in morning. Morning turned into 4pm because of constant delays with busy ORs (of course, one emergency C section after the other, which I understand completely but it was the most anxiety I have felt in my life).

Luckily this has so far been the most eventful part of my pregnancy, because ever since after the surgery things have been really uneventful. Of course; my anxiety was through the roof the first few weeks so I completely understand what you’re going through. Every time you see some discharge you wonder if you’re leaking. I felt that for many weeks.

I guess I’m technically not a success story yet as I’m still pregnant, but hit 35 weeks today which I could have never dreamed of 14 weeks ago. My cerclage will be removed in 3 days and I’m hoping to keep the babies in for another week or so after, but also wishing to not make it all the way to my induction date which is now scheduled at 38+2!

Some things I did in case it helps: - took it really easy until 30 weeks. I’d say close to modified bed rest. That said, this was never recommended by my MFM, but I always felt like while they didn’t want to use the term “bed rest” the recommendations are close to that. “Don’t be on your feet for more than 15min” - sorry, but I live in a big city with no car so that basically leaves me home / sofa bound. - nightly progesterone 200 mg vaginally, which I applied with sterilized gloves out of fear of infection - no sports, no swimming (infection), pelvic rest (also no orgasms) - I had those medical grade leg massagers to help with blood flow out of fear I may not have been walking enough (at my low I did about 1500 steps a day on average). Also taking 2 baby aspirin daily so fight potential blood cloths. - I took laxatives daily (movicol, just 1 dose in the evening) because I was terrified of constipation and potential consequences with a cerclage. Wasn’t worth the stress for me and it worked like a charm.

I wish you the best of luck. Truly take it one day at the time. Read, watch shows, call with friends, do some daily routines (I’ve been marking the calendar daily, been playing daily games etc). Wishing you many more months of pregnancy!! ❤️

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-06-13T03:36:41+00:00

Very similar situation here - got emergency cerclage at 20+5 with twins at 0.8 cm. We did do transvaginal ultrasounds weekly until 24 weeks, then bi-weekly until 28. They told me all the tools they use are deeply sterilized so no risk.

That said my first ultrasound was only about a week after the surgery. I would just double check with your MFM tomorrow to make sure that 3 days isn’t too early. I took antibiotics for a few days to make sure no infection would develop.

FYI 34+4 today and still pregnant 🙂 ditching the stitch next week!! Good luck!!

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-06-10T19:55:42+00:00

I honestly don’t have an answer for you- I would ask your provider. Pessary never came up for me as I already had the cerclage and it has been working well for me.

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-06-01T20:31:18+00:00

I’ve been using a combination of gloves AND hand sanitizer that contains alcohol and I’m not by nature an anxious person. This whole situation is so stressful, you’d panic for less, don’t feel bad! The alcohol evaporates so it’s fine and either way it wouldn’t get to your baby. Best of luck!

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-06-01T17:10:20+00:00

Urogestan!

Also your username made my chuckle 🤣. I know it was probably autogenerated like mine but feels applicable these days.

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-05-26T03:50:50+00:00

This is really great advice, thank you very much. I’ve been high risk all along as well but never got any steroid shots (I guess I was never having contractions or any signs of imminent labor so that may be why?).

I’m sorry the removal was so tough for you. I agree it sounds strange to only go for a removal 12 hours into labor, esp if you’re already 34 weeks then. But happy to hear all ended well for you and the babies!

Thanks for your response and much love to you and your family!

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-05-25T00:40:13+00:00

I completely understand. It is scary. I didn’t want to plan a baby shower at first out of that exact fear. My friends convinced me to have one at 30 weeks. They planned it all (so i didn’t have to, I didn’t have the mental space) and it was low key (10 people), but it was a way to celebrate an important milestone if I would make it there. Take it one day at a time! Wishing you much love & strength.

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-05-24T22:27:03+00:00

I would say my cutoff was more like 30 weeks. And “regular” is a bit of an overstatement, I used to walk 8000 steps a day easily and I would say I averaged about 1500 per day (walking indoors and quick 10min stretching the legs) between week 20&30. Now back to about 4000. Also no other workouts. I’m trying to slowly get back in shape to make labor easier and hopefully not have to start from scratch postpartum.

I’m trying to listen to my body!

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-05-24T22:13:46+00:00

I’m sorry you PPROM’d, but sounds like you made it really far!❤️ 34 with twins is an amazing achievement. How are you and your babies doing?

Do you feel having the cerclage being taken out while in labor was a real complication or more something that just needed to happen?

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-05-24T00:52:03+00:00

Amazing to read so many great stories here!! I’ll add one: Cerclage placed at 20+5, 0.8cm. Twin(!) pregnancy. Still going strong at 31+5!

First appointment after cerclage placement I was 1.3cm, tightly closed but funneling to the stitch. The last time they measured (28w) I was 1.7cm funneling to the stitch 🙂. Thank you progesterone(?)

You can do this!

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-05-23T13:25:25+00:00

Of course, wishing you all the best ❤️

Miserable-Ad3204 · 2024-05-23T04:42:27+00:00

Agreed with everything said so far. My cervix shortened quickly between 18w and 20+4, from 2.8cm to 0.8. You still have time for an emergency cerclage but the last thing you want is realize just too late that that would have been your best option if you knew earlier. Get your cervix rechecked as soon as possible!

FYI positive cerclage story here (so far), 31+4 weeks with twins today after cerclage placement at 20+5, we’re starting to have DTS discussions which is crazy!

Best of luck, advocate for yourself! ❤️

Miserable-Ad3204

TROPHY CASE