Week 17 was challenging, by God's grace and mercy we made it through. I had my regular scheduled two week ultrasound to check on baby and to measure my cervical length. At week 14 my cervix was measuring at 3.0-3.5cm which is normal range during pregnancy. At my week 17 ultrasound on last Tuesday, I measured between 2.0-2.5cm. So, my cervix had started to shorten. Whenever you aren't at 24 weeks gestation and your cervix is below 1.5cm the OB recommends a cerclage or cervical stitch. Since I was close to that marker and only at 17 weeks along, the OB suggested I see a Maternal fetal Medicine specialist as soon as possible.
On Thursday, I was anxious because I hadn't heard from my doctors about a referral to the specialist. I was also feeling pressure down there which was abnormal. No contractions just pressure. We called the doctor and they told us to come to the hospital to get checked out. They performed another ultrasound and it shown my baby boy was breech with legs down jumping on my lady parts. This is why I was feeling pressure. I left the hospital reassured that I would see the specialist the next day.
Friday, I went to see the specialist and they conducted another ultrasound. Nothing had changed from a few days prior. I was still measuring around 2.0-2.5cm and my cervix was starting to funnel, meaning it was opening from the top of the cervix. The specialist recommended based on my 2nd trimester miscarriage last year at 18 weeks, that they aggressively proceed with a cervical stitch or a cerclage. He called my OB and told him his recommendations. My OB called me and said my out patient surgery was scheduled for Sunday.
Sunday morning my husband and I got up and headed to the hospital. I didn't know what to expect, but I was prepared to walk out still pregnant with a growing healthy baby inside of me. We checked in and went to the outpatient surgery pre op area. The nurses gave me garments and socks and gave me an IV. I put on the hair net and waited for the Anesthesiologist to come in to discuss options. He said since I was into my second trimester I was able to be put to sleep under general anesthesia and it wouldn't harm the baby. Typically they would recommend a spinal block like an epidural for those in their first trimester, and you would be awake for the procedure. I chose to get put to sleep by general anesthesia because I didn't want the thought of them messing with my lady parts to keep me up at night. My OB also came in to tell me what they were going to do. He said he was going to do a McDonald stitch where they sew the cervix up like a purse and he would place a button there to hold it in place for the duration of my pregnancy. He will remove the stitch during my c section at 37 weeks.
The procedure was fast all I remember was being wheeled into the OR and them asking me to slide onto the operating table. Next thing I knew they were waking me up and covering me with warm blankets. I felt pressure down there and had a sore lip from the tube that was in my mouth during surgery.
After which the nurses went to get my mom and Brandon to meet me in the post op area. Yes, my mom drove 5 hours from Va early Sunday morning and arrived to the hospital right in time before they wheeled me off to the OR. The OB went out after the surgery to discuss how it went with Brandon and my mom and the nurses went through discharge information with them as I was still waking up. About 30 minutes after my procedure I was discharged to go home. I was to take it easy for the next week and have a follow up with my OB and the specialist at the end of the week.
A whole lot changed between week 16 and 17, but I'm grateful that the doctors made the right call about me getting a cerclage. Getting a cerclage has many risks like infection and it may not hold in place with could lead to bed rest in the future. What I don't want to experience again is pre term labor at 18 weeks along, and this cerclage is giving me a chance to carry full term. I'm blessed to know my baby boy has another day in my womb to grow and that he will have a chance of life outside of me in September.
How far along? 17 weeks 4 days
Total weight gain/measurements: 1lb this week, 9 lbs total
Maternity clothes: Yes, I’m wearing my Bella band from Target.
Stretch marks: None new
Sleep: 8-9 hours. The preggo pillow has been used this week and it's the most comfortable sleep ever. No more sleeping on my back!
Best moment this week: My mom traveling early on Sunday to see and be with me for my surgical procedure. Not everyone's mom will get up early and drive 5 hours just to see you before the surgery and stay with you during recovery. I love and appreciate her so much for coming down to be with me and Brandon.
Miss anything? Being able to travel and fly.
Movement: Yes, lots if flutters and it's not just gas anymore lol
Food cravings: Ice cream
Anything making you queasy or sick? None this week.
Gender: Boy
Labor signs: None
Symptoms: None
Belly button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or moody most of the time: Happy that I was able to prolong my carrying of this healthy baby boy by getting a cerclage.
Looking forward to:. Going back to work next week. Vitality getting to 24 weeks gestation.
Keep the Faith!
Until next time,
~E
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